Infrastructure building and post-Cyclone management in Odisha: A study of people’s perception in one select village in Nilagiri Block

Abstract

Odisha -a state in eastern India is known for, among other things, the way it has handled the natural disasters especially severe cyclones after its debacle in 1999. This coastal state is often regarded as a magnet for such type of natural disasters. It is because of its geo-climatic location adjacent to the Bay of Bengal for 300 miles, it has to bear the brunt of different weather events within a span of 130 years from 1891. Odisha being vulnerable to different kinds of natural disaster such as tsunami, lightning, sun-stroke, floods, cyclonic storms and droughts etc. The 1999 super cyclone of Odisha remains printed in our mind as an apocalyptic failure of the administration machinery of Odisha government. It resulted in the death of thousands of people besides causing devastation in many dimensions. The 1999 super cyclone exposed the weakness in state's preparedness to face the natural disaster. It also forced both the central and provincial government to revise their respective disaster management policy and strategies. It was a lesson for the state and its administration. Since then Odisha started working determinedly to upgrade its disaster response system. The measures taken were such that the victim state has been regarded as a model for disaster management. It is rightly said that Odisha province tops in disaster risk index and best in disaster management. Following the super cyclone of 1999, Odisha witnessed six dangerous cyclones from 2011 to 2023, namely Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014), Titli (2018), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Yaas ( 2021). The blunders made by Odisha government in 1999 were not repeated in the following cyclonic events. The impactful disaster management strategies adopted by Odisha post 2000 has made it possible to bring down the death tolls to a great extent.Odisha's success story in effective disaster management has come as a surprise for many. Odisha's turnaround in disaster management has lessons for the rest of the world. Presently, Odisha has improved its flexibility and reduced the disastrous effects of different tropical cyclones. The successful disaster management policy of Odisha is considered as a backbone that every other states of India as well as other states of the world must follow. The 'adaptive governance' (Walch, 2018) strategy adopted by Odisha government proved to be impactful which is reflected in Odisha being recognized as a disaster reduction model for all other states of India. Under the leadership of chief minister of Odisha Mr. Naveen Patnaik, the disaster risk reduction strategies adopted by state, named as 'Odisha model' have been acknowledged in all over the world even the western capitalist state and united nations are recognizing the 'Odisha model'. Presently, Odisha is far more resilient than it used to be before 2000. In 2023 Odisha was awarded with "Subash Chandra Bose Aapada Prabandhan Puraskar" for exemplary work in disaster management. Since 2013, Odisha government has adopted a high degree of preparedness and effectively evacuated millions of pe...