Disaster

1.4.1 Federal level

DRR/M related works in federal level has become one of the noticeable and highly appreciated achievements in the development sector of Nepal and Talk of the Town has played a vital role in it. With its extensive pressure to the Minister Cabinet; has passed the decree and formed NDRR/MA and CE of it was appointed on Dec 2019. Due to some flaws in the Acts, it was not able to show the efficacy as it should, so, TOT initiate debates and discussions with experts, representatives and stakeholders of the concerned bodies, and as a result first amendment to DRR/M Acts and National Disaster Response Framework 2013 were carried out. National level policies and strategy action plan was introduced for national level DRR/M related works while relief directory is in its final phase to be completed. Likewise, numerous advancements were attained in this year 2019/20. Detail information is as follow.

  • With the extensive pressure on the government officials and parliamentarians, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRR/MA) was possible to form and first Chief Executive (CE) of it was appointed on Dec 2019subsequently after the decree passed by the Minister’s Cabinet.
  • Due to the impediments in disaster management acts of 2074 B.S., Talk of the Town initiate debates and discussion with experts, representatives, stakeholders, and authorities from concerned bodies, and as a result, first amendment was done to it. First amendment to the National Disaster Response Framework 2013 was carried out and more than 80% changes were made in it. Amendment to the disaster preparedness and response plan design directory was done.
  • National level policies as well as national strategy action plan were possible to form due to the effort used by Talk of the Town to acknowledge those entities,so, it could provide the needed strength for the implementation of DRR/M acts.
  • Relief directory for the NDRR/M is in its final phase and TOT is putting pressure for its completion.
  • Talk of the Town questioned many concerned bodies about the preparedness for disasters, and as a result, Early Warning Systems (EWS) directory was designed and has reached for the decision making process.
  • Ministry of Urban Developmentis currentlypreparingto articulate Integrated Urban Development Plan and Talk of the Town is pressuringthe related parties to make the process rapid.
  • As a result of the video documentation presented in national television program “Talk of the Town”, the process of nation-wide identification of open spaces was rapidly initiatedfor the purpose of using it as safety measures during and after disasters.
  • Talk of the Town arise the concern of peoples from vulnerable settlements and as a result Nepal Government entrusted three ministries – home affairs, federal affairs, and local urban development –for the joint task to implement their plans to relocate vulnerable human settlements in vulnerable districts.
  • With the continuous effort of Talk of the Town to make DRR/M sector more effective, it has mainstream the issues of low budget form different tiers and sectors of Nepal Government, which now, Nepal Government has sanctioned Rs.1.199 trillion for DRR/M which is increased by 14.3 per cent – Rs.217 billion – than the fiscal year 2018/19.
  • Nepal is preparing for fruitful engagement of private sectors in DRR/M related works so Talk of the Town has interviewed some of the representative of private sectors to seek a way to make smooth coordination and cooperation between them.
  • Initiated by the UNDP and the Government of Nepal provides an automated Electronic-Building Permit System (e-BPS), which helps to effectively implement the National Building Code (NBC) and Building By-Laws (BBL); which also can be used by members of the private sector who want to construct new buildings can easily check their building’s compliance to the NBC online.
  • In the interview, the president of Federation of Contractor’ Association of Nepal (FCAN) has said that it has proposed government of Nepal to establish training institutions in collaboration and is committed formaking it possible from his side.
  • Nepal has made commitment in international arena that by 2030, there would be achievement of at least minimal foundation hence action plans has been made accordingly for the education sectors in the country. There are trainings and drills being conducted in each educational sector. Various projects are initiated so that the curriculum can be made DRR/M friendly.
  • Talking with CE of NDRR/MA, Talk of the Town has rises the concern that NDDRR/MA should provide fruitful results in its earliest time as possible, for which, National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) is made to functioned24hrs. From which real time data analysis can be done with the help of information gathered from different districts. 
  • 24hrs. functioningHealth Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) has been formed with linking 55 hub hospitals. Nepal is planning to grow the nation-wide numbers of hospital and health post to 271 and 2510 respectively and TOT has been pressuring for the rapidness to the work of it.
  • Talk of the Town has also broadcasted the information about the reconstruction works of heritages so that the concern bodies could provide the supports by making their involvements. 381 of 800 heritages which were damaged by earthquake of 2072 B.S are reconstructed till the date. Mitigation work for 2,000 reported heritages in 72 districts were completed lately. 1.9% of total budget was sanctioned for it.
  • There is formation of committee in federal, province, and most of the local levels which are working to form volunteers (army, police, and al.) who will be instantlyready to bemobilized in actions.
  • Talk of the Town has also discussed about the efficiency of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) which is currently forecasting the result of weather for 72 hrs and 1 week results for the agriculture sectors. And providing the case of emergency, it has introduced to its hotline number – “4113191” and Facebook account – “Meteorological forecasting division” in the show.
  • COVID-19 crisis management center has been formed with the help of Ministers’ Cabinet for handling present situation of crisis brought by COVID-19 in which awareness and decision about structural work, operation, planning, and al. will be done from it.
  • Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security is planning to open bank targeting to labors which will be providing social security to those who want to start their own occupation.

1.4.2 Provincial level

Acknowledging the importance of it, Talk of the Town has conducted a discrete episode inviting the representatives from 6 provinces to share their works on national television program which has become an effective way to provide peoples insight onthe approaches taken byprovincial levelsand various actions they performed during the time-period. Due to the priority given as such, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was introduced in the province under the representative of Chief Minister after the long jointly effort of Talk of the Town with the provinces to assist the DRR/M Acts. As an effort to make province level work more independently, an Act has been introduced by all 7 provinces. More information is as follow:

  • Talk of the Town efforts to make the DRR/M related work more independently, it has initiated various programs in different tiers of government questioning their engagement in DRR/M and as a result, all the 7 provinceshave formed their own Disaster Management Acts.
  • Provincial disaster management communities are formed in all provinces and Talk of the Town has taken the representatives’ assurance for better use of it.
  • After Talk of the Town questioned about the resources; their capability and strength towards fulfillment of the DRR/M related works, each of the provinces has allocated their own disaster fund.
  • Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was formed in the province under the representative of Chief Minister after the long jointly effort of Talk of the Town with the provinces to assist the DRR/M Acts.
  • HEOC is formed in 2 provinces and Talk of the Town has taken assurance from the state minister of health and population to have one in each of the 7 provinces. There has also been placement of health labs, medicine storage, and training centers are done in all provinces.
  • Talk of the Town has direct the authorities, representatives, stakeholders, concerned bodies for smooth cooperation and coordination, for which, as a result the decision wasmade to make an interaction program once a year in each of the province for DRR/M in the presence of CE of NDRR/MA which will also help establish coordination between province and local government.
  • Talk of the Town has excessively rises the concern of people who are affected by disaster as much as it could in its television program through making community interactions and as the result of it, Province 2 has introduced provincial law for Recue and Relief Action Plan 2075 for disaster affected person. It has also introduced strategy planning till 2030. And as a result of Talk of the Town continues to pressure to form its own administrative structure, it is also planning to form permanent structure for the authority of DRR/M. Through the medium of Talk of the Town, Province 2 has also appeal to the concern bodies for shifting their focus in conservation of Chure for minimizing the risk of flood and landslide.
  • Bagmati Province is about to publish Policy and Strategy Action Plan till 2030 A.D and Talk of the Town has taken the assurance for its quickest delivery as possible.
  • Province 5 is in process of implementing Operation Directory 2075 and Talk of the Town has taken the assurance to make the process as rapid as possible.Talk of the Town has excessively rises the concern of people who are affected by disaster as much as it could in its television program through making community interactions and interviewing the people, and as the result of it, Province 5 has made policies to provide Rs.100 thousand for dead, Rs.40 thousand for damage house, and Rs.100 thousand plus transportation cost for the injured person.
  • Talk of the Town has shared the unique initiation introduced by Karnali Province, which is, it has done disaster insurance for its entire citizen and is also planning to do insurance for the houses. Talk of the Town putting pressure for the preparedness works for DRR/M, KarnaliPovince has started SMS service and initiated the installations of EWS.
  • Talk of the Town has excessively rises the concern of people who are affected by disaster as much as it could in its television program through making community interactions and interviewing the people, and as the result of it, Sudurpaschim Province has formed Criteria – 2017 for the relief distribution. Air rescue services are started.
  • For the prevention and management of COVID-19, Gandaki Province has provided Rs.500 thousand to rural municipalities, Rs.1 million to municipalities, and Rs.10 million to metropolitans and has implemented the lockdown way before the federal did and has established 275 quarantine facilities that has national level standards.

1.4.3 Local level

Talk of the Town has reached 12 of the local levels to monitor and give insight on the work of local levels and community levels in DRR/M sectors. As a result, it is found that 95% of the local level has formed DRR/M acts, and making their engagements in DRR/M related works as much as possible. Details are as follow:

  • Talk of the Town has reached 12 of the local levels within the time and many more in the past years, and because of itself reaching there to knock on the door of local representatives and stakeholders, andmonitoring by making constant follow-ups as much as possible, as a result, more than 95% local levelshave formed the Disaster Management Acts.
  • In each and every episode that were held in local level, Talk of the Town has questioned about implementing Building Codes and has assured for strict implementation of building codes, as a result, local levels are strictly implementing the Building codes.
  • Talk of the Town has taken assurance as well as commitments from representative of Local levels that they have formed the team of volunteer and is committed to extend its numbers by the end of the year.
  • Due to constant and excessive pressure of Talk of the Town to make engagement of local levels in DRR/M sectors, Local levels have begun to work on it and, as a result, have shared the action-plans with NDRR/MA through the channel of Ministry.
  • Talk of the Town has put extensive pressure on the federal level and to the NDRR/MA to make engagement of local levels in DRR/M sectors; as a result, Circulation of Model Acts and Frameworks Model to form DRR/M Fund and Emergency Operation Center are being formed within local levels with the support of federal.
  • As a result of Talk of the Town constant pressure for Local levels engagement in preparedness works, they are preparing to conduct risk mapping by identify the nature of land topography, possible risks, condition of vulnerable groups and as well as the condition of natural resources
  • Through the help of Local Development Training Center, three days training workshop has been carried out targeting DRRM and Climate Change. The training has been conducted in more than 50 districts.
  • As to make the Local Level resourceful, Talk of the Town has discuss and debate with many concerned parties on the field and, as a result, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development with help of Government of Nepal has formed a directive on formulation of annual plan and budget of Local levels.
  • Talk of the Town has arises the issue of vulnerable settlement in its episode time and again, for which, as a result, some of the Local Levels have appealed for relocation of vulnerable settlements after mapping the risk and there are continuous coordination made to channelize it.
  • Kathmandu Metropolitan City and some who are capable has formed VHS information center which will also soon introduced to others local levels and Talk of the Town has taken assurance that Kathmandu Metropolitan City that he would reached out for it.
  • Lalitpur Metropolitan City has established Center for DRR/M in eastern part of the city and construction process is ongoing for another in western side and for its rapid construction Talk of the Town has taken assurance of Mayor. 30,000 liters water tank has been constructed strategically in 4 different place of the city. 101 volunteers have been formed. Minimum of 3 hundred thousand rupees budget is allocated in ward where 5 million rupees is allocated in municipalities. 62 open spaces are identified. Reconstruction works after post-earthquake are going on. Talk of the Town has taken written commitment of mayor for theMEOC that function for 24hr., reconstruction of heritage, minimum of 11 volunteer in each ward, introducing disaster insurance, and adding 3 fire engines within a year. Mahalaxmi municipality has initiated cluster-wise education for awareness of DRR/M related works and has made assurance with Talk of the Town to increase annual budget and produced TSLR trained volunteer.
  • BhaktapurMunicipality has organized a program to share awareness about the importance of Open Spaces which TOT has captured video documentation of it and has broadcasted in its national program. Talk of the Town has taken written commitment to assure the reconstruction of the damage heritages. Talk of the Town has alsopoint out the unique instance taken by Bhaktapur Municipality, which is, it has started providing hospitality services through reaching out each and every doorstep.Bhaktapur Municipality has formed 122 volunteers in total.
  • Due to the influence made by Talk of the Town in sector of DRR/M, RaptiSonari Rural Municipality has introduced welfare and response program, rescue and relief program, and has been practicing other important critical practices. 6-12 member of task-force committee has been formed in each ward. Warehouse has been constructed. The chairman has assured Talk of the Town that he would learn about any information and informational planning about DRR/M practices and would practice them inside rural municipality on the coming days.
  • Narainapur Rural Municipality assured Talk of the Town to form disaster committee within a week. About 3 volunteer in each wards are formed. Through the television program “Talk of the Town’, the Chairman has shared its concern that it has very low budget and needs to have allocation of more budgets.
  • Rajbiraj Municipality has formed disaster committee. 2 million rupees is allocated for disaster fund. It is actively working for proper coordination with various bodies that are working for DRR/M. 80% of houses is built following building codes. 13 volunteers are trained inside the municipality. The Chairman has assured Talk of the Town to bring sufficient positive changes within his time period.
  • Talk of the Town broadcasted the issues of the Udayapurgadhi Rural Municipality to provide insight about the obstacles of it having very poor in advancement in the DRR/M sector.Which isits engagement in those incomplete works in rural municipality left by the previous representative, however, it has assured that, in a slow pace, it has been taking some steps. 4 million rupees has been placed in disaster fund. A policy has formed to provide 50 thousand for the dead ones and 20 thousand for reconstruction of house. The Chairman has assured Talk of the Town to engage in DRR/M preparedness works by spreading awareness, strictly maintaining Building Codes, and will have 20 volunteer in each ward by next year.
  • Talk of the Town has long been questioning the preparedness of Terai region for flood and Landslide and due to its effect;Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City has constructed drainage system within 33 km radius which will also help maintain the cleanliness of the city. Disaster Acts if formed. Disaster committee has been formed. 5 million rupees budget is allocated to disaster fund this year. 75% of houses are built following Building Codes. The Mayor has assured Talk of the Town that there will be 100 trained volunteer by next year and will have action-plan 2020-30 completed.
  • The works of local level for the prevention and management of COVID-19 were highly appraisable for e.g. Lalitpur Metropolitan City with very little monetary help from province and federal was carrying out its own production of sanitizer & mask by training women inside the metropolitan city and has been also distributing relief package (foods, blanket, bucket, and al.) to the people.