..:WIDA:..

The Integrated Rural Development of Weaker Sections in India (WIDA)

SUPER CYCLONE ORISSA - ACT PARTNERS COORDINATION

4th November, 1999- Meeting at CPSW, Bhubaneswar

The proposed ACT Partners and the UELCI Partners attended the meeting. Plan of action, the severity of cyclone and, government control room reports were shared by the members. Mr. Mathai Kutty from LWSI presented the Action plan of the disaster preparedness and management activities carried out by LWSI.

The UELCI partners particularly IRDWSI and members of ODAF, a network of NGOs who made assessment visits to the Cyclone areas reported on the same. An Action Plan was drawn and resource mobilisation efforts were planned. EZE came forward to support some of the emergency relief activities through their partners in ODAF, NMZ was approached they also contributed through JELC, a relief and rehabilitation plan of action was prepared on behalf of UELCI and after information for endorsement of UELCI, it was forwarded to ACT for support. It was decided that ACT partners should meet whenever necessary so that the co-ordination would enable to be more effective and efficient and therefore any duplication or overlapping of ACT partners in the area avoided. Mr. William Stanley now being nominated to the ACT Emergency Committee from 2000 to 2002, UELCI and member NGOs as well as ACT assigned the responsibility to the member to contact CASA and LWSI for Ordination and sharing of work.

Immediately after 411 meeting, the UELCI representative sent an E-mail of the proposal copy which was sent to ACT to LWSI and CASA for information. In the same E-mail, it was also requested that LWSI and CASA to share their cyclone relief proposal to UELCI. As Mr. Mathaikutty was not well to attend the Cyclone Relief Meeting, UELCI representative along with ODAF partners visited Mr. Mathaikutty's and discussed in detail the programmes planned. He also suggested that Mr . Nitai Duft of LWSI, who is now in charge of Cyclone relief operations, should be invited to attend the future meetings. Accordingly a letter was sent to LWSI and CASA for their response.

15th November, 99 Meeting at ACT Secretariat, Geneva

The UELCI representative while attending a LWF workshop on Resource Sharing, contacted on 1511 November, Dr. Rudolf Hinz, Ms Miriam Lutz, Ms Makundi, Mr. Lemma Degefa and Mr. Neville Pradhan the ACT Team in Geneva. In this meeting, a brief report, documentation on the cyclone in Orissa and the ongoing activities were shared. It was also suggested by ACT that as an ACT member, the representative should contact other ACT partners for information sharing and project an united image of the Action of Churches together and efforts put in by all the Partners towards cyclone relief and rehabilitation.

22nd November, 99 Meeting at LWSI, Bhubaneswar

The UELCI representative along with ODAF partners visited LWSI office at Bhubaneswar and had detailed discussions with Mr. Mathaikutty, and other staff. In this meeting, it was agreed that the next meeting of ACT Partners to be held on 611 December 99 at CASA office,. Bhubaneswar. With reference to the meeting a letter was sent to LWSI and CASA by E-mail.

6th December, 99 Meeting at CASA field Office, Bhubaneswar

CASA, LWSI, UELCI member and ODAF Partners attended the meeting. Review on current Cyclone relief operations was shared and details of the area of operation was also presented. UELCI representative shared the following matters.

Study of the coastal Eco system
Capacity of communities and documentation on coping mechanisms, traditional knowledge systems of the coastal communities
Linkage between mountain, river basin and coastal bio diversity and Eco systems
Mobilising communities and anchoring advocacy for policy changes in the overall development and with particular reference to coastal regions
Media meet - Sharing on details of the programmes - activities and families, population and villages covered under cyclone relief operations.
Participation in ACT Emergency Committee meeting, 20-21, Jan, 2000, Geneva
Next ACT partners meeting to be held on 1711 December, 1999 and hosted by LWSI, Bhubaneswar.

LWSI and CASA representative shared their work and accordingly letters were sent to ACT partners. LWSI reported that they are constructing 2000 tube wells in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts. The CASA representative informed that Major. Michael, Director of CASA was visiting the cyclone hit areas on the 7th, of December, 99.

17th December, 99 Meeting at ODAF Office in Bhubaneswar

The venue of the meeting had to be shifted from LWSI to ODAF office in Bhubaneswar due to unavoidable circumstances. Representatives from UELCI and ODAF partners and CASA attended the same. LWSI could not participate in this meeting. Apart from the above members, Mr. Madsson of DCA and Ms. Mary Todd of Christian Aid also took part in the meeting. During this meeting the following matters were discussed.

Future disaster management plan
Development issues in the coastal region
Policy on Development and Cyclone relief
Review of Relief Code
Comprehensive rehabilitation package both of the Government and Non-govenmental agencies.
Cooperation between Government and NGOs and different NGO Networks.

The next meeting was scheduled to be on 1411 January, 2000 and the venue was not finalised. Keeping in view on the above efforts to share information among ACT partners, it is further informed to ACT partners that the, ACT emergency committee meeting is scheduled to be held on the 20-21 of January, 2000 at Geneva. May I therefore, request the ACT partners through this letter to inform on any concerns or programmes to be shared in the ACT emergency committee meeting.

Even though, all of us have direct and bilateral link with ACT, Geneva and keeping in view the future perspective of partners in emergency relief, rehabilitation and development, it is important to review our own partnership in India as ACT co-partners so that a space can be developed to dialogue and pool out our capacities and strengths to act in a coordinated manner to address the issues of environment, development, man made disasters, relief, rehabilitation and policy review of the Government per se.