Guwahati, Feb. 19: Assam has constituted circle-level disaster management committees in all revenue circles of the state to take disaster management preparedness and post-disaster responses to the grassroots level.

The move assumes significance considering the fact that the Brahmaputra and its tributaries inundate Assam up to three times a year, while the state lies on the most vulnerable zone V of the seismic map.

The state project coordinator of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Rajib Prakash Baruah, told The Telegraph that the Circle Disaster Management Committees (CDMC) had been constituted in all 154 revenue circles of the state with the circle officer as the chairman.

"The committee, which comprises village headmen, members of local NGOs, panchayats and village defence parties, would prepare area-specific disaster management plans according to the vulnerabilities of that particular area, create public awareness and help in community capacity-building at the local level," Baruah said.

The ASDMA has appointed one field officer (disaster management) for each revenue circle. He will function as the member secretary of the circle disaster management committee. These field officers were posted recently after basic training from February 8 to 11.

"The basic idea is to engage the citizens in disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and post-disaster response to make them aware of issues related to disaster management. We intend to actively involve the village headmen in this process," he said.

Baruah added that preparation of an area-specific disaster management plan is important because every area has different vulnerabilities. "For instance, areas in the plains that lie on the bank of the Brahmaputra are prone to flooding whereas the areas in the hill districts face the threat of landslides," he said.

Baruah said they are emphasising on engaging the community so that people can find a helping hand at the end of their own arm in the event of a disaster.

People would be given training in disaster or emergency response and would be equipped to take part in rescue missions effectively, he said.

"Imparting training to local people is crucial because they are the ones who come first for the rescue of victims at time of calamities or accidents. They become life savers as they reach the disaster/accident site much before the search and rescue teams reach," the ASDMA state project coordinator said.

He said the newly-appointed field officers would be stationed at the headquarters of the revenue circles and would assist the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in preparing and updating the village, gaon panchayat and circle-level disaster management plans.

"They will assist the DDMA in organising and conducting capacity-building and awareness generation programmes for circle, gaon panchayat and village-level functionaries and maintain the database such as minutes and reports pertaining to the village land management and conservation committees," he said.

The village land management and conservation committees function as guardians of the land resources of the village grazing reserve, professional grazing reserve, wetland, rivers, streams, ponds, hills, archaeological remains, among others.

The field officer will assist the circle officer in coordinating with other departments on disaster management issues.