DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The devastating Tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 has
.. .. been categorized as a ‘mega disaster’ due to the number of casualties and extent of
damage across multiple nations. The damage it caused was unheard of in recent memory of our
country and indeed the world.
Services rendered by SSSSO, Tamil Nadu, in the aftermath can be the subject of a book. The Disaster
Management Training that had been initiated in 2002 allowed the State Disaster Management Unit to
respond immediately and perform the urgent and arduous tasks like removing dead bodies, preparing
them for identification and burial, supplying basic needs like food and water to survivors and, cleaning
up areas to prevent further disease. Seva Dal members were the first to report to Nagapattinam and
Velankanni- coastal towns devastated by the Tsunami. Estimates indicate that the SSSSO Teams
cleared more than a thousand bodies, which was an essential first activity in the rescue and recovery
process. The disciplined and dedicated services rendered by the Seva Dais in the face of such a catastrophic
event was much appreciated by the government officials, police, and all agencies involved in
rescue and relief operations. Seva Dal volunteers were the only group allowed by the police into some
sensitive areas for relief and recovery measures- especially where bodies (with jewellery on them) had
to be laid out in a hall for families to claim; or unclaimed bodies had to be buried. That was the extent
of trust and respect that the Seva Dais had earned during relief operations in the aftermath of the
tragedy.
Estimates indicate that the SSSSO Teams cleared more than a thousand bodies, which was an essential
first activity in the rescue and recovery process. The disciplined and dedicated services rendered by
the Seva Dais in the face of such a catastrophic event was much appreciated by the government
officials, police, and all agencies involved in rescue and relief operations. Seva Dal volunteers were the
only group allowed by the police into some sensitive areas for relief and recovery measures- especially
where bodies {with jewellery on them} had to be laid out in a hall for families to claim; or unclaimed
bodies had to be buried. That was the extent of trust and respect that the Seva Dais had earned
during relief operations in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba had instructed the state unit that in addition to rescue efforts, the team must
work to restore the dignity of the survivors by providing materials to help them rebuild their lives.
As a result, the state unit quickly organized kits that included stoves, kerosene, utensils, and dry
rations. While hundreds of Seva Dais worked on the ground, hundreds more worked in the background
to get relief materials ready for transport to various affected areas. The Tsunami relief operations
undertaken were mammoth and unprecedented in SSSSO.
Members of the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management team rightly point out that service rendered by
the trained Seva Dais following the Tsunami cannot be quantified or assessed in terms of a cost-benefit
analysis. There is no measurement tool that can assess the value of removing thousands of dead
bodies and preparing them for burial or cremation; nor can there be an economic value placed on
the high degree of trust and respect earned by the team throughout the state for the level of services
provided. Seva Dais operated out of love and devotion, and indeed, their lives were changed
irrevocably following this mega disaster.
Following the experience with Tsunami rescue, recovery and rehabilitation, the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management team was charged up sufficiently to plan for skill training and constant updating of skills in order to meet any eventual catastrophes. Tamil Nadu’s geographic location leaves it susceptible to cyclones, storms, and floods. So, it was imperative that the team builds a group of trained Seva Dais who can be deployed to serve in any type of crises.
Such preparation has resulted in the team responding to several other disasters over the years
including the Chennai Floods in 2015, the Kerala Floods in 2018, and various cyclones including ‘Thane’ and ‘Gaja’. During the Chennai Floods, the team completed four levels of service provision:
In addition to training the members of its own team, the Disaster Management Team continues to
train college students, paramedical staff, fishermen, forest department, police, fire and rescue
service personnel, CRPF, RPF, Coast Guards, corporate employees, and teachers. The team has
even joined the National Disaster Response Force {NDRF} to offer training programmes at NDRF’s
headquarters in Arakonam.
In 2017, the Disaster Management Team from SSSSO participated in a two-day workshop on
National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction {NPDRR) held at New Delhi. The team showcased
unique and improvised rescue methods at the workshop and was appreciated by the participants
and government alike. Following this,
the 55550 Tamil Nadu DM Team was invited by the Government
of Tamil Nadu to conduct a two-day Disaster Management Training to all its first
responders in all the districts of the state.
Between 2002 and 2019, the
Tamil Nadu Disaster Management
team conducted Disaster
Management Awareness training
for over 1,00,000 volunteers
from different institutions and professions.
In 2019, the team had an opportunity to participate in the Annual Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise (HADR) in all coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on the theme of cyclones and urban flooding. The team was able to share their vast experience in disaster relief with the other participants that included the Armed Forces.
On September 28, 2019, the Commissioner, Revenue Administration, Chennai, inducted 69 Sai Disaster Management team members into the State Disaster Response Guard.
