Inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Programme in Bhiwandi

Social inclusion in disaster response remains the guiding principle of TISS interventions. The inclusive disaster preparedness and risk reduction programme focusing specifically on people with disabilities (PWD), is the first of its kind, mainstreaming pre-disaster vulnerability reduction programme.

The project targeted PWD spread across Biwandi, including the inaccessible locales, and aspired for convergence and integration of disability related services. And AAPTI approach was adopted.

TISS partnered with Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) and Government of Maharashtra (GoM), with funding support from UNDP in 2012. The project focus was:

• To mainstream disability in disaster management
• To train and sensitize professionals on disability and emergency responses.
• To establish a resource centre providing advisory and informational services for PWD

Active reaching out and long term follow up, the AAPTI resource centre, and training of first responders facilitated the work of mainstreaming vulnerability reduction among the marginalized.

The AAPTI centre has now become a part of the Indira Gandhi Hospital (GoM) in Bhiwandi.