Bhubaneswat: As delegates from BRICS nations gather in Puri for the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group meeting from Wednesday, Odisha finds itself in an unfamiliar yet hard-earned position – not as a victim of natural calamities, but as a global case study in disaster resilience.

With NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24 placing Odisha in the "Front Runner" category and recognising significant progress under SDG-13 (Climate Action), the state is hosting the high-profile gathering at a time when its disaster management model is attracting attention far beyond India's borders.

For Odisha, the event is more than a diplomatic engagement. It is an opportunity to showcase a governance model that transformed one of the country's most disaster-prone regions into a benchmark for preparedness, risk reduction and climate resilience.

From Super Cyclone Tragedy to Global Recognition

The story of Odisha's disaster management journey begins with the devastating Super Cyclone of 1999, one of India's worst natural disasters that claimed thousands of lives and exposed glaring gaps in preparedness.

Over the next two decades, the state fundamentally re-engineered its disaster response architecture. What emerged was a system built on early warning mechanisms, resilient infrastructure, community participation and institutional accountability.

Today, Odisha is widely recognised for its ability to minimise loss of life even during severe cyclones, floods, heatwaves and lightning events.

The Odisha Model: Governance at the Grassroots

One of the most distinctive features of Odisha's disaster management framework is its emphasis on decentralised governance.

In 2020, the state amended the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, empowering Gram Panchayats with explicit responsibilities relating to disaster management and public health emergencies. The move provided a legal foundation for local-level disaster planning and response, enabling village administrations to take swift decisions without waiting for approvals from higher authorities.

The importance of this reform became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when Panchayats played a critical role in quarantine management, surveillance and community mobilisation.

While many states relied primarily on administrative directives, Odisha institutionalised local disaster governance through legislative backing.

Building Resilience Before Disaster Strikes

The state's approach is rooted in a simple principle: preparedness is more effective than post-disaster relief.

Since 1999, Odisha has invested heavily in:

• A vast network of cyclone and multipurpose disaster shelters.
• Community-based disaster preparedness programmes.
• Large-scale evacuation systems.
• Dedicated disaster management institutions.
• Extensive training of volunteers and local response teams.

This sustained investment has enabled the state to respond to disasters with remarkable speed and coordination.

Research institutions such as the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) have highlighted Odisha's community-centric disaster management approach, particularly its integration of Panchayats, self-help groups, volunteers and local committees into a coordinated response mechanism.

This emphasis on last-mile governance has increasingly been cited as a best practice for disaster-prone regions across the world.

The Shift to a "Zero Casualty" Strategy

Perhaps Odisha's most significant contribution to global disaster management is its pursuit of a "Zero Casualty" approach.

Instead of measuring success by relief and rehabilitation efforts after a disaster, the state focuses on preventing deaths through advance planning, timely evacuation and continuous public awareness.

Cyclone Management

The effectiveness of this strategy became evident during major cyclones such as Fani, Amphan and Yaas.

Mass evacuations, real-time warnings and robust shelter infrastructure helped the state reduce human casualties dramatically despite the intensity of these storms.

The result has been a transformation in how disaster management is perceived – from emergency response to risk prevention.

Heatwave Preparedness

Odisha's success extends beyond cyclones.

After experiencing severe heatwave fatalities in the late 1990s, the state introduced one of India's earliest Heat Action Plans. Through public advisories, modified work schedules and coordinated health interventions, heatwave-related deaths have been significantly reduced over the years.

Tackling the Silent Killer: Odisha's Lightning Management Model

Lightning remains one of India's most under-reported natural hazards and causes hundreds of deaths annually.

Odisha, however, has emerged as a pioneer in lightning risk reduction.

The state records over 20 lakh lightning strikes every year, yet sustained interventions have helped bring down fatalities substantially over the past decade.

Key elements of the strategy include:

• Real-time lightning alerts for vulnerable populations.
• Targeted awareness campaigns in rural areas.
• Scientific mapping of high-risk districts.
• Improved coordination between meteorological agencies and local administrations.

Districts such as Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Keonjhar have benefited from data-driven interventions based on scientific assessments of lightning-prone zones.

Technology Meets Community Participation

A defining feature of Odisha's model is its integration of technology with grassroots governance.

The state has leveraged weather forecasting, digital communication networks and scientific risk mapping to ensure that alerts reach vulnerable populations quickly.

Rather than treating technology as a standalone solution, Odisha has combined it with community mobilisation, creating a response ecosystem where information translates into action.

This blend of modern meteorology and local participation has significantly strengthened disaster preparedness across rural and coastal regions.

What Odisha Offers the BRICS Nations

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the lessons from Odisha carry growing relevance for developing economies.

The Odisha model offers three key takeaways:

Community-Centric Governance: Empowering local institutions and communities to become active participants in disaster response.

Resilient Infrastructure: Investing in shelters and critical infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather events.

Data-Driven Preparedness: Using scientific forecasting, risk mapping and early-warning systems to reduce vulnerability before disasters occur.

The Message from Puri

As BRICS delegates deliberate on global strategies for disaster risk reduction, Odisha's experience delivers a powerful message: vulnerability does not have to translate into tragedy.

The state's transformation from the site of one of India's deadliest cyclones to an internationally recognised model of resilience demonstrates how political commitment, community participation and scientific planning can dramatically reduce disaster-related losses.

For Odisha, hosting the BRICS DRR meeting for the first time is not merely about showcasing past achievements. It is about presenting a practical, scalable blueprint for a world increasingly challenged by climate-driven disasters.

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