Emerging Concerns related to Hazards in Madhya Pradesh :

The following are the emerging concerns coming out of the potential hazards and existing vulnerabilities.

1. Urbanization : Madhya Pradesh has the increasing trends of people migrating from rural areas to towns. The increasing influx of poor immigrants adds the additional pressure on the existing infrastructure. Being poor, these immigrants settle in slums or low lying areas, vulnerable to disasters, lacking in basic infrastructure like safe drinking water, sanitation and drainage facilities. Further, weak techno-legal regime and poor implementation of building bye-laws make the population highly vulnerable. Narrow roads, poorly maintained electrical and telephone wires, congested drains make the settlements more vulnerable during disaster time.

2. Gender Discrimination : In Madhya Pradesh, ratio of women at present is 930 per 1000 males, which is below national average. Further the literacy rate of women is 60% as against the men having 80%. Even the women earn lower wages compared to men, especially in the non-organized sectors. For the illiterate people the lack of education psychologically becomes a strong reason for not getting trained enough to deal with disasters. Even though, the women constitute nearly half of the population, they are more vulnerable to disasters because of socio-cultural barriers to various forms of livelihood opportunities. Their lack of access to better education, livelihood, and the discrimination at work, coupled with marginalized social status, make women more vulnerable to disasters.

3. Children in Emergencies: Children are the most vulnerable stakeholders, to any type of disasters. It‘s estimated that two thirds of children in Madhya Pradesh are malnourished. In emergencies it is often that children are most affected. They may lack food, shelter and healthcare. Their education also comes to a halt, in emergencies. They are more likely to be affected by disease or injury. Their physical and emotional development may be halted. They may not receive basic literacy and essential life skills, and their education could be interrupted. In emergencies, children are often abandoned or orphaned, or they become separated from their families. There is also a risk that with the loss of paperwork such as birth certificates and proofs of identity they may lose their legal rights. It‘s a long way to go in Madhya Pradesh, to deal with children with proper attention, especially to handle in emergencies.

4. People needing special care: Pregnant women, aged and sick people are the most vulnerable, during and after the disasters because of their physical vulnerability and also their lack of capacity of earning their livelihood. The state has a high concentration of the above group of people, also the widows, and malnourished persons. These categories of people are the most vulnerable as they lack the capacity of earning their livelihood and later, to address the subsequent disaster related issues.

              Madhya Pradesh has a sound legislative mechanism in place in terms of MP State Policy, Municipality Act and subsequent Rules and Regulations. However, the disperse nature and lack of coherent regulations make it difficult to achieve a state of complete‘ preparedness. The development without adequate infrastructure, construction of buildings that is inadequate to cope with hazards such as floods, high wind velocity and earthquakes etc. increase the risks manifold. In view of this, proper techno-legal regime will be established by providing adequate safety measures against natural hazards. While there is legal framework available to decentralize disaster management, concerted efforts will be initiated on the part of the government to translate framework on the ground.