Conclusion

The conclusion chapter illuminates people-centred preventive approach that could offer lessons for reducing disaster across diverse societal settings. Based on observations from various South Asian disasters, the importance of augmenting local community resilience in DRR is highlighted. Strengthening local community resilience in South Asia is doubtful unless the pre-existing social conditions, political economy of definite geographical areas and inequalities are fixed. Nonetheless, for this to be accomplished, governments, non-governmental sector and civil society require to prioritise DRR as a critical developmental issue and make intensive efforts to improve capabilities, related policies and institutional and legislative provisions. There is a need to include a bottom-up, community-based approach that allows local populations to build capacity, manage risks and recuperate efficiently from catastrophes. Respondents from various countries of South Asia while narrating their experiences suggested to incorporate risk evaluation, community-led planning and execution, awareness drives, social networks, capacity-building for preparedness and response, and sustainable infrastructure and livelihood systems in country’s disaster risk management plans. Further, there is a need to revive the association between natural systems and local knowledge. Since vulnerability to disaster risk is linked with both natural and social environments of a definite space and time, local knowledge could help minimising disaster devastations and advance preparedness, thus alleviating vulnerability of people.