Role of Local Self-Governments in Managing Floods

The Panchayati Raj Institution is a body elected by the local people through a well-defined democratic process with specific responsibilities and duties. It is the most appropriate institution from the village to the district level. Panchayat and municipalities, local governing institutions in countries like India, have a constitutional mandate under the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments Act. Apart from adequately implementing different ongoing developmental programs, the panchayat system has to play a pivotal role in respect of natural and artificial disaster management. In India, Particularly in Kerala, the village-level Disaster Management Committee is headed by ward members of the gram panchayat. The Panchayati Raj Institutions provide adequate space to the weaker section of the communities at its three levels, i.e., village, block, and district. The empirical study revealed that the main role performed by the panchayat in respect of disaster was the reconstruction of damaged houses and health and sanitation measures. Besides these broad aspects, the panchayats officials organized health camps, were involved in the rescue operation, arranged temporary shelters, etc.