It is a widely accepted axiom that disasters disproportionately affect the poorest. Evidence shows that poverty is a key factor in increasing disaster risk. Conversely, disaster impacts deepen and perpetuate poverty trends. However, there is remarkably little hard evidence which assesses the long-term impact of disasters on the lives and livelihoods of poor urban and rural communities’ world wide. Increasing the understanding, knowledge and capacity of the community on disaster risk reduction by developing strategies through the organised communities can help reducing the risks and vulnerabilities. It can be achieved through a set of activities which include integration of microfinance programmes with DRR and building the internal capacity of the SHG federation for disaster preparedness. As many of the member federations are located in disaster prone areas and this learning would help them in replicating the similar strategies for preparing communities to cope up with disasters.

The pilot is being done with Neithal vattara Kalanjiam, a federation of Self Help groups in Kadaladi block of Ramnad District, Tamilnadu. Kadaladi is one of the multi disaster prone blocks in Ramanathapuram district. Fishing, saltpan works, brick kiln, Palmyra works, and agriculture are the major livelihoods of 1.2 lacks people. Migration, absence of livelihoods, drought, alcohol production and distribution, poor standard of education and educational institution are the development related issues here.

• A detailed study and analysis to understand the vulnerability and risk of the communities, their coping capacities, needs and priorities in the villages.
• Designing strategies for preparing communities for imparting knowledge on disaster preparedness.
• Developing content and design for increased understanding of disaster risk reduction for each strategies.
• Develop a training manual for leaders and staff of the federation on role of microfinance in disaster risk reduction.
• Training leaders with designed training content and module for creating awareness with the community on disaster preparedness.
• Integrating disaster preparedness plan along with development plan of the federation.

• Established community based disaster management structure/organogram.
• Communities are capable to identify their vulnerabilities, copping mechanisms, and hazards within their immediate environment. Also they are actively involved in the risk reduction activities.
• Disaster preparedness training manuals, posters, and toolkits for the community.
• Report on integrating Microfinance in disaster risk reduction.
• Community led disaster management plan for the federation.