‘Indigenous knowledge plays a substantive role in different phases of Disaster Management’. Discuss.

 Traditional Knowledge is “the unique, traditional. local knowledge existing within and developed around the specific conditions of women and men. indigenous to a particular geographic area” (Grenier, 1998). The world ‘traditional knowledge’ is derived on the belief that the local communities have knowledge about the history of their locality based on the past experiences. Berkes (2007) defines traditional knowledge as “a body of cumulative knowledge. practice and belief. evolving by adoptive process, and handed down through generations by cultural transmission about the relationship of living being (including humans) with one another and the environment”. The traditional knowledge can be also called as “Indigenous Knowledge* or “Local Knowledge’. UNESCO (2002) describes traditional knowledge as a “cumulative body of knowledge. know-how, practices and representation, maintained and developed by peoples with extended histories of interaction with the natural environment, while indigenous as attached to place and indigenous people”.

 

As per the World Bank Report (2005), “Indigenous knowledge also referred to as traditional or local knowledge refers to the large body of knowledge and skill that has been developed outside the formal education system. Indigenous knowledge is embedded in culture and is unique to a given location or society. Indigenous knowledge is an important part of the lives of the poor. It is the basis for decision making of communities in food security, human and animal health, education and natural resource management”. Flavier also states that the “traditional knowledge is the information base for a society, which facilitates communication and decision- making. Indigenous information systems are dynamic and are continually influenced by internal creativity and experimentation as well as by contact with external systems”. Based on the above definitions on indigenous knowledge, it can be concluded that indigenous knowledge is not only about the past experiences of the community, but also helps a community to make a decision on what to do and what not to do. According to IIRR, indigenous knowledge is “the knowledge that people ina given community has developed over time, and continues to develop. It is based on experience, often tested over centuries of use, adapted to local culture and environment, dynamic and changing”.

Rajib Shaw (2010) characterised indigenous knowledge as: “Locally bound, indigenous to a specific area and communities: culture and context specific; non-formal knowledge: orally transmitted, and generally not documented; Dynamic and based on innovation adaptation, and experimentation: and closely related to survival and subsistence for many people worldwide”.

 

It is always obvious that the focal people know their land and environment thoroughly well. They have a unique ability. through traditional wisdom, to get and store the information on natural disasters that their land is exposed to. Hence. focus should be laid on the local people. to make their situation better. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 stated that to achieve the disaster risk reduction at the global and regional level it “requires a multi- hazard approach and inclusive risk-informed decision-making based on the open exchange and dissemination of disaggregated data, including by sex, age and disability, as well as on easily accessible, up-to-date, comprehensible, science-based. non- Sensitive risk information, complemented by traditional knowledge.”

Combining the traditional knowledge with scientific expertise is more relevant in the current contest. Knowing and documenting the traditional knowledge is not effective unless it is included in the disaster risk reduction activities. It is the entry point of people's participation at the grassroot levels. The SFDRR report suggests that to understand the disaster risk at national and local level, it is important to “ensure the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, as appropriate, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk assessment and the development and implementation of policies, strategies, plans and programmes of specific sectors, with a cross-sectoral approach. which should be tailored to localities and to the context.”

 

To this effect, Pan American Health Organisation (2015) suggested the following points to be included in the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) planning:

• ·         Securing the input of indigenous peoples and their cultural and environmental knowledge in the development and implementation of government disaster risk reduction plans;
• ·         Integrating an indigenous perspective into government disaster plans that reflects how climate change is contributing to increased disaster risk:
• ·         Considering how infrastructure development and climate change impact the disaster vulnerability of indigenous people;
• ·         Collaborating indigenous people in the design and implementation of early warning systems in order to ensure their linguistic and cultural relevance;
• ·         Encouraging indigenous groups to develop, with the participation of entire community, their own community-level preparedness and risk reduction plans and strategies that include actionable contingency plans to protect lives. Livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

 

Types of Indigenous Knowledge

The indigenous knowledge can be divided into three types, that is, Technological Knowledge. Economic Knowledge and Environmental Knowledge.

1) Technological Knowledge

The indigenous people use their technical knowledge, gained over the years to address some of the concerns related to disaster risk reduction. For instance. The traditional practices of the community are still in existence: with respect to construction of house and infrastructure in the flood inundate areas. coastal regions and the mountain regions. For example, during the Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991, though the damage was visible, most of the traditional structured houses still could survive even after the disaster. Similarly, Kashmir region is also known for its earthquake resistant construction practices, that is, Zag System and Dhajji Dewari System. These types of houses could survive during 2005 Kashmir Earthquakes. Incorporating such local technical knowledge and encouraging participation of community members in the disaster preparedness improves the sustainability.

2) Economic Knowledge

The other type of indigenous knowledge is the economic knowledge used by the community at times of crisis. People come up with economic ideas to address the issues on a temporary basis. For instance, the construction of temporary/permanent shelter by the community with the locally available resources. in both ‘during and post-disaster’ phases is an apt example. Thus. low cost strategy is planned using local resources by the community. Similarly, the community also adapt themselves to alternative livelihood to overcome the crisis situation.

3) Environmental Knowledge

Environmental knowledge is something which is sensed by the community. Even based on the minor or minute inference which they get from the environment or surrounding. For example, it is the knowledge which is based upon the experiences during cyclones or floods. On the basis of the colour of the water or clouds, people used to predict and warn the community members. It used to help the community members to take preparedness measure like storing food, firewood. saving drinking water and fodder for cattle.

 

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