Community based Disaster Risk Management is a response to the gaps within the existing Disaster Risk Management strategy. Evaluate. (Answer in 150 words)

- Community based Disaster Risk Management is a response to the gaps within the existing Disaster Risk Management strategy. Evaluate. (Answer in 150 words)
Introduction
Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) emerged to address limitations of conventional top-down, relief-centric disaster management by making local communities active participants in risk identification, preparedness and resilience-building.
Body
Gaps in Existing DRM:
1. Centralised Planning: Government-led plans may overlook local vulnerabilities and indigenous knowledge.
2. Relief Orientation: Traditional approaches often prioritise post-disaster response over prevention and preparedness.
3. Last-mile Gaps: Warning messages and relief may not reach vulnerable groups effectively.
4. Low Community Ownership: Externally designed measures may suffer from weak participation and poor sustainability.
How CBDRM Responds:
1. Communities conduct hazard and vulnerability mapping and prepare local disaster plans.
2. Local volunteers provide early warning, evacuation, first aid and rescue.
3. Participation of women, SHGs and vulnerable groups improves inclusiveness.
4. Local knowledge strengthens context-specific mitigation.
5. Odisha’s community-based cyclone preparedness demonstrates how trained volunteers and shelters can reduce casualties.
However, inadequate training, funding and technical capacity can limit effectiveness.
Conclusion
Thus, CBDRM complements institutional disaster management by making it participatory, preventive and locally owned, thereby bridging critical last-mile gaps in disaster resilience.