International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology (ISSN : 2277-1581) Volume No.2, Issue No.11, pp : 1162-1167 1 Nov. 2013 IJSET@2013 Page 1162 Village Level Disaster Risk Management through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) at Uttarakhand Himalaya, India Abhinav Walia and Indrajit Pal Centre for Disaster Management, NIAR, LBS National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie – 248179, Uttarakhand, INDIA. Email: waliaabhi@gmail.com, indrajit.pal@nic.in, indrajit.pal@gmail.com Abstract: Participatory Leaning and Action (PLA) approach was exercised in the village Jardhar situated on the foot hills of Himalaya above 1550 meters above the sea level, lying between Latitude 30° 32:25’ -30 ° 34.08′N and Longitude 78°34.’-78°36′E. The total population of this village is around 1484. Rationale behind this study is to empower the rural communities and to follow the bottom up approach for the development of a village level disaster management plan. As we know in case of any disaster community is the first responder, so it is indeed required to analyze the risk on community level and to suggest the Village Level Disaster Risk Management solutions. While conducting the PLA, it was noticed that this small pocket of population has got benefits from various government (national and international) schemes. Government of India has specified all sorts of support to rebuild their livelihood. A number of schemes i.e. MGNREGA are implemented in the village which are beneficial in order to reduce the disaster risk and parallelly such schemes generates the employment for the village people. In the study risk mapping have been done through the personal interview methods and observations and later it has been converted into Geographical Information System platform for the location accuracy and analysis. A village level disaster management plan further suggested for the Jardhar to manage the risk of various hazards and disasters. Key words: Disaster Management, Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP). Introduction: Natural disasters have been an integral part of progress of human civilization, manifested in the traditional coping mechanisms, cultural practices and even myths. It is however, a matter of concern that the technological innovations notwithstanding, in recent years the increased frequency, intensity, magnitude and impact of many disasters have claimed many thousands of lives and caused immense material losses across the globe. India‟s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability, makes it one of the most disaster prone country in the world. A disaster is an extreme disruption of the functioning of a society that causes widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with its own resources. Disasters are sometimes classified according to whether they are “natural” disasters, or “human-made” disasters. For example, disasters caused by floods, droughts, tidal waves and earth tremors are generally considered “natural disasters.” Disasters caused by chemical or industrial accidents, environmental pollution, transport accidents and political unrest are classified as “human-made” or “human induced” disasters since they are the direct result of human action. A more modern and social understanding of disasters, however, views this distinction as artificial since most disasters result from the action or inaction of people and their social and economic structures. This happens by people living in ways that degrade their environment, developing and over populating urban centres, or creating and perpetuating social and economic systems. Communities and population settled in areas susceptible to the impact of a raging river or the violent tremors of the earth are placed in situations of high vulnerability because of their socio-economic conditions. This is compounded by every aspect of nature being subject to seasonal, annual and sudden fluctuations and also due to the unpredictability of the timing, frequency and magnitude of occurrence of the disasters. About PLA and study Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is part of a family of methods that enable local people to analyze, share and enhance their knowledge of life and situation, and to plan, prioritize, act, monitor and evaluate (Absalom et. al., 1995; Chambers, 1997). The methods and approaches evolved during the 1980s and 1990s in an effort to find ways to facilitate participation by communities in international development strategies, rather than rely on top-down projects designed and led by outsiders. The principles of PLA1 remain the same throughout: Learn directly from the local community – Local community members are the experts.