The tropical region of South Asia with
non-linear processes need denser network of observations. What is presently
available in South Asia is hardly 20-30 percent of these requirements. An
extremely high-risk region is in fact poorly populated by the observational
networks. The idea is of a common satellite in South Asian Association for
Regional Co-operation (SAARC) whose members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All South Asian countries share common
geophysical, meteorological and oceanographic factors. Space-based platforms
can provide trans-boundary perspectives invaluable for more accurate weather
forecasting, disaster risk reduction, crop harvest projections and other
purposes.
The SAARC member states
have separate set of policies, planning and programmes with respect to the
development, regulation and integration of satellite information and
communication technologies within the sphere of various activities and
purposes. Though, these are often in consonance with each other, there is a
need for convergence of processes for integrating satellite technologies with
Disaster Management (DM) and Disaster Risk Reduction processes through
policies, plans and programmes. A mechanism is therefore required to be put in
place within individual countries as well as the region as a whole for ensuring
complete integration of legal and administrative policies and structures, plans
and programmes undertaken for the improvement of DM and DRR through satellite
technology. The transboundary impact of disasters underlines the need for
integrated policies and programmes.
A number of regional and
national institutions are working on various measures to advance DM and DRR
through satellite technologies such as database of geological and weather
fluctuations, etc. A platform is required for facilitating sharing of such
knowledge or information in the form of images, databases, mathematical climate
models, etc., conducting regional research studies and pilots and replication
of good practices on both these issues among the member states. Therefore, it
may be appropriate to consider setting up a SAARC Knowledge Management Centre
on the lines of the SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC). Alternatively, a
Knowledge Management Division may be opened in the SDMC itself for better
integration of technology at a regional level.
SDMC could help member
states in establishing a regional mechanism for coordination between sector
agencies in the member states on managing regional common resources and also to
facilitate seamless integration of technology capabilities of the member states
in times of natural Disasters.
In addition to the
governmental agencies, a number of organisations/agencies, regional
intergovernmental, regional alliances and networks, etc. are involved in
activities pertaining to collection and processing of weather and geological
information. The activities related to collection of weather and geological
information and data across sectors and disciplines by various agencies result
in data which tends to be relied upon in the event of a disaster. Thus, there
is a need for developing a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the
information, whether in the public or private domain, which is gathered by
various agencies so as to ensure compliance to a certain standard of quality.
Guidance notes on compliance, quality control and evaluation criteria with
different scales may be developed to guide both policy makers and
organisations. A set of quality criteria with respective indicators to monitor
and evaluate the data may also be developed for various levels on the basis of
which member states or organisations involved in DM and DRR can depend on with
respect to the reliability of the information received by them.
The tools and techniques
used in information and communication techniques such as cloud computing, data
analytics, mobile data networks, etc. should be integrated in DM and DRR
policies and programmes. It may be beneficial to consider a common strategy for
SAARC member states to integrate such tools and techniques in DM and DRR
policies and programmes.
The SAARC member states
have developed considerable scientific and administrative expertise on
integration of information and communication technologies in various aspects of
DM and DRR which should be utilised for the common good in the region. The
SAARC Secretariat should create and maintain a pool of experts and institutions
from the member states that may be utilised as when required by any member state.
This list should also draw upon the expertise available with civil society
organisation, including the corporate sector.
Integration of satellite
detection and communication technologies in DM and DRR would be a long term process
requiring sustained efforts on the part of various national and regional
institutions. Promotion of satellite technologies in DM and DRR would thus
necessitate long-term financial support. The SAARC Secretariat may consider
making dedicated non-lapsable funding support for the purpose on a long-term
basis. The SDMC could anchor such a facility.
As the developing of the SAARC region is attracting
many foreign corporate entities in the information and communication technology
sector to set up their businesses in the region, SDMC should explore the idea
of providing a platform to them for their engagement and the pooling of
corporate/foundation resources to augment government resources earmarked for
leveraging satellite and other communication technologies for undertaking DM
and DRR. SDMC should also provide a platform for continuous engagement with the
corporate to support risk sensitive development.
