National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA),
headed by the Prime Minister, is the nodal agency for Disaster management in
India. During the recent floods in Chennai (capital city of Tamil Nadu, one of
the Southern states of India), NDMA has been playing major role in rescue
operations and relief activities. While it is heartening to note how help was
pouring for Chennai floods through the use of social media by the citizens, it
is equally disappointing to find that NDMA has not utilized the potential of
social media to strengthen their rescue and relief strategy. NDMA is presently using
three social media platforms namely Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. There is no
single post on Facebook and no single video on YouTube about the Chennai
floods. The latest video on YouTube is 6 months old. There were just four tweets
on Twitter @ndmaindia as mentioned below:
NDMA helpline 24*7 is 1078 #ChennaiRainsHelp
#ChennaiFloods
All rescue requests to be mailed to tn04-ndrf@nic.in.
copy to ndmacontrlroom@gmail.com. #ChennaiFloods
All requests received for help/rescue being
transferred to NDMA and NDRF control room #ChennaiFloods
Please confirm at ndmacontrlroom@gmail.com if
stranded persons for whom rescue request tweeted, have reached safely, to avoid
duplication # ChennaiFloods
The above shows that there is no serious
attempt to use the potential of social media by the Government agency. There is
still greater emphasis on use of conventional mediums of communication such as
helpline and e-mails. While these are important and useful mediums, social
media is also an equally important tool during crisis and disaster management,
as we have seen in recent incidents in USA and France. There is a need to have institutions
such as Virtual Operation Support Teams (VOST) in India also, to harness the
social media during such disasters.
The use of social media by the Government in
India is still novice. However, given the inclination of the present Government
towards social media use, it is hoped that in near future, the Government
agencies will equip themselves to tap the potential of social media during
crisis/disasters.
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