Page 76 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

64 Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21 65

Using Information Technology to minimise disaster impact
I also share this information with my fellow
Reliance Foundation Information Services have been During FY 2020-21, these services reached 10+ lakh people, farmers. Before Amphan cyclone, we were
supporting people before, during and after cyclones through together with pre/post-cyclone advisories, in coordination with Response Disaster
Information Technology (IT). the Indian Meteorological Department, Indian National Centre sensitised about Amphan forecasting,
for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the Department of warning and advisories provided by IMD
With the help of audio bridge conferences, WhatsApp, voice Fisheries, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Krishi Vigyan
SMS and other IT services, RF reaches a large number of people Kendras, District Disaster Management Authority, local and it helped us a lot.
within a short time, minimising risk and impact and protecting administration and community-based organisations. Due to the timely and accurate information
livelihoods. received, we were able to save our lives,
save our domestic animals as well as farm
produces.
Mitigating Cyclone Amphan's Ranjan Kumar from Khanamara, Odisha sharing weather Based on early warning information
advisories (or information) with fellow farmers
of IMD shared by Reliance Foundation,
widespread impact Early warnings helped during 55 individuals from our region were shifted
May 2020 Cyclone Amphan safely from thatched houses to nearby

The first super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal region since 1999, school building along with 12 animals. Seven
Cylcone Amphan hit the Sundarbans, which is home to farming families were able to save their
4 million people, and affected large parts of West Bengal and I regularly receive information through harvested brinjal by storing them in safe
Odisha in India and south-west Bangladesh. voice messages and helpline suggestions place before the cyclone. I was also able to
Reliance Foundation initiated daily pre-warning advisories from Reliance Foundation. save my harvested paddy crop and stored it
from May 15 onwards, reaching 2.2 lakh people in the cyclone at a safe place. I am very thankful to IMD and
path. I always trust IMD weather advisory shared Reliance Foundation for providing correct
These advisories helped in their safe evacuation and by Reliance Foundation because it has
safeguarding their assets and livelihoods from pre/post- been accurate and useful to me in the past and timely information and helping us.
cyclone measures, thereby minimising the impact on lives, as well. Ranjan Kumar Swain
agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The Reliance Foundation Khanamara Village, Kandrapara district, Odisha
toll-free helpline facility was available 24x7 to answer cyclone- So, I prefer to use this valuable information
related queries. of IMD through Reliance Foundation’s
various IT platforms.
5,369 animals treated through
18 livestock treatment camps

By RF in partnership with Animal Resources
Development Departments of Odisha and West Bengal

2.2 lakh 2,000 queries

People reached through Resolved overall through Community outreach to Safety alerts save lives
pre-warning advisories 24X7 RF toll-free helpline
number counter Cyclone Nivar and livestock during
Cyclone Burevi
November 2020
~89% Before Cyclone Nivar made landfall, Reliance November - December 2020
Foundation provided pre-cyclone advisories, which
Early warning advisories from Reliance Foundation
reached 1.52 lakh individuals.
individuals The outreach extended to Tamil Nadu, Andhra reached 1.7+ lakh farmers and fisherfolk across
33 districts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Pradesh, Telangana and the Union Territory of
Puducherry. Of these, 25 advisories on livelihood, and Puducherry before Cyclone Burevi hit.
Averted loss of livelihood due to Reliance IMD warnings and post-cyclone advisories reached After the cyclone, 66,000+ people were sensitised
Foundation’s early warning advisories that helped 81,958 individuals. Short videos on precautionary through post-cyclone advisories in 16 districts of
people take precaution in time * measures were uploaded onto the RF Information Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Reliance Foundation
Services YouTube channel. 655 livestock units of 170 also provided advisories on agriculture, livestock
livestock owners were treated by RF in partnership health management and safety in the sea for
* (A June 2020 study in 11 districts of Odisha and 10 districts of West with the Animal Husbandry Department. fisherfolk. 750+ livestock units of 100+ livestock
Bengal affected by Cyclone Amphan) farmers were treated RF in partnership with the
1.52 lakh Animal Husbandry Department of Tamil Nadu.
People reached through
pre-warning advisories
Early warning advisories being shared by Reliance
Foundation in Nadia district, West Bengal