The month of August has been one of the most unforgettable and unfortunate month for the people of Kerala. We saw a devastating flood of Level 3 Calamity, with a death toll of more than 450 and left a million people in relief camps. It rocked every single Keralite to the core, opening our eyes to the mere fact that our small state is not as safe as we thought it to be from Mother Nature’s fury.
Kerala is not new to floods and landslides. But it was the incessant rains and subsequent opening of 35 dams across the state that lead to majority of the disaster. Despite the severity of the flood, the people of this small southern state rose to the situation and acted above and beyond their daily dose of willingness.
The disaster management during Kerala floods showed promising entrepreneurial acts and methods from the citizens. The quick thinking and readiness to take risks mark the entrepreneurial mind set of Keralites even in tense situations.
Helping hands – Disaster management strategy and entrepreneurial efforts
A calamity of a large scale has many dimensions. There is recovery at an individual as well as at a community level. Economic recovery is something that is going to have implications into the future. Any kind of entrepreneurial activity during or post-disaster such as direct relief, camps to communities, rescue solutions, infrastructure and early warning systems must be designed to improve the suffering economy. The disaster management during Kerala floods showed promising act of entrepreneurship from Keralites. In a broader sense, entrepreneurship develop, organize and manage a small sale business for profit. Looking from a different perspective, when it comes to rebuilding a homeland, it translates to long term community profit rather than personal ones.
The disaster management during Kerala floods showed promising entrepreneurial acts and methods from the citizens. During the initial stages of the flood, there were many people who coordinated rescue operations using social media channels and private vehicles. The quick thinking and readiness to take risks mark the entrepreneurial mind set of Keralites even in tense situations. We saw the tech savvy younger generation of keralites turning their social media channels into online control rooms for the rescue as well as relief operations, while local fisher men came forward as rescuers, reaching out to thousands of stranded people across the state. Small scale business men were on their feet with all kinds help from food to clothes to medicines. Relief camps were efficiently run through collective efforts of government officials and volunteers. Every move the people made showed resilience at its best.
What the future holds…
The people of Kerala are busy rebuilding their homes and communities. The strong entrepreneurial foundation set by keralites will help reduce the need to depend on governments agents. Policies that emphasis these efforts and efficient fund transaction from the government to aid them will translate to effective recovery strategies and programs. Business of all kinds aimed at reinstating the Kerala to its full glory is underway. Thoughtful entrepreneurs of the state has a lot of space to put their ideas to work, from cleaning to recycling and even rebuilding houses for the needy which many have already begun. Think eco-friendly.
We believe that Kerala is all set to be a true example of entrepreneurship in days to come.