Ethics Case Study: India looses too many lives due to heavy floods and other natural disasters every year. The nature and cause of floods across different parts of the states are different. In some areas flood situation is worsened due to high level of siltation and rising river bed. Poor maintenance and resultant failure of embankments and erosional activities are other contributing factors leading to recurrence of floods causing high magnitude of losses and damages. Floods in urban areas such as Guwahati are a result of yet another set of contributing factors such as inadequate urban drainage, poor maintenance of drains and improper land use planning. A single flood event cannot be attributed to climate change but shifting rainfall pattern is also influencing the characteristics of the floods. In such a context, disaster risk reduction efforts to reduce flood losses require due attention to not only the direct causes but also the social milieu, economic diaspora, natural environment, ethical and cultural practices etc. These processes are complex in nature owing to historical background and the present processes of development and urbanization. Culture influences to a large extent affect the implementation of strategies and policies. You have been appointed as a District Administrator tasked with disaster risk reduction. You are new to this place unknown to cultural and traditional practices. Everything from rescue to rehabilitation is dependent on you. 1. What are the courses do you think will be suitable for such areas and how you are going to deal with the situation? Justify your actions. 2. What are the ethical impediments you are likely to face in dealing with the people affected by floods?

Mentor’s Comment: The case study is taken from the floods situation in Assam and West Bengal which the trend shows … Continue reading Ethics Case Study: India looses too many lives due to heavy floods and other natural disasters every year. The nature and cause of floods across different parts of the states are different. In some areas flood situation is worsened due to high level of siltation and rising river bed. Poor maintenance and resultant failure of embankments and erosional activities are other contributing factors leading to recurrence of floods causing high magnitude of losses and damages. Floods in urban areas such as Guwahati are a result of yet another set of contributing factors such as inadequate urban drainage, poor maintenance of drains and improper land use planning. A single flood event cannot be attributed to climate change but shifting rainfall pattern is also influencing the characteristics of the floods. In such a context, disaster risk reduction efforts to reduce flood losses require due attention to not only the direct causes but also the social milieu, economic diaspora, natural environment, ethical and cultural practices etc. These processes are complex in nature owing to historical background and the present processes of development and urbanization. Culture influences to a large extent affect the implementation of strategies and policies. You have been appointed as a District Administrator tasked with disaster risk reduction. You are new to this place unknown to cultural and traditional practices. Everything from rescue to rehabilitation is dependent on you. 1. What are the courses do you think will be suitable for such areas and how you are going to deal with the situation? Justify your actions. 2. What are the ethical impediments you are likely to face in dealing with the people affected by floods?