Retired faculty trainer’s well-researched e book on Kerala floods beneficial properties consideration

By Express News Service

KANNUR: Considering the hassle and analysis which have gone right into a complete examine on the floods witnessed within the state in two consecutive seasons, it could maybe come as a shock that the e book ‘Disaster Management in Kerala: Undercurrents and Overtones’ is written by a retired faculty trainer — Okay P Balan.

A reserved particular person, Balan lets readers and specialists within the topic choose the e book and retains away from voicing any claims relating to the standard and impression of his contribution in the direction of the examine of the flood state of affairs within the state. Showering reward on the e book, author Okay Jayakumar, former chief secretary of the state, mentioned it must be thought of a “major resource for future training and studies on disaster management”.

The e book is of excessive educational worth, Jayakumar added.

Balan, who retired from the Government Brennen HSS in Thalasserry, landed on the topic throughout his in depth newspaper studying through the 2018 flood.

“As the disaster was of a high magnitude, and one of the biggest in history since 1924, I had gone through the news published in the newspapers very closely. Everybody was referring to the flood of 1924. But as I went in search of a book or a detailed study about that flood, nothing worthwhile was there about it, apart from some newspaper reports. So I thought, it shouldn’t happen to this flood, as a detailed study about it would be of great value to the administration and the coming generations,” mentioned Balan, a resident of Kizhakkumbhagam close to Pinarayi.

Since he thought the topic can be of nice curiosity to these outdoors the state, and even abroad, he determined to write down in English.

“It was not easy for a person without any influence like me. I went through many government documents that I had attained through around 3,000 RTI applications. It took more than two years for me to finish writing the 427-page book. I hope my work would serve as material for scientific discussion,” Balan mentioned.

He has tried to depict the explanations behind the large impression of the flood on the geography and the individuals of the state by eleven chapters.

“Instead of following the general trend of portraying the tragedies, personal losses and other sentimental elements, I have concentrated on facts, figures, policy directions and the decisions taken at the government level. It can also be read as a historical and ecological study of the floods that hit the state,” he mentioned.

Disasters are studied in three levels — pre-disaster, catastrophe, and post-disaster.

The examine engages the varied dimensions of rescue, aid and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the federal government, and gives perception into what Kerala can be taught after the catastrophe in taking precautions and the way it can implement the Rebuild Kerala initiative.

The e book was launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in October on the Pinarayi Convention Centre. “I have received encouraging feedback from the readers, and the messages I received from former chief secretary K Jayakumar and Dr. Ravi Raman, state planning board member, give me immense satisfaction and joy,” Balan mentioned.