A disaster wipes out the gains achieved in decades of development in the affected area. The most vulnerable groups to disasters are poor and socially disadvantaged as their habitats are in marginal/vulnerable areas and the quality of their habitats is such that they cannot withstand natural calamities / disasters. Their marginal asset base is wiped out by a disaster, leaving them without any livelihood sources. While hazards are often caused due to factors that are beyond human control, vulnerability of communities can be substantially reduced by planned preparedness and mitigation measures. Lessons from previous disasters show that only sustained and timely action to reduce risk can prevent or mitigate the impact of a disaster. However, for risk reduction planning it is imperative to develop a culture of safety amongst the local community, as they are the first responders,

primary beneficiaries and principal actors in the event of disaster. The GoI – UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme was conceived out of the need for concerted and sustained steps towards reducing the vulnerability of communities to disasters across the 17 states of the country including Delhi.

In the context of Delhi, which is politically and economically, one