NATIONAL SEMINAR On “Disaster Management and Law: Issues and challenges” The disasters either Natural or Man-made result in enormous loss of life and property, extreme human suffering, irreparable devastation, displacement of people and impact on the environment. Asia is more susceptible to disasters and experienced nearly 60% of the world’s natural disasters. India is more prone to disasters. India, having its peculiar climatic conditions, natural geographical position, topographic characteristics and geological setting is worst affected country in the Asian region as well as in the world. According to the statistics of National Disaster Management Division, Government of India, about 85% of the total geographical area in India is vulnerable to one or more disasters and about 57% is in high seismic zone and 25 million people are affected by disasters every year. The Latur (Osmanabad, Maharashtra State) earthquake in September 1993, Gujarat in January 2001, the deadliest Tsunami in Southern Asia on 26th December 2004 and the recent earthquake cum atomic disaster in Japan are the best examples for natural disasters in which thousands people died and lakhs of people are injured and displaced. The Chernobyl Nuclear disaster in 1986 and the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 are the major examples for Man-made disasters, where in thousands of innocent people died. Apart from these two categories of disasters, there is a third kind of disaster which may be more dangerous with respect to natural environment and human security. In the name of globalization, liberalization and developmental activities, the natural environment is being destroyed by deforestation to accelerate planning of developmental projects, depletion of ozone layer in the atmosphere due to the reckless activities of Industrialists and also by the issue of global earning. Therefore along with the natural and man-made disasters, the third category disasters ie, the Environmental degradation must be addressed with adequate infra-structural, organisational and regulatory measures. The disasters are borderless, not bound by political boundaries and have no social and economic considerations. The effect of disaster does not end with occurrence of disaster. They have long-term and negative consequences. The disasters would leave to the survivors and the people of locality with broken houses, completely shattered infrastructure, irrepairably damaged property, collapsed economy and greatly destroyed ecology. The disaster leaves psychological and mental scars to the survivors and result in disfigurement and other physical infirmities to the future generations. Though the natural disasters like Earthquakes, Landslides, flood, cyclone, Tsunami, Avalanche, Draught, Famine, Fire, Hurricane and volcanic erruptions are not controllable by human agency and the man-made disasters-like Nuclear explosions, Power outages, Aviations, Terrorism and Space disasters-are unavoidable under certain circumstance. But efforts could be taken to prevent and mitigate all types of disasters and to alleviate suffering of the people. Some measures have already been taken at National and international level to prevent, mitigate, regulate and rehabilitate the victims of disasters. The United Nations had proclaimed international Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction during 1990 and 1999, in pursuance of which yokohama strategy and plan of action for safer world 1994, Istanbul declaration on human settlement 1996, declaration on Natural Disaster Prevention, land use planning and Sustainable Development 1999, Geneva mandate on Disaster Reduction 1999 and a number of regional instruments were adopted. Again the General Assembly of the UN has reviewed the above declarations in January 2005 and further adopted two important declarations i.e Hyogo Declaration and Hyogo Frame Work for Action 2005-2015. At national level, a High power committee was appointed by the Central Government in 1999 for the preparation of disaster management plans and national Core Group was also set up after Latur and Gujarat Earth quakes to draw up plans for land use in terms of natural hazards and revised building codes and building bye-laws for construction. The parliament has enacted the Disaster management Act 2005, in which the authorities have been constituted at national state and District levels. Training institutions on disaster management are created and a provision has been made for National disaster Response force. It also lays down the guidelines for state and local authorities and provides funds and other supportive mechanisms. Despite the number of measures taken by the Government of India and other National and International organizations, the problems of the victims of disaster are yet to be addressed meaningfully. The victims of disasters are subject to deprivation of their basic human rights such as Right to food, health, water, right to education, rehabilitation and right to family. The victims of disasters are also subject to psycho-social and mental health issues. Therefore, all these issues are to be discussed and addressed by Academicians, Advocates, Doctors, Social Scientists, Human Right Commissions & Courts, Officials of all the Govt. Departments, NGOs and other professionals.Keeping these issues, the Department of Environmental Law and Legal Order, the Tamil Nadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University, Chennai proposes to organize a One day National Seminar on “ Disaster Management and Law : Issues and Challenges” on 13th October 2015 on the eve of International Disaster Reduction Day. The Sub-themes of the seminar are mentioned hereunder. Disasters and Early Warning systems Environmental impact of disasters Disaster Management - National and International Legal responses Nuclear disaster, Terrorism and Principles of Liability Climate change and disasters Disasters, Risk Management, Mitigation and Preparedness Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Role of Government and international organizations in mitigating the problems of victims. Role of NGOs and Civil Societies Disaster affected people and Human Rights. Disaster Victims, Psycho-social and mental health issues Enquiries and Investigations for Disaster Post disaster developments. REGISTRATION FORM NATIONAL SEMINAR “Disaster Management and Law: Issues and Challenges” 13 October, 2015 Name : Sex : Male[ ] Female [ ] Designation : Department/Institution/ University : Call for Papers: Well researched and well documented papers will be permitted for presentation in the seminar. The abstract of the papers on the identified sub-themes not exceeding 250 words in MS Word with Times New Roman for and Size 12, Single Line spacing should reach the director of the seminar on or before 30.09.2015 Through Email: profgopal2009@gmail.com. THE TAMIL NADU Dr. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY National Seminar On “DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND LAW ISSUES AND CHALLENGES” The full paper shall be submitted by the participants not exceeding 10 pages, typed in double space on A4 Size to the Director on or before 10.10.2015 through Email: On the eve of International Disaster Reduction Day Mobile : profgopal2009@gmail.com. The participants are also required to On Presenting a Pater : pay the registration fee along with the submission of full paper/Abstract. 13th October,2015 Phone No: Land Line : E-mail : Yes [ ] No [ ] Title of the Paper : Registration Fee : Date : Signature : Faculty Members/Advocates/ Others : 400/- Research Scholars / Students : 200/- Details of Payment Registration Fee Amount : D.D.No : Date : In favour of the Registrar, TNDALU, Payable at Chennai The Registration fee shall be paid through DD drawn in the favour of The Registrar, TNDALU payable at Chennai No TA/DA will be provided by University. However, Local hospitality will be provided to all the participants by TNDALU. Address for Correspondence : Students must forward the registration form through Head/Dean/Principal of the institution. For further details contact the Director of the Seminar. For Students : Year of Study PG/UG Branch Signature of the Head / Dean/ Principal Date : Office Seal: Note : Photo copies of this form may also be used. Prof. Dr. D. Gopal Director of the Seminar, HOD Environmental Law and Legal Order TNDALU Chennai – 600 028. Mobile : 94445 71101 Organized by Dept. of Environmental Law and Legal Order The Tamil Nadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University VENUE Auditorium P.G. & Research Block, The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law university, Chennai