4.2.1. Risk Mapping and Action Planning

We started to say used to go to Dharavi and say people hey hello how are you, and then we started to build kind of rapport with the people. People say hello, how are you they are talking about many issues, they are concerned about their livelihood issues, their job, family issues, housing issues.

In this phase, the researchers initiated communication with the local community in Dharavi. They introduced themselves and began to build relationships by showing genuine interest in the residents’ lives and concerns. This engagement paved the way for meaningful dialogue about the issues that affected the community, including their livelihoods and housing.

Imagine a teacher who wants to introduce a new topic to students. Instead of starting the lesson directly, the teacher first asks the students about their experiences related to the topic. This way, students feel included and are more likely to participate actively.

We said can we help you? can you help you some manner, before that we did not really put our plan to them we just wanted to know that this proposal should come from them and we should also try to understand them their concerns?

The researchers approached the community with the intention of helping, but they emphasized that the solution should come from the community itself. By asking open-ended questions, they encouraged residents to express their needs and concerns regarding flood management rather than imposing a preset plan.

Think of a community garden where the organizer asks the local residents what vegetables they would like to grow rather than deciding for them. This way, the garden meets the community's preferences, making everyone feel more invested in its success.

So they said that yes we need some help if you can do to manage better the flood we are facing every year. So we developed risk mapping and then over the period of time we developed an action plan with them.

After understanding the community's concerns, specifically about recurring floods, the researchers collaborated with the residents to create 'risk mapping'. This involves identifying areas at high risk of flooding and documenting this information visually. Following this, they worked together to formulate an actionable plan addressing the identified risks.

Imagine planning a family trip. You first need to talk to everyone about their concerns—like if a particular road is often congested. After discussing it, you decide which route to take and what activities to plan based on everyone's preferences and safety concerns.

I will talk about that how we involved these communities into this decision-making process. That was the phase one and that we first identified the stakeholder and we developed a base map and also Phase two we developed a risk mapping and prioritisation of work.

The process of involving the community in decision-making is crucial for effective disaster risk management. In the first phase, stakeholders (individuals who have a stake in the outcomes) were identified. By creating a base map that outlined critical areas of concern, they then proceeded to develop risk mappings that prioritized which areas needed immediate attention.

This process is akin to planning a neighborhood festival. First, you need to involve local businesses (stakeholders) to see who wants to participate. Then, you make a map of the area to see where events could take place effectively, ensuring that everyone's concerns and needs are addressed.

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