Bridging Risk and Resilience: Governance and Disaster Risk Reduction in Western Himalayan of India – A Case of Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has emerged as a vital component of sustainable development and human security, particularly in hazard-prone regions like the Indian Himalayas. This paper presents a critical review of DRR governance, resilience frameworks, and community-based approaches in India, with a specific focus on Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. Situated in seismic zones IV and V and vulnerable to landslides, floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and forest fires, Chamba presents a complex hazard profile that necessitates a robust and localised disaster governance system. The study draws from international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and examines their alignment with India's national and sub-national disaster management strategies, including the Disaster Management Act (2005), the National Policy on Disaster Management (2009) and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Plan (2015). Employing a mixed-methods approach with primary household survey data collected in January 2024, alongside secondary sources like District Disaster Management Plans. The research identifies key resilience milestones in Chamba district over the last five decades, ranging from afforestation initiatives and infrastructure retrofitting to the installation of early warning systems and green infrastructure projects. Despite these advancements, multiple barriers hinder effective DRR implementation, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited community preparedness, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and ecological degradation due to unregulated land use. Survey-based data further reveal significant gaps in resource allocation, institutional capacity and local-level coordination. The study concludes that while Chamba has made considerable progress in aligning with national and international DRR priorities, significant challenges remain. It recommends enhancing decentralised governance, integrating geospatial technologies, fostering community-based disaster preparedness and ensuring transparent, equitable funding mechanisms. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers and practitioners aiming to build resilient, adaptive and inclusive DRR frameworks in Himalayan regions and other vulnerable areas.