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Born as a relief committee of the National Council
of Churches, in immediate response to the suffering
masses during India's partition in 1947, Churches
Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) is now an autonomous
body created by 24 Protestant and Orthodox churches
in India. CASA functions as the only outreach
arm of these churches. As the related agency of
the National Council of Churches in India, CASA
is mandated to do relief work on behalf of all
the Protestant churches, including the Lutheran
churches in India.
CASA has a history of responding to emergencies
and disasters since 1947. CASA's response is regardless
of considerations of caste, creed, language, religion,
ethnic origin or political affiliation. Operating
on an all-India basis, CASA responds to 60-70
emergencies -- both natural and man-made -- per
year. CASA has a decentralised disaster preparedness
plan. This system has been created through the
establishment of a wider and more effective infrastructure
network and capacity building programme for CASA
staff, representatives of churches, and identified
partner organisations, both at the disaster management
and grassroots levels, who can respond to our
call for assistance at short notice, in consultation
with and on behalf of the churches in India.
The operational aspect of CASA's response entails
concerns like forecasting and warnings of any
calamity, education and training of populations
at risk, preparation of operational plans, identification
and training of relief groups and NGOs and mobilisation
of funds. This is backed by relief material purchased
and pre-stocked at CASA's warehouses at strategic
locations throughout the country. The quantum
of relief material stored at these locations at
any given time is determined on the basis of hazard
mapping done by CASA, and is subject to constant
review and update.
The disaster response is done in three phases
depending on the need.
Immediate relief: In this phase, aid is
given to alleviate the immediate suffering of
disaster victims through the provision of relief
material, food, drinking water, medical aid, temporary
shelter, etc. Speed and logistical effectiveness
are the key concerns in this phase.
Rehabilitation: During this phase, the
focus is on restoring the area's equilibrium and
helping victims recover their means of subsistence,
thereby putting them on the road to self-reliance.
Long-term development: The immediate disaster
response and subsequent rehabilitation activities
may lead to long-term development programmes to
overcome the widespread ravages of poverty and
helplessness.
Community preparedness: CASA firmly believes
that people's participation is an essential prerequisite
for the success of any intervention. Therefore,
it has developed a specific functional, purpose-designed
and competent counter-disaster process with vulnerable
communities as the focus. CASA's disaster management
training programmes, at all levels, ensure an
effective decrease in vulnerability through an
increase in public awareness and community preparedness.
For more details contact:
CASA
Rachna Building
2, Rajendra Place, Pusa Road
New Delhi 110 008
Tel: +91 11 25761579 /25731218 /19
E-mail: casa@del6.vsnl.net.in
CASA Zonal offices:
CASA South
No.4, Church Road, Vepery
Chennai - 600 007
Ph: +91 44 2532 1268 /2532 1297
Fax: 25322836
E-mail: casa@md4.vsnl.net.in
CASA East
No.5, Russel Street
kolkata - 700 071
Ph: +91 33 2226 8206/2249 8187
Fax: 2226 5590
E-mail: casaeast@satyam.net.in
CASA Mumbai
Methodist Centre, 21, YMCA Road
Mumbai - 400 008
Ph: +91 22 2309 0152
E-mail: casa@bom8.vsnl.net.in
CASA Udaipur
Bedla Road, Badgaon
Udaipur - 313011
Rajasthan
Ph: +91 294 450438
Fax: 450058
E-mail: casaudr@sancharnet.in
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