The value of viewing post-disaster reconstruction as a development initiative is being realized by mitigation professionals. However, active and ongoing practice is rare. In response, the Disaster Mitigation Institute (DMI) in India initiated two Action Planning workshops to achieve a link between reconstruction and development.

The first DMI initiative aimed at integrating coastal cyclone mitigation concerns into village development plans with victim and vulnerable communities of Kutch district in Ahmedabad, India in March 1999. Women artisans and other participants from the talukas of Nakhatrana, Abdasa, and Lakhpat covered reconstruction activities for housing, water, sanitation and health. "We want to use your computers and early warning systems to make our villages safe", said Basaraben, the first woman village head of Kutch, while participating in the workshop.

Dr. Nick Hall, South Bank University, UK joined the participants to explore faster and better ways of understanding vulnerability of the poor in a planning exercise. "The local community has such accurate and valuable insights in planning early warning systems", he said. The Action Plans were submitted to the authorities for resources and action. It was most difficult to make institutional links in this integration exercise, the participants found.

The second DMI initiative was undertaken to support the poor to plan. "Investments in risk reduction tools development are urgently needed", said an official of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation during the Action Planning workshop in Ahmedabad.

The day-long workshop on Risk Assessment Tools Development focused on operational and conceptual aspects. Residents of low-income settlements of Ahmedabad participated as users and designers of planning tools that helped them integrate post-flood reconstruction with slum improvement.

"Most risk assessment tools have corporate and investment orientation, but they also have a possibility for application in urban development planning", claimed Mihir Bhatt, DMI Director. "This opportunity needs to be exploited".

As a part of reconstruction, a series of participatory risk assessment tools were reviewed by the experts and users with the objective of making urban living more safe and risk free. The finalized tool kit will come out in printed and electronic forms for the use of training institutions in the region.