Reducing Disaster Fatalities via District Amateur Radio in India

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project Name:Reducing disaster fatalities via district amateur radio in India

This project seeks to reduce disaster-related casualties and infrastructure damage by deploying amateur radio stations in district Emergency Operation Centres.

Reliable communication is crucial for timely response and reducing losses, especially when conventional networks fail.

The initiative highlights the vital role of backup communication systems in disaster scenarios and advocates for updated policies and regulatory frameworks to enhance and sustain emergency radio networks across South Asia, ensuring more effective disaster management and resilience.

Annual losses to
telecommunications
sector in India
$ 0 mn
Health and welfare
inquiries handled by
amateur radio during
2005 Hurricane Katrina
0 +

Impact and Key Findings

1

Amateur radio ensures reliable communication when conventional networks fail during disasters, playing a crucial role in emergency response and coordination. Its resilience is essential for crisis management, particularly in remote or severely affected areas with limited connectivity. 

2

Policy reforms should permit Indian citizens to legally own and operate radio transceivers, aligning with U.S. regulations. This would enable faster emergency response, enhance local disaster communication, and reduce reliance on external equipment during crisis situations. 

3

Placing amateur radio stations within district Emergency Operation Centres eliminates setup delays, enabling immediate, reliable communication. This enhances disaster response efficiency, ensuring faster coordination and potentially saving lives in crisis situations where conventional networks may be compromised. 

Resources

Aishwarya Pillai

Lead Specialist

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes. 

Alpana Saha

Director, Partnerships, Governance, and Resource Mobilisation 

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes.