*
Dean and Deputy Commandant, AFMC, Pune-40.
+
DDG(P&T); O/o DGAFMS, Min of Defence, New Delhi.
#
Dy.DGMS(P); O/o
DGMS(Army); IHQs (Army), Min of Defence, New Delhi-1.
**
Director of Vascular Surgery, MAX Heart Institute, New Delhi.
++
DGHS(AF);
O/o DGAFMS, Min of Defence, New Delhi.
Received : 02.08.2007; Accepted : 07.11.2007 Email : brigrajagopal@yahoo.co.uk
Contemporary Issue
Introduction
T
he Indian subcontinent has been affected by various
disasters from time to time. The peculiar geo-
climatic condition of the country makes it vulnerable to
floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides.
According to estimates more than half of the landmass
is prone to seismic activity of various intensities. At least
40 million hectares of land is prone to floods, 8% of land
mass to cyclones and 68% to drought. As per the
Government of India estimates an average of 4344 people
died and about 30 million were affected by various
natural calamities in India during the last decade. The
India Natural Disaster Profile (Fig.1) estimates that
almost the entire country is prone to at least one hazard
[1]. The increase in the vulnerability in recent years has
been a serious threat to the overall development of the
Ex-Servicemen Medical Aid Group (ESMAG) : The
Hidden Force
Maj Gen G Rajagopal, AVSM
*
, Brig KK Singh, SM, VSM
+
, Brig AC Anand, VSM
#
, Col (Retd) KM Rai, SM
**
,
Lt Gen J Jayaram,
AV SM
++
Abstract
Natural calamities such as cyclones, floods and earthquakes are common occurrences in the Indian sub continent which require
super human effort to contain damage to men and material. Such events put the dedication, endurance capabilities and
organizational skills available in the country to a litmus test. It is not surprising therefore, that the Armed Forces are often asked
to spearhead the relief work in such disaster situations. So far, the potential for utilization of disciplined and trained ex-
servicemen population for such situations has remained untapped due to the lack of an organizational framework. A concept of
tapping this large pool of trained manpower is presented.
MJAFI 2008; 64 : 61-64
Key Words: Disaster management; Ex- servicemen
Mortality Gross Domestic Product
Fig. 1 : Multi-hazard disaster risk hotspots (all hazards combined and weighted by mortality and Gross Domestic Product impacted) [1]
