Arupa Mission Research Foundation carried out a survey on Disaster preparedness and Mitigation for the Differently Abled Community (Disability) of Jagatsinghpur district. The project was carried out for Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Center Bhubaneshwar with financial aid from DANIDA, New Delhi in aid of policy making for the disabled. The survey was aimed at both people with different disabilities as well as stakeholders. Focus group analysis was also taken up to target problems faced by the disabled during a disaster situation. The project started on 25th of October 2004 and ended on 7th of January 2005 with the submission of a report.

It is believed that disasters both natural and man made compound already existing disabilities as well as increase the number of disabled in such a situation. The target group was people with impairments falling under the following categories- Multiple Disabilities, Locomotor, and Visual, Mental Retardation and speech and Hearing Impaired. Fifty impaired persons were identified from each block through enumerators trained by representatives of Vocational Rehabilitation Center Bhubaneshwar. The total number of impaired persons covered during the survey was 400. Stakeholders were also covered during the survey.The stakeholders included both Government officials as well as representatives of NGOs and Funding Agencies.

The objective behind Focus group meetings were to identify the gaps in needs and Aid and support given to the disabled during and post disaster. Focus Group meetings were organised in Biridi and Balikuda blocks of the district. Jagatsinghpur district is prone to natural as well as man made disasters. The high incidence of natural disasters is through floods and cyclones as well as man made disasters such as vehicular accidents.