The Oxfam-BEDROC study "Building Local Capacities for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction" has been published. The study attempts to assess perceptions of coastal communities on disasters, aid, and changes to their own response capacity & community resilience subsequent to the 2004 tsunami. The analysis was done with reference to the Hyogo Framework of ActionAid's five thematic areas for disaster resilience.

1.Governance

• Election Watch

BEDROC is a member of the National Election Watch and Tamil Nadu Election Watch movement. Information filed by the candidates is made available to its district level constituencies, especially the communities to support them in informed decision making and responsible voting.

• Policy Advocacy

Studies on understanding the vulnerabilities of the farming communities of Nagapattinam indicated that unless some action was taken on the repairs and maintenance of the river systems, Nagapattinam would always be vulnerable to floods and hydrological droughts.

Most of Nagapattinam is low-lying with a flat terrain. 14 river systems run through this district before draining into the Bay of Bengal. These river systems cause severe flooding during heavy rains and back flooding during high tide. Meticulous maintenance of these systems is the only solution to disaster-proof agriculture in this district.

Nagapattinam has the longest coastline in the state of Tamil Nadu and is at the tail end of the Cauvery delta which covers an area of 16 lakh acres. 12 lakh acres are spread across Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam and the remaining 4 lakh acres, across Pudukottai, Cuddalore and Karaikal (Union Territory of Pondicherry).