New Delhi, May 19 -- Kerala is on the verge of launching a groundbreaking disaster management plan, a model that can set a new standard nationwide. This innovative plan is uniquely designed to safeguard the state's tribal community, particularly those residing in hazardous hilly terrains, from the annual onslaught of extreme weather events.

By integrating traditional indigenous knowledge for managing climate adversities with modern scientific rescue and rehabilitation methods, the plan aims to benefit approximately 484,839 tribal people living in over 6,000 hamlets, most of which are located in some of the highly fragile regions of the Western Ghats.

As the southwest monsoon approaches, the state has successfully piloted the community-...