Following the 1999 cyclone, which devastated important areas in the state of Orissa, India, the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) established Aparajita as the long-term aid and reconstruction programme. Aparajita aims at empowering the local community and building their capacity to recover from devastation and prepare for future natural disasters. The programme operates in three main areas of the state: Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Puri. After an assessment study of the damage and the communities' socio-economic and health status, Aparajita focused its interventions on livelihood support, infrastructure development, capacity building, savings and credit, and health interventions. This programme has served to establish the basis of a disaster management process, which includes two main components, preparedness and relief. Given the number of natural adversities in India, there is a need to both empower the communities in the management process, as well as influence government to support and institutionalise initiatives like Aparajita.