Natural-disaster And Displacement In Assam: The Case Of Floods And Impact On Marginalised Communities

 

ABSTRACT

2021 saw the largest displacements due to disasters. One of the impacts of climate change has been the increased variability and uncertainty around rainfall patterns which drastically increase the risk of floods. The magnitude of these floods is projected to increase further in the coming years, amplifying the risk of population displacement. Floods have already begun to displace communities, pushing them to migrate in order to rehabilitate. A region in particular that continues to witness devastating floods is the northeastern state of Assam. In 2022 alone, floods in Assam impacted nearly 55 lakh people, leading to their immediate displacement and homelessness. This paper will analyse how natural disasters, primarily floods, increase the risk of displacement of vulnerable communities and if the measures taken for disaster management and rehabilitation are adequate. Through the case of Assam, this paper will explore how over the years, due to the combined effects of its natural topography and climate change, the state’s vulnerability to disasters has increased. 

Keywords: Floods, Displacement, Marginalised Communities, Assam, Disaster-Management 

 

NATURAL DISASTERS: FLOODS IN INDIA

As a result of climate change, there is a growing number of disappearing coastlines, deep droughts, and flooded homes. Natural disasters have caused widespread damage and destruction, impacting around 28.8 crore people globally (Kam et al., 2021). Floods often cause sudden displacement of a large population, temporarily or permanently (Robinson, 2003). People may move due to flooding that has already occurred or as a precautionary measure before a future flood. It is one of the significant causes of displacement, accounting for 63% of people displaced from their homes as compared to violence and conflict (Kam et al., 2021). These displacements can be prolonged if the infrastructure has been significantly damaged, disrupting the livelihoods of the affected communities. United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (n.d.) defines a disaster as “a serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources”.


Default Author Image

Fatima Juned

Found this post insightful? Share it with your network and help spread the knowledge.

Suggested Reads

अल्पसंख्यक शिक्षण संस्थान का दर्जा तय करने के लिए मापदंडों को उदार किया सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 

अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम विश्वविद्यालय (एएमयू) के अल्पसंख्यक स्वरूप को लेकर लम्बे समय से चली आ रही कानूनी जंग अभी पूरी तरह खत्म नहीं हुई है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट की सात सदस्यीय संविधान पीठ ने 4:3 के बहुमत से साफतौर पर कहा कि संसद द्वारा पारित कानून का मतलब यह नहीं है कि उस शिक्षण संस्थान अपने अल्पसंख्यक […]

India vs. EU’s CBAM: Trade Wars & Green Tariffs

Introduction  The European Union has been at the forefront of global climate policy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 under its European Green Deal. To support this goal, the EU has introduced several measures, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The CBAM has been viewed as a key intervention to reduce carbon leakage. […]

Grid or Gaps? Exploring the Challenges of Rural Electrification in India Post-Saubhagya

Introduction  India has made significant strides in rural electrification, addressing energy poverty and its unique socio-economic development. In line with its global commitments to ‘ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all’, India led with key interventions, including the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, also known as the Saubhagya Scheme. The […]

An Approximation of Employment-Centric Social Security Frameworks in India

The ongoing design process of the social security framework best suited to the platform-based gig economy in India is a testament to the changing terrain of increasingly complex industrial relations in India. At stake is the validity of the traditional tripartite model of industrial relations and a push for creative solutions.

Impact of the Agnipath Scheme on Indo-Nepal Relations, China’s Involvement, and Way Forward for India

Introduction The relations between South Asian countries are laden with historical complexities and shifting strategic concerns. India’s Agnipath scheme is a drastic change in military recruitment policy on the domestic and international levels. In this article, we will analyse the effects of the Agnipath scheme on Indo-Nepal relations, discuss the change in Nepal’s inclination towards […]