Browsing by Subject "Vulnerability"

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Open Access
Analysis of the Flood-induced Livelihood Vulnerability of the Riparian Villages along the Tista River in West Bengal
(Indian Journal of Spatial Science, 2022-12) Mitra, Rajib; Deepak Kumar, Mandal
Floods add to the distressed conditions of the poor and vulnerable inhabitants of the Tista floodplain in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. The riparian villages along the Tista River are well known for frequent and heavy rainstorms and climate-induced catastrophic events, such as flash floods due to unprecedented rains. The primary aim of the study is to determine whether there are any differences between the levels of vulnerability of riparian villages. Five villages were selected to conduct the field survey (sample size: 337, based on Cochran's method) from the Mal and Maynaguri block at the left bank of the Tista River. The livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) was assessed based on eight major components, i.e., socio-demographic characteristics, health status, livelihood techniques, food status, water status, climatic variation, flood, and social security. The study reveals LVI scored highest in Premganj - Majhiali (0.436) and lowest in Chat Rarpur (0.328) village. Because of their location, socio-demographic profile, livelihood options, social safety, water assistance, health support, climatic variance, and flood severity, the Basusuba and Premganj - Majhiali are considered the highest vulnerable. The study also indicated that, due to apathetic or indifferent attitudes, improved access to resources does not always imply that households are adopting resilience strategies.
Open Access
Earthquake, Vulnerability and State: North Bengal in 1897
(University of North Bengal, 2015-03) Ghosh, Tirthankar
The historical dimensions of the natural disasters or calamities such as - flood, earthquake, cyclone, landslide, etc. form one of the important segments of historical reconstruction of human past and these issues are also increasingly coming to be recognized. with their regional and local variations. Natural disorders not only destroyed lives and property but also disturbed the existed norms of the environment ,by which ecological balance could be restored The distinctiveness of north Bengal in respect of climate, river-influence, rainfall and natural disasters; the behavior of demographic pattern influenced and shaped by the natural calamities along with ratio of mortality or birth and death rates during these calamities displayed certain peculiarities that assert the necessity of historical analysis of these aspects. Historians have, so far, paid little attention to the historical significance of the natural disasters and to the effects of disasters upon societies. Coping with the natural disasters of a particular society depends on the nature of state and its success of providing shelter to the distress. In this background the present article seeks to draw, from historical standpoint the occurrence and consequences of the Earthquake of 1897 which originated in the region of Shillong plateau and affected lives and property in northern part of Bengal and the subsequent measures taken by the colonial Government during and after the events.