Vulnerabilities assessment of communities relocated due to cyclones in rural areas of Ganjam district, Odisha
Student name: Ms Greeshma Hegde
Guide: Dr Bhawna Bali
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Garima Jain
Abstract: In India, the eastern coastal State of Odisha, has faced the wrath of many devastating cyclones that have caused major life and property loss. A measure taken up by the Government of Odisha called the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project (ODRP), aims at providing dignified housing to people whose houses had been damaged after the cyclone Phailin that had struck Odisha. However, with a view to reduce the vulnerability, several of the settlements had been uprooted from the social and cultural nets and have been moved to new sites. This study aims at assessing the vulnerabilities of communities that have been relocated under the ODRP in the rural areas of Ganjam District of Odisha. A vulnerability assessment is done to highlight the social, physical, environmental and economic vulnerabilities of the settlements ,before and after the ODRP intervention. The study is based on primary and secondary data. The results of the study reveal that the socio-cultural and economic vulnerabilities of communities relocated at a distance from the old site increase as compared those who are relocated in the proximity of old settlement. The study therefore, draws attention to the need for carefully planned relocation of communities who are particularly vulnerable to disasters on account of climate change.
Key Words: Vulnerability, relocation, cyclones, coastal areas, Odisha Disaster Recovery Project.
