Case Studies

Country Papers

India country paper

India

1. Drought and Earthquake hit Gujarat
This study was to focus on drought prone Gujarat and Rajastan states and the livelihoods and coping methods of the people who live in these arid areas. While the study was on-going however, a major earthquake rocked Gujarat affecting a population already suffering from severe drought.

The foremost implication of drought is on water. Drinking water is a major concern in the state of Gujarat where 2/3 of the land area is designated as water scarce. In 1999 the state of Gujarat declared 1131 villages as drought-affected. The main drinking water sources are hand pumps, pipe-borne water, bore wells and traditional sources like wells and ponds. Water quality, however, is rather poor because of the presence of salts and nitrates. When drought conditions set in, women in the villages have to rely on other sources like neighboring village wells, private tankers and broken pipelines. This water comes at a cost, however, as more time and money is spent procuring it.

January of 2000 brought with it an earthquake, to the drought-battered Gujarat. By this time, crops had failed and men had migrated out of their villages in search of work and income.
Meanwhile the women left behind had to cope with earthquake damage- caved wells, damaged pipelines, cracks in ponds and tanks. This further reduced the community`s water
security and capacity to deal with a second year of drought.

The Gujarat study looked at how the effect of the drought and subsequent earthquake on main livelihoods of the people in this area. The main income generating activities are agriculture, livestock farming, salt pan work and craft production.

2. Cyclone in Orissa
Two big cyclones hit the coast of Orissa at Gopalpur and Paradeep on 18th and 29th of October 1999. Out of 30 districts in the state 14 coastal districts were heavily affected.

This study was conducted in two districts of Orissa - Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara - with special reference to one worst-hit block from each district: Ersama in Jagatsinghpur and Mahakalpada in Kendrapara. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources.

The majority of the people in the area studied are involved in agriculture. The main crops sown include paddy, wheat, ragi, groundnut, potato, and vegetables. Other occupations are fishing, cattle rearing, poultry, trading, and crafts work. Women help the men in their occupations.

People living in the cyclone-prone areas have developed strategies for coping with cyclones. As there is no proper documentation of the community`s traditional knowledge, wisdom, and coping strategies with regard to cyclones, the study put particular emphasis on identifying these. Some of the elements of indigenous knowledge that were identified can form a basis for more detailed study and documentation that could be supplemented with other scientific knowledge and shared with a larger community.

People wrap up all available seeds, and rice paddy and bury them underground when they move to safer places. Some families wrap up all their important papers, documents and other valuables and bury them underground before leaving their houses. Houses are constructed on plinths to prevent water from entering . People grow banana trees around their houses as the banana stems can be used to make a floating barge.

3. Cyclone in Orissa and Drought in Rajastan

Looking at the status of men and women in productive and reproductive work in Rajastan and Orissa in India, the researches set out to identify the role played by women and their specific vulnerabilities during and after a disaster situation.

In the case of drought, the women`s burden of supplying the required food and water for the household becomes a problem. Women are responsible for the care of sick, old people and children in the household. When drought relief is offered in exchange for food, many men do not like to take up the work since the activities are strenuous. But women have to engage in this labour to feed and fend for the family members.

In Orissa, due to women`s lack of ownership of housing or other assets, they are not consulted in the development of long-term rehabilitation programmes; nor were they entitled for aid provided for temporary shelter. Women also found it difficult to gain financing for livelihood related activities since they were seen principally as homemakers.