Counting the Costs of Hazards: Disaster-Induced Migration in Majuli

  Azizur Rahman SIDDIQUI, University of Allahabad , India
  Avijit SAHAY, University of Allahabad , India

Counting the Costs of Hazards: Disaster-Induced Migration in Majuli

Abstract:

Majuli, a riverine island in the Indian state of Assam is facing constant erosion by River Brahmaputra. This has caused considerable loss of land, especially agricultural land and rendered residents in many villages homeless and jobless. Unable to cope with changing environment, many people are moving out of the island in search of better prospects. By surveying households affected by erosion, the paper explores the complex relationships between a human society and a fragile ecosystem, and how changes in the ecosystem are affecting migration pattern. The paper also analyses the role of technology in helping societies adapt to changing environment and puts forward the concept of resilience-migration continuum where both resilience as well as migration are presented as a part of cultural response to environmental change.

Mots clés : Majuli|Brahmaputra|Disaster-induced Migration|Resilience-Migration Continnum

A104151AS