213
of about 212,037 persons. According to the 2011 Census, 1095 families reside there
with a population of 5193 of which 49% are females. Of 2038 workers engaged in
main work, 267 were cultivators (owner or co-owner), while 174 were agricultural
labourers (GoI 2011b). Ghoramara was a part of the Sagar Island until the period
1881–1905 when massive erosion separated the islands. The rapid erosion and
accretion activities observed in Ghoramara have been largely the result of changes
in estuarine hydrodynamics and rising sea levels influenced both by natural processes and anthropogenic activities. This paper discusses the dilemma of the displaced population of Ghoramara who had been shifted to the southern and eastern
edges of Sagar Island – majorly in Jibantala; while those of Gitaldaha have been
resettled a few kilometres away their original homelands.
12.3 Objectives and Methodology
The present study aims to highlight the problems and resilience capacities of the
environmentally displaced population to the new location with their unique set of
physical and social challenges. The main thrust of this work is to focus on the issues
and conditions of living for the relocated population in the resettlement colonies,
induced majorly by river bank and coastal erosions. Thus, environmental stress and
vulnerabilities as precursors to the changing nature of livelihood and settlement
have been studied to assess the quality of life. The major areas of discussions in this
essay are to assess the impacts of environmental hazards in Ghoramara and Gitaldaha
and to examine the reasons for their locational vulnerability. Besides, the present
study reviews the available literatures to build up a concept on the environmentally
challenged population, their problems on being dislocated from their place of living
or residence and capacity to regenerate their living patterns in different quarters.
The lives of such environmentally displaced population in West Bengal might have
relevance with people in similar situations across the globe. The perception of lifestyle and livelihood of the displaced population has been studied through observation, case study and purposive random sampling covering 30 families in each of the
areas of origin and rehabilitation in the two sites of this study. Inferences on the
socio-economic conditions and coping mechanisms under adverse geo-hydrological
systems of the displaced population are based on qualitative field experiences in the
selected locations of Ghoramara Island and Sagar Island in Sagar C.D. Block, and
Gitaldaha village of Dinhata I C.D. Block. Maps, satellite images, cartograms and
schematic diagrams were used to interpret the data and information collected.
Finally the quality of life of the local people have been analysed to provide better
understanding for policy formulation towards rehabilitation of the increasing number of climatically vulnerable population in the two unique geographic regions.
12 Environmental Vulnerability and Displacement Due to Land Erosion: Selected…
of about 212,037 persons. According to the 2011 Census, 1095 families reside there
with a population of 5193 of which 49% are females. Of 2038 workers engaged in
main work, 267 were cultivators (owner or co-owner), while 174 were agricultural
labourers (GoI 2011b). Ghoramara was a part of the Sagar Island until the period
1881–1905 when massive erosion separated the islands. The rapid erosion and
accretion activities observed in Ghoramara have been largely the result of changes
in estuarine hydrodynamics and rising sea levels influenced both by natural processes and anthropogenic activities. This paper discusses the dilemma of the displaced population of Ghoramara who had been shifted to the southern and eastern
edges of Sagar Island – majorly in Jibantala; while those of Gitaldaha have been
resettled a few kilometres away their original homelands.
12.3 Objectives and Methodology
The present study aims to highlight the problems and resilience capacities of the
environmentally displaced population to the new location with their unique set of
physical and social challenges. The main thrust of this work is to focus on the issues
and conditions of living for the relocated population in the resettlement colonies,
induced majorly by river bank and coastal erosions. Thus, environmental stress and
vulnerabilities as precursors to the changing nature of livelihood and settlement
have been studied to assess the quality of life. The major areas of discussions in this
essay are to assess the impacts of environmental hazards in Ghoramara and Gitaldaha
and to examine the reasons for their locational vulnerability. Besides, the present
study reviews the available literatures to build up a concept on the environmentally
challenged population, their problems on being dislocated from their place of living
or residence and capacity to regenerate their living patterns in different quarters.
The lives of such environmentally displaced population in West Bengal might have
relevance with people in similar situations across the globe. The perception of lifestyle and livelihood of the displaced population has been studied through observation, case study and purposive random sampling covering 30 families in each of the
areas of origin and rehabilitation in the two sites of this study. Inferences on the
socio-economic conditions and coping mechanisms under adverse geo-hydrological
systems of the displaced population are based on qualitative field experiences in the
selected locations of Ghoramara Island and Sagar Island in Sagar C.D. Block, and
Gitaldaha village of Dinhata I C.D. Block. Maps, satellite images, cartograms and
schematic diagrams were used to interpret the data and information collected.
Finally the quality of life of the local people have been analysed to provide better
understanding for policy formulation towards rehabilitation of the increasing number of climatically vulnerable population in the two unique geographic regions.
12 Environmental Vulnerability and Displacement Due to Land Erosion: Selected…