264
practices. In such a scenario, migration becomes the alternative livelihood strategy
for the people of Bankura.
The debate and scientific discussions on the drought of Purulia District are going
on, and migration becomes the alternative strategy for the local people to cope with
this vulnerable situation. There may be two implications of arriving in such a
conclusion:
first, the context of the climate change scenario for Purulia decreased rainfall pattern especially in the northwestern, and southern block creates severe to extreme
drought proneness.
second, within West Bengal lowest productivity was recorded in the Purulia where
one hectare of net sown area provided crop output worth of Rs. 35 thousands at
farm gate price. The success and outcome of the agriculture of the Purulia especially depend on the seasonal rainfall. Lack of salt-tolerant seed supply and lack
of proper planning and awareness are also creating a big blow in deteriorating the
rate of production.
This article combines the above two aspects altogether. Though drought of
Purulia has been analyzed by several scholars in India, but the issue of migration is
neglected. With the help of GIS, regional rainfall datasets, and primary survey, the
study analyzes the drought-induced migration of Purulia. Migration becomes the
alternative livelihood strategy in these regions.
15.2 Study Area and Background Information
Figure 15.1 depicts the location of our study area. The map denotes how the region
is selected from macro level to micro level. Being the westernmost district of West
Bengal, its’ latitudinal and longitudinal extents are from 22
°
42′35′′N to 23
°
42′ north
and from 85
°
49′25″E to 86
°
54′37″ east, respectively. Purulia belongs to the transition between the young alluvial plains of West Bengal and the ancient plateau of
Southeast Bihar. The total area of the district is 6259 km
2
. This district is the westernmost districts of West Bengal with a significance of its’ tropical location. The
shape of Purulia is like a gateway between the developed industrial belts of West
Bengal and the hinterland in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Purulia District is the matter of concern for various scholars since the last
5–8 years due to drought. Palchoudhuri and Biswas in 2013 identified meteorological drought of Purulia District through SPI and identified hazard zones according to
it. Purulia is in a tropical climatic nature with high evaporation and low precipitation
(Ghosh and Jana 2018). Temperature varies from 2 degrees in summer month and
35 degrees in winter month. Average annual rainfall though varies between 1100 mm
and 1600 mm, but the rainfall is not well distributed throughout the district (Banik
et al. 2002). Mishra et al. 2009 uses probabilistic approach in characterization of
drought and argued that Purulia is predominantly prevalent in meteorological
drought and it causes the region’s extreme livelihood turmoil and migration.
S. Raha and S. K. Gayen
practices. In such a scenario, migration becomes the alternative livelihood strategy
for the people of Bankura.
The debate and scientific discussions on the drought of Purulia District are going
on, and migration becomes the alternative strategy for the local people to cope with
this vulnerable situation. There may be two implications of arriving in such a
conclusion:
first, the context of the climate change scenario for Purulia decreased rainfall pattern especially in the northwestern, and southern block creates severe to extreme
drought proneness.
second, within West Bengal lowest productivity was recorded in the Purulia where
one hectare of net sown area provided crop output worth of Rs. 35 thousands at
farm gate price. The success and outcome of the agriculture of the Purulia especially depend on the seasonal rainfall. Lack of salt-tolerant seed supply and lack
of proper planning and awareness are also creating a big blow in deteriorating the
rate of production.
This article combines the above two aspects altogether. Though drought of
Purulia has been analyzed by several scholars in India, but the issue of migration is
neglected. With the help of GIS, regional rainfall datasets, and primary survey, the
study analyzes the drought-induced migration of Purulia. Migration becomes the
alternative livelihood strategy in these regions.
15.2 Study Area and Background Information
Figure 15.1 depicts the location of our study area. The map denotes how the region
is selected from macro level to micro level. Being the westernmost district of West
Bengal, its’ latitudinal and longitudinal extents are from 22
°
42′35′′N to 23
°
42′ north
and from 85
°
49′25″E to 86
°
54′37″ east, respectively. Purulia belongs to the transition between the young alluvial plains of West Bengal and the ancient plateau of
Southeast Bihar. The total area of the district is 6259 km
2
. This district is the westernmost districts of West Bengal with a significance of its’ tropical location. The
shape of Purulia is like a gateway between the developed industrial belts of West
Bengal and the hinterland in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Purulia District is the matter of concern for various scholars since the last
5–8 years due to drought. Palchoudhuri and Biswas in 2013 identified meteorological drought of Purulia District through SPI and identified hazard zones according to
it. Purulia is in a tropical climatic nature with high evaporation and low precipitation
(Ghosh and Jana 2018). Temperature varies from 2 degrees in summer month and
35 degrees in winter month. Average annual rainfall though varies between 1100 mm
and 1600 mm, but the rainfall is not well distributed throughout the district (Banik
et al. 2002). Mishra et al. 2009 uses probabilistic approach in characterization of
drought and argued that Purulia is predominantly prevalent in meteorological
drought and it causes the region’s extreme livelihood turmoil and migration.
S. Raha and S. K. Gayen