FMR 64 a day throughout the year, the a day throughout meals two proper afford to 47% unable and to make choices in their response? And whose responsibility is it to provide support? to provide it is responsibility whose And response? their in choices to make they are able how change, climate of impacts the of brunt the face communities local When living below the poverty line poverty the below living Sundarbans Indian the in population 34%With of the Island. Sagar nearby to households displaced resettle to action government sustained was 1970s 1990s there the the to from and 1970s, the since erosion of coastal rates high experienced has Ghoramara estuary, Hooghly edge of the south-western the in Located submerged. rapidly –but being is picturesque is Island Hooghly, river Ghoramara of the view abreathtaking and soil nutrient-rich freshwater, abundant fields, green lush With Ghoramara: ahighlyvulnerableisland communities. for these migration of forced realities stark convey the Delta Sundarbans Indian the in Sagar and of Ghoramara islands the in communities from Glimpses them. among key being level rise sea and change –climate forces of different interplay by the inhospitable rendered locations in communities local by borne are costs human The hardship. related for alleviating responsible therefore and accountable unquestionably held be agency) can international or an government the individual, displaced the (whether or parties party no single however, factors, by climatic triggered migration of forced cases In displacement. of development-induced instances in easily relatively established be –can responsibility –and Culpability compensation. and of support provision the regarding of regulations absence or an inadequate to leading abound, definitions contradictory and Blurred migration. voluntary from differentiated be must stressors due environmental to migration Forced IndiaSundarbans Delta, the in communities coastal resettled: Trapped or in vulnerable islands like Ghoramara has has Ghoramara like islands vulnerable in Shaberi DasandSugataHazra June 2020 Climate crisisandlocalcommunities 2 the population population the 1

thousands. displacing size, original of its half than less to reduced been has island the years, 40 last the within erosion; rate of coastal high of the low, however, remains because investment Infrastructure tubewells. from obtained is water drinking and household, every almost in have NGOs installed and government the which panels by solar powered is island the on Electricity changes. environmental adverse with cope adapt to and to capacity limited migration as forced rather than voluntary. than rather forced as migration this acknowledge to State’s the about refusal concerns raises but also health mental and of people’s terms finances in challenging extremely measures adaptation such makes be) only not (or will erosion to lost soon been has that land for the compensation and of support However, absence change. the climate and degradation environmental to adaptation of long-term ameans into mechanism coping atemporary turning thereby demand, in is wage labour where places safer to permanently migrate to decision the taking have been migrants seasonal of these Recently, households the Sundarbans. the in population of the proportion for alarge mechanism coping a become has migration seasonal decades, two last work. the Over for construction Nadu or Tamil of Kerala far-away states the to seasonally migrate to households of most member male one at least forces livelihoods rural traditional more from returns or inadequate of livelihoods Loss school. high order attend to in mainland the on boarding to or travelling often children with inadequate, remain education and care health that revealed interviews refuge. amakeshift as serves building school the while construction, under Respondents to semi-structured semi-structured to Respondents 3 The first storm shelter is currently currently is shelter storm first The www.fmreview.org/issue64 15 16 some male members are seasonal migrants migrants seasonal are members male some where households from Women Ghoramara in The inordinate burdenonwomen rural poverty alleviation programmes. alleviation poverty rural state-level and national- existing from available what is from apart government the from support no additional receiving despair, and misery in live to continue they trapped; to are move afford who cannot Those altogether. ceased scheme the until Sagar. in resettlement seeking those to give to of land out run to began of Government the continued, Ghoramara from of people relief. post-disaster immediate to limited are and events slow-onset from resulting overlook displacement management risk at disaster targeted policies and Legislation support. rehabilitation and aid financial for cause alegitimate as of displacement type but no other displacement induced development- –recognise Rehabilitation and Resettlement on Policy National the as –such regulations and policy where country in a significant particularly is This a precedent. setting thereby and factors, of environmental moveto because forced by households faced challenges the acknowledging households, displaced to aid financial and gave tenures out land Bengal zone. safer in a resettlement and to migration their enable to assistance government demanding increasingly move to are means the who lack Those island. the on rooted them keeps to place attachment deep their again, displaced be inevitably will they that and years 40 to 30 next the within submerged completely be will Ghoramara that means rate of erosion present the that know they Although land. their from separated being of notion the bear to unable are they because or migration permanent distant, more for required means the lack they because either elsewhere, permanently migrate to than rather locations safer comparatively in houses their rebuild to choose to tend inland further land purchase to means www.fmreview.org/issue64 In the 1990s, as assisted resettlement resettlement assisted 1990s, as the In of West Government 1990s, the the Until who have the families Displaced 4 Smaller landholdings were awarded, were landholdings Smaller Climate crisisandlocalcommunities due to the unavailability of assistance for of assistance unavailability due the to one, especially easy an by no means is migrate to decision Sagar, to the migration from island. the to 17 shelters and storm electricity roads, asphalt brought has of income source alternative this years recent in and millions, temple attracts site at the fair TempleMuni Sagar. on Every January, the Kapil of the presence the from and Hooghly) of the bank opposite (a the on port major Complex Dock Haldia of the proximity the from benefits and Ghoramara, nearby than alower rate of erosion has island The region. the in others all than infrastructure better has – Sundarbans the in island largest –the Sagar mainland, the to connected not Although Sagar: a‘safe’island? high bride price for the son’s for the price bride marriage. high a offer must who have sons Ghoramara in families Even impoverished Ghoramara. in families into daughters their marry to mainland the and islands other from families of reluctance the reveal also responses However, Ghoramara. in respondents women of all narratives the in prominently features networks support women’s informal weaving nets.” poverty forces ustotakeon additionalworklike everything here withoutmyhusband. Extreme “It getsveryhardformesometimestomanage noted: of them one As displacement. forced and migration of seasonal impacts of the analysis for agender-sensitive need the empasised Women respondents deprivation. intense face and hazards of climate fear constant in live they months, or six four every husbands of their return the awaiting while making; decision in participation and care, health finance, to access their and mobility their limits severely also society a rural within position socio-economic Their sheds. vine betel family’s the and chores domestic to tending and consumption, for household crops family, growing of the members sick and elderly, the and disabled for children caring household, the for heading responsibility shoulder They burdens. disproportionate bear Despite the obvious benefits expected expected benefits obvious the Despite The role of the community and local local and community of role the The June 2020

FMR 64 FMR 64 and destitution due to erosion in Sagar. in due erosion to destitution and displacement suffer again might they that aware well also However, are respondents choice. no other was there home when their abandoned only they that themselves by reminding distress climate-related and of displacement trauma the to themselves reconcile to attempts shows islanders’ it also effect, and cause and of culpability terms in phenomena understand to tendency a human reveals this While of God. wrath the even and processes geomorphological natural by ships, development, water displaced unsustainable Hooghly, river level rise, sea the on blame lay the variously respondents loss, their for hold responsible whom they asked When past. for the ayearning experiencing frequently report respondents displacement, and loss land suffering relatives and friends of news brings Ghoramara home to visit every While resurfacing. from homes lost however, not, of does memories prevent Ghoramara. in living still of those that as miserable as by no means is condition their overburdened, be to continue migrants of seasonal wives the farmers).to While available (despite loans or fishing agriculture from than returns due higher to Sundarbans Indian of the islands many within practice asystemic become it has because but also income family the supplement to only not resettlement, after even continues migration However, Ghoramara. seasonal in households displaced or soon-to-be displaced the among than households resettled the among of well-being sense a higher Nagar indicate Bankim and of Gangasagar relocation. of forced experiences and of knowledge sharing the promotes localities different in communities between interaction Sagar. Thus, in leave life forand anew aleap of faith take families that protection and resources rights, to access of improved hope It in is relocate. to households other of the decision influence greatly Sagar in who have resettled community of the members displaced from support and with consultations show that respondents Ghoramara the from Accounts resettlement. June 2020 Improvement of life and livelihoods livelihoods and of life Improvement villages the in migrants with Interviews Climate crisisandlocalcommunities www.jaduniv.edu.in Professor, SchoolofOceanographicStudies [email protected] Sugata Hazra ofEnglish Master’s student,Department Shaberi Das change. of climate frontline the on by communities action of grassroots implementation and planning better but also of expertise sharing and interaction promote only not will This involved. complex processes highly of the understanding abroader gain to pooled be must communities affected within practitioners local and society civil agencies, State institutions, academic from Insights communities? affected protect to and disasters such from resulting for losses compensate to it then is responsibility State? Whose the or community the individuals, affected the phenomena: change climate and shocks of environmental form the in itself manifests development which human collective for unsustainable price pays the Who raised. questions of the some to for answers search to practitioners, and thinkers as while, our It worth is responsibility. and culpability about up questions throw Sundarbans the in these as such migration of forced Cases Looking ahead https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.03.008 Environmental ChangeVol 50 A model of actionandinactioningovernment responses’ inGlobal 4. MortreuxCetal(2018)‘Political economyofplannedrelocation: 3. Seevideohttps://youtu.be/OvvXypOUCLU bit.ly/HDR-North24Parganas-2010 Report: North24Parganas, pp199–201 2. Government ofWest Bengal(2010)DistrictHumanDevelopment bit.ly/HDR-South24Parganas-2009 Report: South24Parganas, p43,p46 1. Government ofWest Bengal(2009)DistrictHuman internet accessisless reliable.) for training (Please docontinueto request printcopiesofthe fullmagazine back cover for details! briefing whichislighter and cheaper to post.Pleasesee access to thelatest fullissues,orswap to ourEditors’ (www.fmreview.org/request-fmr), for instantdigital print copy! Request emailnotifications instead Email [email protected] to cancelyour help theplanet? Keen to readFMRandalso and advocacy purposes – orifyour – oryour partners’ [email protected] www.fmreview.org/issue64

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