River erosion induced migration in the Indian Sundarban: A study of involuntary residential mobility

Mohan Kumar Bera
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Mohan Kumar Bera: Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

No 381, IEG Working Papers from Institute of Economic Growth

Abstract: Rapid river erosion in the Sundarban islands directly affects the embankment and increases the frequency of flooding. Earthen embankments have been constructed parallel to the damaged embankments to prevent flooding in river-side villages. Encroachment of the river forces the settlers to move away from the affected village. However, such movement does not occur immediately after a disaster. Rather, it is influenced by the socio-economic condition of the people and the extent of government intervention. Other factors that influence the movement of the affected people include individual beliefs and dreams as well as the need to make a collective decision for the family or community. This inter-disciplinary paper seeks to explain the impact of river erosion and associated displacement, particularly in relation to the impoverishment and marginalisation of settlers living along the riverbank. This paper analyses the trends of residential mobility of the affected households to cope with river erosion, and explores alternative strategies to support the potential increase in future displacements due to encroachment of river in the Sundarban islands.

Keywords: River erosion; residential mobility, migration, Sundarban (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2019
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Published as Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, November, 2019, pages 1-29

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:awe:wpaper:381

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