Prashant Khattri, University of Allahabad, SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS AND DISASTERS: ROLE OF STATE IN THE CONTEXT OF RECURRENT FLOODING IN EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Abstract

The discourse on democracy is tied intricately with the idea of welfare state. State here is seen as an agency and a primary stakeholder in the paradigm on development and sustainability. Disasters on the other hand are viewed as an agent of disruption and destruction. Floods especially within the context of Eastern Uttar Pradesh are a recurrent phenomenon, happening almost every year. This perriniality makes floods peculiar within the sub-set of natural disasters. State acts as a primary relief agency in the context of disasters. With the enactment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, disaster management has been institutionalized and the role of state has become more pro-active involving not only post-disaster recovery and relief but also pre-disaster capacity building and vulnerability reduction. This ensures a larger stake of states in disaster management and achieving sustainable development goals.

On the issue of the role of state, the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009 has to say the following- “State governments will have to lay emphasis on the restoration of permanent livelihood of those affected by disasters and special attention to the needs of women-headed households, artisans, farmers and people belonging to marginalized and vulnerable sections (DM Policy, 2009; 32).” Within the context of this policy statement, the paper tries to locate the role of state in the sustainable livelihood framework. The notion of restoration of livelihood, its sustainability and resettlement is explored within the context of welfare state, vulnerability and people’s entitlements.

Prashant Khattri is Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, UP, India. He obtained his master’s and Ph.D. from the department of anthropology, University of Delhi. He researches on Social Impacts of Disasters, Livelihood Issues in Disaster Context, and people’s movements in environmental crisis. Broadly his research interests fall within the domains of environmental anthropology and medical anthropology. He has more than 10 years of teaching experience and published research works in reputed journals. More recently he is working on Gandhian Ideas related to Environment and Health as a theoretical paradigm to understand ethnographic realities. From April to June 2023, he is affiliated to Queen’s University Belfast as this year’s Charles Wallace Fellow.

Some of his recent publications are:

1. Khattri P. 2022. Climate Change and Social Movements. World Focus. 43 (505). 84-90.

2. Khattri P. and Joshi P.C. 2021. Institutional Response to Tribal Health in India: A Public Policy Perspective within the paradigm of ‘Anthropology of Empathy.’ In P.C. Joshi and C. Mahajan (eds.). Recent Advances in Indian Medical Anthropology. New Delhi. Concept Publishing.

3. Khattri P. 2021. Pandemic as a Disaster: A theoretical montage for exploring COVID-19. In Sachdeva M. (ed.). Anthropology of Health and Well-being: Essays in Honour of Prof. P.C. Joshi. New Delhi. Concept Publishing.

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