Development and Disaster Management: A Study of the Northeastern States of India

Book Details:

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

• ISBN: 9789811695872

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• Pages: 460

• Binding: Hardcover

• Sale Territory: This edition may not be sold outside India

About the Book:

"Disasters and Development in India’s Northeast: Community Resilience and Governance" delves deep into the intersection of disaster management and development, particularly in the fragile Himalayan regions of Northeast India. The book provides a socio-cultural study that examines the role of human geography, governance institutions, and community responses to recurring natural disasters.

This comprehensive volume underscores the critical importance of disaster management within the framework of effective governance. It highlights how poor governance has hampered development efforts in the region, where disasters continue to occur with increasing frequency, yet very little has been done to reshape developmental models to prevent future losses. Despite this, local communities have displayed remarkable resilience, innovating ways to cope with disasters in the absence of adequate governmental support.

The book advocates for a bottom-up approach to disaster resilience, suggesting that more cost-effective, culturally appropriate, and sustainable solutions can be crafted by engaging local communities directly. Through case studies and expert contributions, it addresses how various cultural contexts and challenges shape resilience strategies, from flood adaptation to earthquake preparedness, and the role of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in enhancing these efforts.

A significant portion of the book critiques the implementation of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) of 2005, particularly in the northeastern states, and calls for urgent action to enhance inter-agency coordination, local governance participation, and community-driven resilience-building initiatives. This book serves as a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners looking to understand and address the unique challenges faced by the communities in Northeast India when it comes to disaster preparedness and development.