Beyond the Photos: Looking Closer at Impacts and Disaster Risk Reduction Plans for the Sundarbans
15/07/09 22:19
What does a village
in the Sundarbans look like? We have already
posted
some photos of the village of Tipligheri that
show how the residents here been affected by
Tropical Storm Alia in May 2009 — and by extension
how vulnerable such villages are to other tropical
storms, which are strengthening in intensity as a
result of climate change. My report here is in
continuation of myupdate (ED: Anurag
Danda’s)
of
22 June profiling the impacts of
Tropical Storm Alia on one village in the
Sundarbans and the necessary recovery steps
we are envisaging as part of the disaster risk
reduction work of the
Sundarbans Climate Adaptation
Center.
For those not familiar with the Sundarbans,
Tipligheri stands in for many other villages in the
region and is typical in many ways for the millions
of people living in the Sundarbans.
Total number of households: 89
Total population: 422
Children (under age 14): 147 (males 77, females 70)
Aged (over age 45): 48 (males 26, females 22)
Physically capable adults: 227 (males 108, females 119)
Agricultural land: 22.75 hectares (ha)
Affected land (salt water inundation): 22.75 ha
Ponds for raising fish: 70 in number, average area 1.76 ha
Ponds affected by Alia: 70
Loss of livestock: cows 20 out of 59, goats 107 out of 198, pigs 50 out of 117, ducks 100 out of 154, hens 412 out of 510
These data show how deeply the village has been affected by this storm — and how vulnerable it is to future impacts.
Proposed disaster response and disaster risk reduction plan from future storm events
A major threat from the storm surge and hard rains of tropical storms comes from flooding agricultural fields. Thus, it is necessary to raise pond embankments and parts of homestead land for vegetable gardening. This will not only make it possible to have a small crop in a short span of time for consumption and sale but also kickstart the economic cycle which is as of now at standstill. The physically capable section of the population can undertake the earth-moving work at half the hired labor cost, which will allow them to buy essentials. This is becoming necessary as we cannot continue to run the community kitchen indefinitely. Moreover, in the absence of earning source there is every possibility that the population will venture into the forest or water courses complicating matters further.
Clearly, it is important to reintroduce livestock so that asset base of the households is restored. Given the current situation it does not appear feasible to provide cows, goats and pigs due to paucity of fodder. Ducks and hens seem possible provided feed is also provided for a minimum period of 45 days; they will be self-sufficient following this period.
Restocking of aquaculture ponds with fish (Indian major carps) is another critical task, especially since so many ponds have been polluted with saltwater. The ponds are being drained through an Indian government initiative. Once the seasonal monsoon sets in, these will get filled and if they are restocked with fish, the community can have a harvest next year.
Perhaps one of the most basic threats during a tropical storm is ensuring the physical safety of the members of the community. A critical goal is to build a multipurpose centre that will also serve as disaster shelter. Closely associated with building such a structure is rebuilding homes with locally available material so that these can withstand high velocity winds and the storm tidal surge. A French architect is working on a new home design that fit within these parameters. Meanwhile, the Indian government has provided 6,000 Rupees (ED: about $120 USD) per house and the Panchayat (ED: local government) is willing to join forces with WWF in disbursing these funds appropriately.
Developing a means of adjusting crop practices to changing land conditions — especially salt saturation of agricultural land — is challenging over both the short and the long term. A group of experts from Bangalore and Pune are examining the situation. Details are awaited. In natural course it will take two years for land to recover and agricultural activity can resume in the third year (2011 at the earliest). We have introduced a salt-tolerant rice paddy variety to see if it germinates in the current circumstances. We also intend to introduce fast growing variety of safota so that the community also has a fruit crop, which as of now is absent.
Cooking fuel also faces a major crisis, both in normal circumstances but much more acutely as a result of Alia. We thus plan to introduce efficient wood stoves. A family of 5 usually consumes about 6-7 kgs of fuel composed of straw, cow dung cakes, twigs and branches, and drift wood. Currently the families are using drift wood, straw, and wood from damaged houses. Having discussed the issue of stove efficiency with the community it appears that they are unlikely to adopt it unless they get to see one or two families using it. Arrangements are being made to get few such stoves for demonstration purpose.
Finally, we view education as a key component for assisting coming generations for the Sundarbans. Getting children to embrace formal education in Tipligheri is a challenge but we believe this is one long term strategy that will help the community as well as the ecosystem. If more and more children join the mainstream and develop the capacity to make a living outside the ecoregion, the population in the Sundarbans will decline over time unless there are new settlers in the villages. With political will this should be possible. With all of the above tasks in process, a girl is being supported to pursue higher secondary education in science. She is the first one in her community to complete secondary education. The idea is to set an example that education pays. Thankfully, an individual donor has come forward to sponsor her education. However, for education to really make a difference in the entire community for the whole of the community, a long-term commitment is necessary. For residents of the village between the ages of 5 to 9, there are 35 boys and 30 girls.
If these children are targeted and put in residential schools run by missionaries, then they can eventually join the mainstream of Indian society and are unlikely to live in Tipligheri. Since these are “tribal” children it might be possible to secure government funding for their schooling. Even if Rs.1000/-per child (ED: about $20 USD) is spent every month for 12 years the total expenditure is a mere ten lakhs over a 12 year period (ED: about $20,000 for all 65 children).
For now, students currently in school have lost their books and the schools are seeking help to replace these. Although the Government has announced assistance of Rs. 500/- per higher secondary student (ED: about $10 USD) it is anybody’s guess when this is going to arrive and school teachers apprehend that the students might complete their academic year before help arrives. One such school has approached us for help.
There is also a huge demand for mosquito nets. We have already provided 142 nets in one of the locations where we operate. Mosquito nets not only provide protection from mosquitoes but also from venomous snakes. A request for 500 nets is pending with us. Each net (size 6’x7’) costs Rs. 125/- if bought in bulk (ED: $2.50 USD). Expenditure on this count will be Rs. 62,500/- (ED: about $1300 USD).
How Do We Solve the Enduring Problems Here?
We are in the process of developing of an overall vision document for the Sundarbans — learning from our experiences in places like Tipligheri. This will help influence national, regional, and local policy and take corrective measures and also to factor in climate change in development initiatives. We are almost assured of bulk of the funding required for this purpose but are short Rs. 10 lakhs (ED: $20,000 USD).
If any of the above is of your interest and would like to support please do let us know we will be happy to develop a complete proposal and provide additional details. We look forward to your support for the Sundarbans.
Many thanks,
Anurag Danda: anuragdanda@wwfindia.net
