Coastal regions are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, notably the rising sea levels leading to coastal erosion and displacement. These areas are especially prone to severe disasters such as cyclones and floods, and the Bay of Bengal stands out as the most cyclone-prone region globally.
The combined impact of climate change and extreme weather events has been particularly devastating for coastal areas. The 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, last year showed promising progress regarding funds for loss and damage in affected countries.
While reducing fossil fuel consumption to curb greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global temperature rise is crucial, it should not hinder local climate action aimed at supporting climate refugees and those facing displacement due to coastal and river erosion and natural disasters. Proper rehabilitation of affected individuals is imperative.
The Government of Odisha has initiated commendable efforts in Satabhaya, Kendrapada, setting an example. However, similar coastal resettlement initiatives, with defined compensation based on loss and damage assessment, need to be implemented in places like Tandahar, near Konark in Puri, and other coastal regions of Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
In Satabhaya, households have lost an average of 7-10 acres of land but have been allocated plots of 10 dismil (404 sq metres) with no land patta. Hence, resettlement cannot merely involve providing new land to villagers equivalent to their losses; it must also address the economic and socio-cultural ties severed by displacement, and crucially, provide land titles in the names of women, who are most affected by this crisis.
While rehabilitating entire villages is challenging, whenever undertaken, the government should consider the need for common lands for grazing and forests to maintain green cover and meet other villagers’ requirements. This green cover and land development, including the construction of local infrastructure, can also be facilitated through a coastal employment programme akin to the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Programme.
Unprecedented disasters are occurring worldwide in unexpected locations and forms. Therefore, building community resilience is paramount. Coastal livelihood programmes promoting alternative livelihoods can prove vital for recently displaced individuals. Activities such as horticulture, betel vine cultivation and integrated fisheries can be adopted in agriculture-dependent areas. For this to succeed, allocating farmland and common land to displaced people in proportion to their losses is crucial.
Special attention must be given to the traditional and customary rights of fishing communities over coastal lands and resources. Fisherwomen’s rights should be recognised and empowered, ensuring their continued participation in fishing activities while providing alternative livelihood and value-added programmes for dignified livelihoods, particularly during lean seasons.
Major infrastructure projects in fragile Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) should involve consultations with fishing communities to mitigate potential impacts on coastal erosion. Proper rehabilitation plans should be devised for any fishing community displacement resulting from ongoing projects.
Vulnerable populations often reside in vulnerable geographical areas, emphasising the government’s need to focus on social security programmes such as pensions, Anganwadi and public distribution system. Resettled individuals should be supported comprehensively to adapt to their new environments after losing their original habitats.
Moreover, the provision of coastal drinking water supply needs strengthening, addressing a significant challenge faced by women in displaced and at-risk areas. Accessibility and convenience should be prioritised alongside providing necessary facilities.
Efforts to promote women’s economic participation, especially in small-scale businesses, agriculture, fishing and produce collection, should be intensified. Social security schemes should incorporate provisions to support resettled households.
State governments should conduct periodic audits of cyclone shelters, phasing out insecure ones and ensuring proper maintenance and construction of new ones where necessary. Roads leading to cyclone shelters must be disaster-resilient to ensure safe access during emergencies, with shelters designed to meet the specific needs of women.
Adequate funding should be allocated to Gram Panchayats to implement the latest amendments in Odisha Panchayat Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022, empowering local communities in disaster management and involving them in climate action and post-disaster damage assessment. Additionally, compensation norms under NDRF and SDRF should be enhanced to include losses of land, shelter, and livelihoods, especially for vulnerable coastal communities.
Schools and healthcare centres should be adequately equipped to cater to the needs of displaced people, including provision for psychosocial counselling units to address mental trauma. Community-based events can also aid in reviving cultural lives and fostering social bonds among displaced populations to enhance resilience against future disasters.
These actions are critical for the 170 million disaster- and climate change-affected communities residing along India’s 7,516.6 km coastline. Already, 3.6 million people have been displaced in South Asia over the past decade, with India losing 235 sq km of land between 1990 and 2016. Coastal communities will bear the brunt of climate change hazards, necessitating prioritised climate action across all sectors for justice.