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2009 World Town Planning Day Online Conference

    Resilience in a Changing Climate

  Majuli (India) – A lost cause or an 
ongoing adaptation to climate change?
                   12 November 2009




                      Urmi Buragohain
                   Ministry of Municipality and 
                   Urban Planning, Doha, Qatar
PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES
This presentation will inform you
• about a rural community in the developing 
  world extremely vulnerable to climate change 
  and faced with potential extinction
• why the community defies all odds in 
  continuing to survive and adapt in a hostile 
  setting
• how this case study can inform other 
  vulnerable communities around the world

                                                  2
THIS PRESENTATION IS NOT ABOUT…

• Whether Majuli as a geographical entity is going 
  to exist or not
• The environmental and heritage conservation 
  and management of the island
• Disaster management




                                                  3
METHODOLOGY
• Builds on past research on Majuli
• Theoretical application of the methodological 
  framework proposed by Pelling (2003)
• Data collection mainly from secondary sources
• Inferences drawn would need further validation 
  via further research



                                                4
INTRODUCTION
INDIA
                                          • Majuli is a river island situated 
                                            in the central region of the 
                                            Brahmaputra basin in the state 
                                            of Assam in India’s northeast 
                                            region
                                  ASSAM
                              ASSAM       • Majuli was formed by the 
                                            action of the river 
                                            Brahmaputra, Subansiri and 
                                            their tributaries
        Lakhimpur
                                          • Connectivity to the mainland is 
                    Majuli
                                            only by boat
                     Jorhat




                                                                            5
PHYSIOGRAPHIC SETTING1
      • a powerful monsoon rainfall regime under wet 
        humid conditions
      • a fragile geologic base
      • active seismicity




BAMBOO PORCUPINES               RIVER BANK EROSION


                                                        6
LAND DEGRADATION2
      • The landmass has reduced from around 1,300 
        sq.km during 1950s to around 800 sq.km in 
        2001                                  DHEMAJI DISTRICT



                           SUBANSIRI RIVER


                                                                                 DIBRUGARH DISTRICT

      LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT


                                                                            BREACH IN EMBANKMENT




                                                                 LEGEND
GOLAGHAT DISTRICT                                                ZONE I: HOMOGENOUS PLAIN AREAS
                                                        JORHAT
                                                                 ZONE II: LOW LYING & FLOODED AREAS
                                                                 ZONE III: SANDY CHARS OR SAND BARS
                                    BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER            EROSION
                                                                 EXISTING EMBANKMENT
                                                                 ERODED EMBANKMENT
                                                                 SUB‐DIVISION BOUNDARY
                                                                 RIVER


                                                                                                      7
SOCIO‐POLITICAL CONTEXT2
    •    Tribal constituency
    •    Seat of neo‐Vaishnavism
    •    Economic vulnerability
    •    Top‐down bureaucratic administration
    •    Insurgency and counter‐insurgency




MISHING DWELLINGS
                                                8
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE2
                     DECADAL INCREASE IN POPULATION OF MAJULI                                    • The population of the Majuli Sub‐
16.00%
14.00%
12.00%
                                     13.37%
                                                           11.92%
                                                                        13.29%                     Division as per the 1991 census 
   Percentage




                          11.14%
10.00%
 8.00%                                                                           % i ncrea s e     was around 153,000 
 6.00%                                                                           in
 4.00%
 2.00%
                                                                                 popul a ti on
                                                                                                 • Out of 244 villages in 1991, 34 
 0.00%
                    1971          1981                  1991      2001                             were eroded by 2001
                                         Year

                                                                                                 • Heavy outmigration from 
                COMPARISON OF THE GROWTH RATES IN THE THREE MOUZAS
                                                                                                   Ahatguri Mouza
40.00%            32.75%             30.85%
30.00%
                         16.78%              16.73%
20.00%                                                                           Growth rate
10.00%                                                                           (1 )
                                                                                   961               SALMORA
                                                               1.13%
  0.00%
                                                                                 Growth rate       KAMALABARI
-10.00%                                                                          (1 )
                                                                                   971
                                                                 Ahatguri
                       Salm ora




                                          Kam alabari




                                                                  Mouza




-20.00%
                                                                       -17.37%                       AHATGURI



NOTE: Based on 1991 Census figures




                                                                                                                                       9
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE 
            REGION3
• the impacts of climate change on regions like 
  northeast India are less explored and less known 
• no significant trend in rainfall for the region
• a distinctly rising trend in surface air temperatures 
• drought like situations; dry periods becoming longer 
• irregular rainfall pattern 
• extreme climate events becoming more frequent 



                                                           10
WHY WILL MAJULI BE RESILIENT?
• Majuli’s resilience to internal and external shocks 
  including climate change comes not from the ‘formal’, 
  top‐down responses to the physiographical and geo‐
  morphological challenges, but from the social capital 
  inherent in the traditional cultural and religious groups 
  and institutions 




                                                           11
WHAT MAKES MAJULI RESILIENT
• Historical continuum of the traditional and religious 
  institutional networks
   – Mishings migrated over centuries to settle along 
     riverbanks
   – Neo‐Vaishnavite movement took its roots in Majuli
     in the 16th century
   – Non‐tribals migrated here attracted by the Sattras




                                                           12
COMPLEX NETWORK OF SOCIAL 
                          RELATIONSHIPS 

                             1. WITHIN A GROUP                     2. BETWEEN GROUPS WITH 
                                   • Ke'bang                            SHARED INTERESTS
                                                                      • Nāmghar – common 
                                • Yame Mimbir
                                 • Gaon Burha                      platform for various formal 
                                                                         & informal groups



Pelling (2003): The balance                          3. VERTICAL 
     between bridging, bonding                     RELATIONSHIPS
     and linking capital points to a         • Nāmghar – Rāij‐Medhi as 
     society’s orientation towards                  intermediary
     social fragmentation,                       • Ke'bang – Gam as 
     cooperation or hierarchy                       intermediary




                                                                                                  13
NĀMGHAR4
                                      • for the last four hundred years, the
                                        Nāmghar has been serving as the 
                                        village public hall 
                                      • the Nāmghars operate and are 
                                        managed on democratic principles 
                                      • constructed by the joint labour of 
                                        the villagers 
                                      • the venue for congregational 
                                        chanting of prayers 
                                      • an effective forum for decentralised
                                        planning and decision making



A CORRIDOR ENCIRCLING A NĀMGHAR


                                                                           14
KE'BANG5

                         • the Ke'bang is the apex administrative 
                           unit within a Mishing village
                         • the chief of the Ke'bang is called Gam
                           or Gaon Burah
                         • village elders comprise the council body
www.lakhimpur.nic.in
                         • women are generally excluded from the 
                           council body
                         • has the power to deliver judgments and 
                           punish the offenders
                         • the Ke'bang is held in the Murong or 
                           the public hall


www.lakhimpur.nic.in
                                                                 15
1. RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN & BETWEEN 
                GROUPS
                                                                                 NĀMGHAR     NEIGHBOURING 
                    A MISHING VILLAGE                                                        MISHING VILLAGE

                    GAM OR VILLAGE HEADMAN

        VILLAGE ELDER          VILLAGE ELDER      VILLAGE ELDER                COOPERATION

                  KE'BANG OR VILLAGE COUNCIL


                                                                           rigbo gok nam
                    MEN                 WOMEN
                                                                           dagle'ka‐alek
      MEN                                           WOMEN
                    MEN                 WOMEN
       Farming                                     Farming
        Fishing                                    Animal husbandry
 Maintaining &                                     Domestic tasks
                  MALE YOUTH       FEMALE YOUTH
managing family                                    Food gathering              COOPERATION
                          YAME‐MEMBER              Weaving




                                                             RESILIENCE HIGH                     RESILIENCE LOW

                                                                                                            16
2. ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN GROUPS 
    WITH SHARED INTERESTS AND GOALS

MISHING              DEORI           KOIBARTTA            NATH
          KACHARI
 AHOM               KOCH                         MATAK


                                                                 INFORMAL COOPERATION 
                       NĀMGHAR                                   BETWEEN VILLAGES
                                                                 •Employment in farms
                                                                 •Disaster aid
                                                                 •Women’s networks
                                                                 •Barter
                       BRAHMIN   KALITA




                                             RESILIENCE HIGH                 RESILIENCE LOW

                                                                                         17
3. VERTICAL RELATIONSHIPS
                       EXTERNAL                                                                INTERNAL
UNESCO

                        GOVERNMENT
    MINISTRIES &                        GRAM 
   ADMINISTRATIVE                                                                                    VILLAGER         VILLAGER
                                      PANCHAYAT
    DEPARTMENTS
                                                                                                            NĀMGHAR                  VILLAGER
                                                                                          VILLAGER
                                                                                                            Rāij‐Medhi
 CREDIT INSTITUTIONS                  BRAHMAPUTRA 
   NABARD/ CAPART                        BOARD                                                         VILLAGER            VILLAGER



       LINE                           ASSAM TRIBAL                                                                                   SATTRA
   DEPARTMENTS                        DEVELOPMENT 
                                       AUTHORITY
                                                                                                     VILLAGER         VILLAGER

      EDUCATIONAL                                 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS             VILLAGER          KEBANG               VILLAGER
     EXTENSION SERVICES                                                                                      Gam
                                                                        MAHILA MANDAL
   Department of Agriculture                                NGO                                                           VILLAGER
                                                                                                     VILLAGER
     Agriculture University
        Majuli College                                NGO         COOPERATIVES

            RESEARCH INSTITUTES
            Agriculture University                          PRIVATE SECTOR
           Paddy Research Institute                                                          VILLAGE                             VILLAGE
                                                                       COOPERATIVES
                                                        CONTRACTORS
                                                                                                                VILLAGE
                                                                      TRADERS



                                                                        RESILIENCE HIGH                                          RESILIENCE LOW
                                                                                                                                                18
INFORMAL NETWORKS & CAPACITIES
TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP     INFORMAL INSTITUTION           FUNCTIONS             STRENGTHS

                                                    RESOLVE DISPUTES           TRADITION
RELATIONSHIP WITHIN A                               IMPOSE PENALTIES          VOLUNTARY
       GROUP
                             KE'BANG                  INFORMATION              AUTHORITY
                                                      DISSEMINATION           KNOWLEDGE
                                                MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES   REPRESENTATION


                                                   RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE
                                                                               TRADITION
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN                                SOCIAL DISCOURSE
                                                                              VOLUNTARY
                                                     GATHERING PLACE
 GROUPS WITH SHARED         NĀMGHAR                PERFORMANCE SPACE
                                                                               AUTHORITY
       VALUES                                                                 KNOWLEDGE
                                                         SHELTER
                                                                            REPRESENTATION
                                                       FLOOD RELIEF

                                                   RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE
                                                                               TRADITION
                             KE'BANG                SOCIAL DISCOURSE
                                                                              VOLUNTARY
       VERTICAL                                      GATHERING PLACE
                                                                               AUTHORITY
    RELATIONSHIPS                                  PERFORMANCE SPACE
                                                                              KNOWLEDGE
                            NĀMGHAR                      SHELTER
                                                                            REPRESENTATION
                                                       FLOOD RELIEF




                                                                                             19
ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE 
                           CHANGE6
• Rescheduling crop calendar and crop practice          PURPOSEFUL       • Greater involvement of traditional leaders like 
• Soil conservation practices                                            Gam and Gaon Burha in development programs
• Construction of flood shelters                                         • Traditional knowledge incorporated in flood and 
• Flood relief measures                                                  erosion programs
• Traditional stilt houses                                               • Traditional knowledge incorporated in ecological 
• Reconstruction work                                                    and heritage management
                                                    1                3

         MATERIAL                                                                         INSTITUTIONAL 
       INTERVENTION                                                                       MODIFICATION

 • Training in resource management                  2                4   • Womens’ participation in traditional institutions 
 • Training in disaster mitigation and adaptation                        like Ke’bang, Namghar
 • Education for women and children                                      • State intervention aimed at increasing 
 • Inventorising traditional knowledge                                   cooperation between groups and fostering greater 
                                                                         participation
                                                        INCIDENTAL




                                                                                                                     20
THREATS TO ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
• Bureaucratic machinery 
• State intervention along administrative 
  divisions
• Culture of dependency
• Opportunistic nature of organisations
• Unhealthy nexus between formal and informal 
  interest groups 
• Insurgency and counter‐insurgency

                                             21
INFERENCES
• Though Majuli displays a complex network of informal relationships 
  at the individual, village and inter‐village level, the network 
  weakens when it comes to vertical relationships
• There is little recognition for the role that informal groups play or 
  can play in responding to internal or external shocks
• Past disaster management approaches have been mostly limited to 
  flood relief by external agencies; involvement of the local 
  community has been marginal
• The targeted ‘development’ and conservation programs may be a 
  contributing factor in increased social stratification and weakening 
  of informal relationships


                                                                     22
CONCLUSION

• Majuli’s case may be unique considering its 
  physiographic, environmental and heritage 
  context, but it is a living example of how the 
  underlying social fabric plays a significant role in 
  enhancing resilience of a community to internal 
  and external vulnerabilities   



                                                          23
REFERENCES
1 Goswami    D.C., Das P.J. (2005). The Brahmaputra River, India.  Accessed 1 November 2009 from 
     http://www.kalpavriksh.org
2 Buragohain, U (2002). Livelihood Strategies for Resource Management ‐ A Case Study of Majuli. Post 

     Graduation Dissertation. CEPT University. India
3 Das, P.J. (2009). Water and Climate Induced Vulnerability in Northeast India: Concerns For 

     Environmental Security And Sustainability. WATCH Research Report 1. AARANYAK. Guwahati, Assam, 
     India. Accessed 7 November 2009 from http://www.aaranyak.org
4  Bhuyan, A.  Sankardeva and Neo‐Vaishnavism in Assam. Accessed  5 November 2009 from 

     www.atributetosankaradeva.org
5 Mipun, J. (2000). The Mishings (Miris) of Assam: Development of a New Lifestyle. Accessed 1 November 

     2009 from http://www.themishingsassam.com
6 Pelling, M. (2003). Social Capital and Institutional Adaptation to Climate Change. RCC working paper 2. 

     Accessed 9 October 2009 from http://www.rcc.rures.net


ACKNOWLEDEMENT
I wish to acknowledge the telephone conversations I had with Ratna Bharali Talukdar (freelance 
     journalist) and my mother, Indira Gogoi. Their contribution greatly assisted my research.  

                                                                                                        24

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Majuli (India)-A lost cause or an ongoing adaptation to climate change?

  • 1. 2009 World Town Planning Day Online Conference Resilience in a Changing Climate Majuli (India) – A lost cause or an  ongoing adaptation to climate change? 12 November 2009 Urmi Buragohain Ministry of Municipality and  Urban Planning, Doha, Qatar
  • 2. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES This presentation will inform you • about a rural community in the developing  world extremely vulnerable to climate change  and faced with potential extinction • why the community defies all odds in  continuing to survive and adapt in a hostile  setting • how this case study can inform other  vulnerable communities around the world 2
  • 3. THIS PRESENTATION IS NOT ABOUT… • Whether Majuli as a geographical entity is going  to exist or not • The environmental and heritage conservation  and management of the island • Disaster management 3
  • 4. METHODOLOGY • Builds on past research on Majuli • Theoretical application of the methodological  framework proposed by Pelling (2003) • Data collection mainly from secondary sources • Inferences drawn would need further validation  via further research 4
  • 5. INTRODUCTION INDIA • Majuli is a river island situated  in the central region of the  Brahmaputra basin in the state  of Assam in India’s northeast  region ASSAM ASSAM • Majuli was formed by the  action of the river  Brahmaputra, Subansiri and  their tributaries Lakhimpur • Connectivity to the mainland is  Majuli only by boat Jorhat 5
  • 6. PHYSIOGRAPHIC SETTING1 • a powerful monsoon rainfall regime under wet  humid conditions • a fragile geologic base • active seismicity BAMBOO PORCUPINES RIVER BANK EROSION 6
  • 7. LAND DEGRADATION2 • The landmass has reduced from around 1,300  sq.km during 1950s to around 800 sq.km in  2001  DHEMAJI DISTRICT SUBANSIRI RIVER DIBRUGARH DISTRICT LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT BREACH IN EMBANKMENT LEGEND GOLAGHAT DISTRICT ZONE I: HOMOGENOUS PLAIN AREAS JORHAT ZONE II: LOW LYING & FLOODED AREAS ZONE III: SANDY CHARS OR SAND BARS BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER EROSION EXISTING EMBANKMENT ERODED EMBANKMENT SUB‐DIVISION BOUNDARY RIVER 7
  • 8. SOCIO‐POLITICAL CONTEXT2 • Tribal constituency • Seat of neo‐Vaishnavism • Economic vulnerability • Top‐down bureaucratic administration • Insurgency and counter‐insurgency MISHING DWELLINGS 8
  • 9. DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE2 DECADAL INCREASE IN POPULATION OF MAJULI • The population of the Majuli Sub‐ 16.00% 14.00% 12.00% 13.37% 11.92% 13.29% Division as per the 1991 census  Percentage 11.14% 10.00% 8.00% % i ncrea s e was around 153,000  6.00% in 4.00% 2.00% popul a ti on • Out of 244 villages in 1991, 34  0.00% 1971 1981 1991 2001 were eroded by 2001 Year • Heavy outmigration from  COMPARISON OF THE GROWTH RATES IN THE THREE MOUZAS Ahatguri Mouza 40.00% 32.75% 30.85% 30.00% 16.78% 16.73% 20.00% Growth rate 10.00% (1 ) 961 SALMORA 1.13% 0.00% Growth rate KAMALABARI -10.00% (1 ) 971 Ahatguri Salm ora Kam alabari Mouza -20.00% -17.37% AHATGURI NOTE: Based on 1991 Census figures 9
  • 10. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE  REGION3 • the impacts of climate change on regions like  northeast India are less explored and less known  • no significant trend in rainfall for the region • a distinctly rising trend in surface air temperatures  • drought like situations; dry periods becoming longer  • irregular rainfall pattern  • extreme climate events becoming more frequent  10
  • 11. WHY WILL MAJULI BE RESILIENT? • Majuli’s resilience to internal and external shocks  including climate change comes not from the ‘formal’,  top‐down responses to the physiographical and geo‐ morphological challenges, but from the social capital  inherent in the traditional cultural and religious groups  and institutions  11
  • 12. WHAT MAKES MAJULI RESILIENT • Historical continuum of the traditional and religious  institutional networks – Mishings migrated over centuries to settle along  riverbanks – Neo‐Vaishnavite movement took its roots in Majuli in the 16th century – Non‐tribals migrated here attracted by the Sattras 12
  • 13. COMPLEX NETWORK OF SOCIAL  RELATIONSHIPS  1. WITHIN A GROUP 2. BETWEEN GROUPS WITH  • Ke'bang SHARED INTERESTS • Nāmghar – common  • Yame Mimbir • Gaon Burha platform for various formal  & informal groups Pelling (2003): The balance  3. VERTICAL  between bridging, bonding  RELATIONSHIPS and linking capital points to a  • Nāmghar – Rāij‐Medhi as  society’s orientation towards  intermediary social fragmentation,  • Ke'bang – Gam as  cooperation or hierarchy intermediary 13
  • 14. NĀMGHAR4 • for the last four hundred years, the Nāmghar has been serving as the  village public hall  • the Nāmghars operate and are  managed on democratic principles  • constructed by the joint labour of  the villagers  • the venue for congregational  chanting of prayers  • an effective forum for decentralised planning and decision making A CORRIDOR ENCIRCLING A NĀMGHAR 14
  • 15. KE'BANG5 • the Ke'bang is the apex administrative  unit within a Mishing village • the chief of the Ke'bang is called Gam or Gaon Burah • village elders comprise the council body www.lakhimpur.nic.in • women are generally excluded from the  council body • has the power to deliver judgments and  punish the offenders • the Ke'bang is held in the Murong or  the public hall www.lakhimpur.nic.in 15
  • 16. 1. RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN & BETWEEN  GROUPS NĀMGHAR NEIGHBOURING  A MISHING VILLAGE MISHING VILLAGE GAM OR VILLAGE HEADMAN VILLAGE ELDER VILLAGE ELDER VILLAGE ELDER COOPERATION KE'BANG OR VILLAGE COUNCIL rigbo gok nam MEN WOMEN dagle'ka‐alek MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN Farming Farming Fishing Animal husbandry Maintaining &  Domestic tasks MALE YOUTH FEMALE YOUTH managing family Food gathering COOPERATION YAME‐MEMBER Weaving RESILIENCE HIGH RESILIENCE LOW 16
  • 17. 2. ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN GROUPS  WITH SHARED INTERESTS AND GOALS MISHING DEORI KOIBARTTA NATH KACHARI AHOM KOCH MATAK INFORMAL COOPERATION  NĀMGHAR BETWEEN VILLAGES •Employment in farms •Disaster aid •Women’s networks •Barter BRAHMIN KALITA RESILIENCE HIGH RESILIENCE LOW 17
  • 18. 3. VERTICAL RELATIONSHIPS EXTERNAL INTERNAL UNESCO GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES &  GRAM  ADMINISTRATIVE  VILLAGER VILLAGER PANCHAYAT DEPARTMENTS NĀMGHAR VILLAGER VILLAGER Rāij‐Medhi CREDIT INSTITUTIONS BRAHMAPUTRA  NABARD/ CAPART BOARD VILLAGER VILLAGER LINE  ASSAM TRIBAL  SATTRA DEPARTMENTS DEVELOPMENT  AUTHORITY VILLAGER VILLAGER EDUCATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS VILLAGER KEBANG VILLAGER EXTENSION SERVICES Gam MAHILA MANDAL Department of Agriculture NGO VILLAGER VILLAGER Agriculture University Majuli College NGO COOPERATIVES RESEARCH INSTITUTES Agriculture University PRIVATE SECTOR Paddy Research Institute VILLAGE VILLAGE COOPERATIVES CONTRACTORS VILLAGE TRADERS RESILIENCE HIGH RESILIENCE LOW 18
  • 19. INFORMAL NETWORKS & CAPACITIES TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP INFORMAL INSTITUTION FUNCTIONS STRENGTHS RESOLVE DISPUTES TRADITION RELATIONSHIP WITHIN A  IMPOSE PENALTIES VOLUNTARY GROUP KE'BANG INFORMATION  AUTHORITY DISSEMINATION KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES REPRESENTATION RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE TRADITION RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  SOCIAL DISCOURSE VOLUNTARY GATHERING PLACE GROUPS WITH SHARED  NĀMGHAR PERFORMANCE SPACE AUTHORITY VALUES KNOWLEDGE SHELTER REPRESENTATION FLOOD RELIEF RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE TRADITION KE'BANG SOCIAL DISCOURSE VOLUNTARY VERTICAL GATHERING PLACE AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIPS PERFORMANCE SPACE KNOWLEDGE NĀMGHAR SHELTER REPRESENTATION FLOOD RELIEF 19
  • 20. ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE  CHANGE6 • Rescheduling crop calendar and crop practice PURPOSEFUL • Greater involvement of traditional leaders like  • Soil conservation practices Gam and Gaon Burha in development programs • Construction of flood shelters • Traditional knowledge incorporated in flood and  • Flood relief measures erosion programs • Traditional stilt houses • Traditional knowledge incorporated in ecological  • Reconstruction work and heritage management 1 3 MATERIAL  INSTITUTIONAL  INTERVENTION MODIFICATION • Training in resource management 2 4 • Womens’ participation in traditional institutions  • Training in disaster mitigation and adaptation like Ke’bang, Namghar • Education for women and children • State intervention aimed at increasing  • Inventorising traditional knowledge cooperation between groups and fostering greater  participation INCIDENTAL 20
  • 21. THREATS TO ADAPTIVE CAPACITY • Bureaucratic machinery  • State intervention along administrative  divisions • Culture of dependency • Opportunistic nature of organisations • Unhealthy nexus between formal and informal  interest groups  • Insurgency and counter‐insurgency 21
  • 22. INFERENCES • Though Majuli displays a complex network of informal relationships  at the individual, village and inter‐village level, the network  weakens when it comes to vertical relationships • There is little recognition for the role that informal groups play or  can play in responding to internal or external shocks • Past disaster management approaches have been mostly limited to  flood relief by external agencies; involvement of the local  community has been marginal • The targeted ‘development’ and conservation programs may be a  contributing factor in increased social stratification and weakening  of informal relationships 22
  • 23. CONCLUSION • Majuli’s case may be unique considering its  physiographic, environmental and heritage  context, but it is a living example of how the  underlying social fabric plays a significant role in  enhancing resilience of a community to internal  and external vulnerabilities    23
  • 24. REFERENCES 1 Goswami D.C., Das P.J. (2005). The Brahmaputra River, India.  Accessed 1 November 2009 from  http://www.kalpavriksh.org 2 Buragohain, U (2002). Livelihood Strategies for Resource Management ‐ A Case Study of Majuli. Post  Graduation Dissertation. CEPT University. India 3 Das, P.J. (2009). Water and Climate Induced Vulnerability in Northeast India: Concerns For  Environmental Security And Sustainability. WATCH Research Report 1. AARANYAK. Guwahati, Assam,  India. Accessed 7 November 2009 from http://www.aaranyak.org 4  Bhuyan, A.  Sankardeva and Neo‐Vaishnavism in Assam. Accessed  5 November 2009 from  www.atributetosankaradeva.org 5 Mipun, J. (2000). The Mishings (Miris) of Assam: Development of a New Lifestyle. Accessed 1 November  2009 from http://www.themishingsassam.com 6 Pelling, M. (2003). Social Capital and Institutional Adaptation to Climate Change. RCC working paper 2.  Accessed 9 October 2009 from http://www.rcc.rures.net ACKNOWLEDEMENT I wish to acknowledge the telephone conversations I had with Ratna Bharali Talukdar (freelance  journalist) and my mother, Indira Gogoi. Their contribution greatly assisted my research.   24