Assessing pre and post tsunami impacts on the livelihoods of coastal women using socio-economic and gender analysis (SEAGA)

Abstract

The people in coastal villages, particularly the women, face different challenges due to disaster threats such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, climate and environmental changes. Coastal women in India have in recent years started adopting new livelihood practices apart from their traditional occupations. Detailed gender and livelihood analysis in assessing the impact of disaster threats, climate and environmental changes on the livelihoods of coastal women in India is scanty. 200 women and men including the tribal people from four coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, South India, were selected. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tool and socio-economic and gender analysis (SEAGA) were used for data analyses. This study reveals the impact of disaster threats, climate and environmental changes on the livelihoods of women and men, the village environment, the village infrastructure and institution, gender and social issues. This study, as a successful model, can help the concerned development organizations and policy makers to plan and develop programmes for the upliftment of coastal women, actions to be taken towards disaster mitigation and adoption, environmental management and appropriate technologies to be disseminated to develop sustainable livelihoods among the fishers.