Rehabilitation of Fisherfolk Communities: The role of State and NGOs in Super Cyclone affected Districts of Orissa

Abstract

Disasters affect the biological and social functioning of the society. The impact of disasters on the life and livelihood of certain occupational groups compounds their misery. Welfare agencies, who work in the area, oftentimes ignore the the human and socio-cultural aspects of the affected communities. As a result, inspite of best possible measures undertaken by welfare agencies, many questions are raised against them. The paper attempts to explain the impact of the super cyclone on the fishermen communities of coastal Orissa who are engaged in marine fishing. It describes the impact of few rehabilitation programmes, implemented by welfare agencies for the revival of fishing communities. Various issues pertaining to socio-cultural and economic life of the fishermen communities have been raised which are not focused on by welfare agencies.