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

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

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

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