Survival Strategies of The Displaced People of River Bank Erosion: A Study of Shariatpur District

Abstract

Riverbank erosion is one of the destructive natural disasters in the riverine Bangladesh. River erosion often destroys cultivable lands, dislocates human settlements, damages the growing crops, massively disrupts road-linkages and communication infrastructure in the riparian track of the country. It is one of the most unpredictable and critical type of disasters that depend upon the quantity of rainfall, soil structure, river morphology, topography of river. The present study entitled “SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE DISPLACED PEOPLE OF RIVER BANK EROSION: A STUDY OF SHARIATPUR DISTRICT” has been conducted to assess the losses and miseries caused by the river bank erosion, find out the effects of erosion on livelihood and to explore the survival and coping strategies adopted by the displaced people of the study area. The study was conducted in two villages of Naria upazila named Chondipur and Charjujira under the district of Shariatpur, Bangladesh. There were 334 displaced families in these two villages who resettled their household after being displaced by the river erosion. Out of those displaced households 50 household from Chondipur and 50 households from Charjujira were chosen on random basis as sample population for the study. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources to fulfill the objectives of the study. Primary data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire from households of the study areas. Findings of the study revealed that on an average, 280 acre land and 240 house hold of the study area were eroded per year during the period between 2009-2013. It is also found that during this period the rate of damage in 2011 and 2012 was higher than previous years and it was highest in the year 2013. It was an indication of increased erosion rate. The main reason of such variation was because of climate change induced intensifying rainfall pattern and unplanned interventions. It was found in this study that most of the respondents (44%) are illiterate. 2% of the respondents can read and write their name. 24% have completed primary education and 18% have completed their junior school certificate course. Only 2% have completed SSC and 2% have completed higher secondary level. 8% have completed higher education out of which 4% graduate and 4% Masters Degree. Data shows that out of the total respondents highest 23% have chosen small business as their profession like shop kipper, seasonal seller of vegetables, fruits, sugarcane, green coconut hawkers etc. followed by day labor 16%, farmer 14%, Rickshaw pooler 11%, carpenter 5% Masson 4%, motor boat driver 4%, non Govt. job 4%, tailor3%, fisherman 2%, stock business 2%, teacher 2%, butcher 1%, Govt. employee 1% and working abroad 1% and 7% remaining unemployed. Monthly average Income of the respondent BDT 12158 of which BDT 10500 from principal occupation BDT 1150 from subsidiary occupation and BDT: 508 from incidental sources. Principal occupation was the only source of income of most of the people of the study area. However, some people have scope to earn from other sources like seasonal business, private tuition, auto driving, fishing, brokering etc. Only a few respondents have some assets like land, auto rickshaw, trollar, fishing boat etc. After displacement monthly income of the respondents decreased by BDT: 3000.00 from main occupation, BDT: 850.00 from subsidiary occupation and BDT: 828.00 form incidental resources. Average monthly income of the displaced families decreased by BDT: 4678.00. Respondent families spend BDT 9650 for food and cloth, BDT 1200 for education of their children, 1175 for treatment and medicine and 2077 for other purpose. However, before displacement their expenditure for food, clothing and treatment was relatively low such as BDT 6500 to BDT 950. One the other hand expenditure for education, recreation and for other social involvement reduced significantly after being displaced. Monthly average income of the respondent household was BDT 12158.00 and monthly expenditure was BDT: 14102.00 which is bigger than income by BDT 1741 that means monthly average deficit of the respondent house hold is BDT: 1944.00. There were no landless families among the respondents before displacement however, 67% of them became landless after displacement. Rest 18% holding their remaining land and 15% respondents purchased small piece of land after displacement for resettlement (see Table 6.1). Only 3% respondent was the owner of marginal land before displacement which increased to 27% after displacement. Land holing up to two acres was 31% before displacement which decreased to 6% only. 66% of the respondents were the owner of 3 and above acre of land however none was found in that category after displacement. It is also found that 40% of the respondent families lost their solvency after displacement out of which 26% became insolvent and rest 14% went under poverty line. Displaced families have undertaken different indigenous strategies for overcoming their misery and for survival. 45% of the respondent adapted to new occupation for maintaining their livelihood. 13% sold their various assets and livestock for fulfilling their basic needs. 11% of the respondent received help from relatives, 10% have taken loan from NGO. 8% of the respondent families engaged their young members in work before completion of education. 7% spent money from saving, 5% have taken loan from schedule banks and 1% went abroad for bringing solvency in their family. It is learned from the people who had some savings somehow could manage their initial problems during the natural disaster. But the poor peasants had to seek help and assistance from their neighbors and relatives. Government and NGO help reached the villages quite late. Only 1% family received Corrugated Iron (CI) sheet for constructing their house from GO and 4% from NGO. 2% households received cash money from GO and 12% from NGO. 18 of the respondent received rice from GO and 12% received from NGO. 1% of the respondent received deep tube well from GO and 1% from NGO. 2% received shallow tube-well from GO to and 2% from NGO. 4% of the respondent received sanitary latrine from GO and 5% from NGO. Most of the victims were not willing to receive relief; they wanted full recovery of their losses. They expected necessary support and cooperation from government to cope with the adverse situation and to get rid threat of further damage. 100% percents of the respondents wanted permanent dam and effective protection of the river bank, 67% respondents demanded allocation of khas land, 58% asked for bank loan without interest, 53% desired to complete study of their children, 46% asked for trained rescue team for saving the lives and properties. 42% demanded well planed and proper resettlement of the displaces, 32% claimed for employment opportunity in home and abroad and 23%, made their appeal to excuse their previous bank loans. The marginalized people not only lost property but also experienced socioeconomic deprivation through displacement. Because of the dynamic character of the braided channelled river and the failure of structural measures, the sufferings of the people continued. Long-term policies and strategies should be taken to cope up with bank erosion taking into account the social and institutional adjustment measures. Land reallocation assurance may be the appropriate strategy to cope up with such disaster. In addition, a flood plain zone is essential to lessen the vulnerability of riverbank erosion. Adequate intervention of the concern Government agencies are needed to protect the lives and properties. More attention is to be given for rehabilitating the displaced families.