Paper short abstract:

Indian women’s marginalisation in natural disaster management is discussed. An autoethnographic method is adopted to narrate women’s experiences illuminating systemic and structural barriers for their agency. Applying human capabilities framework, they discuss intersecting issues of caste, income, education, age, health, etc. They suggest ways forward for women’s inclusion and participation.

Paper long abstract:

The impact of natural disasters is disruptive to normal life functionings which often results in disproportionate vulnerabilities among humans. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (n.d.) highlights that the multi-layered effects of natural disasters include “human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts” (UNDRR, n.d.). In this paper, we discuss Indian women’s experience of natural disaster management, marginalisation, and capabilities.

Although many natural disasters such as earthquakes, drought, cyclones, and floods occur in India, the flood-related death rate in India is the highest in Asia (Mohantya et al., 2020). Flooding has resulted in an economic damage of $11.5 billion in 2020 (Chowdhury & Goel, 2023). It takes significant amount of time and resources to address the flood-related damage and impact on environment and lives. Factors such as social stratification, political disagreements, and gendered approach to disaster management slow down the distribution of relief measures besides further work on risk management (Tamuly & Mukhopadhyay, 2022). Indian women, compared to men, tend to experience more hardships from flooding.

Researching the effects of drought, Algur et al. (2021) pointed out that the compounded effects on the health and livelihoods of Indian women and children from marginalised communities increased their vulnerability. As stakeholders in key livelihood areas such as agriculture and fisheries, Indian women’s active participation is paramount to the well-being of their families and the economy. Still, their participation may not imply the expression of human capabilities and individual flourishing. The human capabilities approach assesses the quality of life considering the person’s ability to do and to be living a life that they have reason to value – that is freedom to be and to do (Sen, 1999). In relation to Indian women, the central premise of the capability approach is asking “What is she actually be able to do and to be” (Nussbaum, 1999, p. 233). This question explores what her opportunities and options are to do and to be as a capable human being in an environment that enables her to be a fully functional human being. Expressing capabilities requires structural and systemic support (Nussbaum, 2007), with acute sense of human rights (Sen, 2005), and commitment to gender equality (Chowdhury et al., 2021). The challenge for the expression of one’s capabilities is systemic exclusion, discrimination and injustices. These barriers can play an impactful role on women’s capabilities and agency.

The patriarchal power relations could constrain women’s agency and construct them as vulnerable during disaster management. Their vulnerable position relates to several key indicators of quality of life such as economic empowerment, health, and social justice (Nussbaum & Sen, 1993; Bhadra, 2017). For example, Indian women earning a low income, without formal education, and without rights to immovable assets are more likely to experience discrimination and exclusion during natural disasters. This position could also threaten their human freedoms of economic empowerment, health status and seeking justice against domestic violence (Sen, 2006). These human development indicators are strongly associated with capabilities approach that Sen (1999, 2006) promoted further leading to the central human capabilities that Nussbaum (2000) proposed. They emphasise women’s ability and freedom in having a clear choice in determining the quality of their life. The human capabilities embedded in women’s choices entail dignity, emotions, practical reason, affiliation, and importantly, control over their environment (Nussbaum, 2000). These are crucial in the analysis of Indian women’s marginalisation in natural disaster management as they influence the ways of life that they have reason to value. The human capabilities approach values gender equity whilst supporting gender equality by emphasising women and men are to be treated with the same level of respect while addressing their individual needs. This entrusts all stakeholders with the critical responsibility of analysing the effectiveness of policies and appropriate reformations for gender equity and changes towards gender equality. This way, both systemic and institutional responsibilities are scrutinised for accountability towards ensuring women are benefiting from intended outcomes through policies in natural disaster management processes (Stewart, 2013).

This paper explores Indian women’s marginalisation in natural disaster management, highlighting how intersecting issues impact on their human capabilities. Through a review of literature, several emerging themes are discussed such as unequal male-female power relations, inequities in education and health, constraints to women accessing resources, personal safety, and gender-based violence. The authors have worked with the grass roots communities, marginalised women and NGOs in India that were involved in natural disaster management. Informed by their personal knowledge and experience, the authors adopt an autoethnographic method to narrate women’s experiences of natural disaster management illuminating systemic and structural barriers for their agency and voice. Applying human capabilities framework, they discuss women’s marginalisation through several intersecting elements such as caste, income, education, age, health, sociocultural hierarchy, mobility and caretaking responsibilities. Their discussion highlights how these elements produce vulnerabilities and exclusion during natural disasters affecting women’s agency for disaster preparedness and to access relief measures. They analyse government policies and NGO interventions in assessing women’s specific needs and problems and suggest ways forward for women’s inclusion and participation in responding to natural disaster management.

Raising an all-round critical consciousness of marginalised women’s needs amidst ongoing problems relative to their welfare and well-being seems paramount for women’s participation in natural disaster management including preparedness, risk management and relief measures. The ways forward should be sustainable, human rights-based, and social justice oriented engaging with women’s agency. Specific suggestions include strengthening multi-actor, inter-agency work for needs analysis, reformation of policies and procedures, and holistic community empowerment. The discussion also emphasises the need for research addressing Indian women’s overall well-being in natural disaster management.

Keywords: Indian women, natural disaster management, marginalisation, human capabilities, multi-actor response