Abstract
This study applied the Vulnerability Index at the household level (HVI) to assess the vulnerability to climate variability among the major Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Dooars region of West Bengal, India. These tribal communities are Oraon, Munda, and Santal, who mainly work as tea plantation labourers. Few of them are crop rearers. A total of 650 households were selected based on purposive sampling, and the sample size was chosen by the proportional allocation method. The HVI was calculated by the data collected from the households, and then a composite indicator index was prepared by assigning a relative weight to each indicator. The final outcome is a weighted average index which is further described with the IPCC dimension of adaptability, sensitivity, and exposure. The study area is located in the foothill zone of Shiwalik Himalaya of West Bengal, which made it a high rainfall and flood-prone zone. Besides, very high rainfall in the hills causes flash floods. This rainfall and floods make the tribal population vulnerable who are predominantly living in rural areas with a poor resource base. This study found that the Maynaguri block is the most vulnerable block of the study area, particularly concerning adaptability and exposure. On the other hand, Falakata is the least vulnerable block due to its high adaptability.
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Notes
- 1.
See for details: https://www.indiawaterportal.org/.
- 2.
A house that has its walls made up of concrete but roof is made up of tin/asbestos/tile/bamboo/timber etc.
- 3.
A house which have not have concrete roof/wall/floor and made of mud,grass,thatch,reeds,bamboos etc.
- 4.
A system where poor people get food and non-food items at subsidized prices. which is procured and maintained by the Food Corporation of India, a Government-owned corporation and in some instances Tea Garden authority.
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Deb, P., Mukherjee, R. (2022). Household Vulnerability of Tribal People to Climate Change in the Part of Dooars Region, West Bengal, India. In: Mishra, M., Singh, R.B., Lucena, A.J.d., Chatterjee, S. (eds) Regional Development Planning and Practice. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5681-1_15
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