Charlands (River islands) of the Damodar

The paper explores the vulnerabilities and livelihoods of the Bangladeshi immigrants (mostly illegal) living in charlands of the Damodar river in Burdwan district of West Bengal. The field work for this study was done in nine chars through in-depth interviews, long informal discussions and participant observation. The process of migration and peopling as well as the present socio-economic conditions of the charland inhabitants are also studied to have a better understanding of the vulnerabilities and livelihood strategies. The process of conversion of sandy lands into fertile agricultural fields through their indigenous methods of applying bio-manure is found interesting in this era of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. River erosion and floods make charlands highly fragile and vulnerable, with which people have to cope and have to arrange their post-flood livelihoods on their very own system with which they were used to in Bangladesh. Above all a perception study is done to identify the perceptions of people regarding vulnerabilities and livelihood stresses enhanced by non-citizen identity and poverty.

Speaker

Dr. Gopa Samanta, Senior Lecturer in Geography, Mankar College, West Bengal, India

Organizers

• Department of Social Sciences
  
• French Institute of Pondicherry

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Conference Hall
French Institute of Pondicherry
11, Saint Louis Street
Pondicherry - 605001

Time

16:00 hrs