Author: Shitangsu Kumar Paul
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-05-03
Year: 2005
Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2005
Examination Committee: Jayant Kumar Routray (Chairperson); Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt, Chandhana lndhapanya (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: Bangladesh is a typical hazard prone country in the world and flood is considered to be the number one natural hazard. This study is undertaken to explore the socio-economic and environmental impacts of floods, peoples own survival strategies and assessing their coping capacities against floods in rural areas of Bangladesh. The field survey was conducted in January 2005 in two villages in Bannabari in Tungipara Upazila and Suvagacha in Kajipur Upazila. Primary data was also collected through key informant interviews and household survey. By assuming 90% confidence interval, the estimated sample size is 94 out of 500 households in both the study villages. Statistical techniques such as frequency, percentage, chi-square test, t-test and weighted average index are used to evaluate flood impact, coping strategies, coping capacity, degree of satisfaction and degree of priority of various aspects. Flood has disastrous impact on people’s socio-economic conditions such as loss of earnings, assets, crops and livestock, food, drinking water, sanitation, people’s health and infrastructure as well. These impacts depend on not only flood height and duration but also the frequency of flood together with poor socio-economic condition and lack of preparedness creates greater impact. It is also evident that flood has impact on environment and this impact depends upon physical location of the area and magnitude of the flood. It is not true that flood always increases soil fertility it can decrease fertility too due to the sand deposition on agricultural land and soil erosion that creates great environmental affects. Flood pollutes both domestic and drinking water, which are the major causes of spreading communicable diseases during and after flood. Coping strategies in response to flood impacts are motivated by magnitude of flood together with social structure, cultural setup and geophysical location of the area hence people develop their survival strategies to live with flood having traditional strategies and indigenous coping
Scholarship Donor(s): Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science
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