DISASTER, VULNERABILITY AND REHABILITATION: A Study of Uttarakhand

India is one of the world’s major theatres of disasters, both natural and human-induced. India’s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability make it one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Over last three decades, the country has witnessed 431 major disasters resulting in enormous loss of life and property. The country is highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and forest fires.
The newly created state of Uttarakhand has a large chunk of geographical area under the Himalayan ecosystem which is prone to earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, forest fires and road accidents. The flash flood which was followed by land sliding in June 2013, devastated the whole economy of the state. The study calls for imperative need of sustainable and socially responsible development in the context of rampant urbanization, deforestation, unregulated tourism activities, construction of hydropower projects and growing demand of scant resources. Policymakers need to address these crucial issues for prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in the state.
The study highlights theoretical perspectives on disasters, its prevention and mitigation along with assessment of vulnerability and risks in the context of Uttarakhand state. It further highlights the contribution of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation in rehabilitation and reconstruction of disaster affected areas in Dewali village panchayat in Rudraprayag district. It also provides in-depth analysis of profile and rehabilitation of widows of this natural calamity of 2013.
It is expected that the book will be highly useful in understanding the dynamics of development and natural disasters. It demonstrates the imperative need of sustainable development in keeping the right balance among the three pillars of ecology, environment and development.

Bindeshwar Pathak, a Ph.D. and D.Litt. in Sociology, is the Founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement. A leading social reformer and humanist of contemporary India, he is renowned the world over for his liberating work for scavenging untouchables, widows and other weaker sections of society. He transformed the sanitation scenario in India by developing a self-sustaining model of public sanitation. He has written extensively on social issues, and has developed the concept of Action Sociology. Dr. Pathak is the winner of several national and international awards – Padma Bhushan (1991); the Saint Francis Prize for Environment (1992); the Scroll of Honour by UN-Habitat at Rio-de-Janeiro (Brazil) (2003); the Global 500 Roll of Honour Award by UNEP at Beirut (Lebanon) (2003); Stockholm Water Prize (2009); the LEGENDE DE LA PLANETE Congress Fondateur Jeux Ecologiques at UNESCO, Paris (2013); and most recently the Nikkei Asia Prize 2018 for Culture and Community.

Satyendra Tripathi is trained as a social scientist in India, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the USA. Formerly Professor on SBI Chair and Director of the Centre of Integrated Rural Development Programme as well as Head of the Department of Sociology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, he has worked in United Nations as UN Fellow in Asia-Pacific countries. His specialization is social change and development in developing countries.