The Politics of Village Reconstruction in Bhuj

• In Event: Navigating the Nexus: Governance, Tech, & Infrastructure in Crisis Management

Abstract

The paper explores the politics of rural (village) reconstruction that emerged after a devastating earthquake that rocked the Kachchh region of Gujarat on 26th January 2001, a state in the western part of India. The paper in particular traces the nature of changes that get introduced in the rural landscape of Bhuj in post-disaster scenario. The material is drawn from extensive ethnographic research and analyses of recovery initiatives (short term relief to long term rehabilitation and reconstruction) undertaken in the post- disaster scenario by different stakeholders including the state and civil society in rural Bhuj.
The study shows how existing vulnerabilities determined by social, economic and political realities get reinforced in the rehabilitation process that is subsequently initiated. A deeper analysis of the reconstruction process through the assessment of various 'adoption' and 'relocation' initiatives of different donor agencies in villages in Bhuj brings out the essential ‘selective’ nature of reconstruction carried by different stakeholders to the forefront of this study.

Author

• Sanjeev Kumar, University of Delhi