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Disaster Management Through Indigenous Wisdom: Voice from the People of Erendabari Char

Md. Sanaul Haque Mondal
SAARC Metrological Research Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The geographical location and its land characteristics make Bangladesh one of the most disasterprone countries of the world. This country is frequently hit by natural disasters like floods, river bank erosion, cyclone, droughts and tornadoes. Besides, this country is also highly vulnerable to earthquakes, arsenic poisoning, water logging, salinity, storm surge, etc. Island Chars in Bangladesh are geographically dislocated from the mainland and the people of these areas have been living with disasters for long. People from the extreme poor segment live in Chars and are vulnerable to disasters. But the people of the Chars have their own mechanisms to cope with disaster which have formed over numerous generations of habitation and practised long since. The present study tries to identify and reveal the indigenous myths and beliefs that exist in the community and finally establish a linkage with scientific knowledge. In most cases the Char people are ignorant about scientific prevention and survival strategies and therefore they have to rely on their indigenous wisdom. Hence the implication of indigenous knowledge is very useful as a means of survival of Char people.

Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Disaster management, Chars, vulnerability, coping strategies.

Location: Fulchhari upazila, Gaibandha, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Disaster

Objectives:

The following are the objectives of the study: n To find out and accumulate the indigenous knowledge that have been practising from the male line as an indication of disaster event and coping mechanisms for disaster risk reduction. n To analyse the indigenous knowledge and find out the reasons for practising indigenous knowledge. n To recommend the adaptation mechanisms and best practices for disaster risk reduction.

Methodology:

This study has followed some socio-anthropological methods. Both primary and secondary data were collected from the field and different sources like books, websites, statistical data, etc., respectively. In order to collect the best information from the people regarding their myths, beliefs and practices for disaster management, the researcher needs to observe their livelihoods and adjustment scenario closely. The stages of methods of study can be categorised into the following steps:

Collection of Secondary: Data Secondary data and information have been collected from different relevant sources like books, websites, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), etc.

Selection of the Study Area Erendabari Char is located in Gaibandha district and disassociated by the Jamuna river from the mainland. This Char is highly vulnerable to flood and river bank erosion. It is really difficult to collect the indigenous knowledge practices from the people for the whole area; therefore three villages were selected for collecting the information. The names of the villages are: Zigabari (ward no. 2), Horichondi (ward no. 9) and Vatiapara (ward no. 5).

Collection of Primary Data This research is a qualitative research. Therefore, for collecting primary data, several socio-anthropological methods were used in the field. The following methods were used: (i) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with the aged people (ii) Key Informants Interviews (iii) Observations

Brief Study Area (Erendabari Char) Erendabari is a union of Fulchhari upazila, Gaibandha. Erendabari union occupies an area 21,952 acres of land including river and Char. The union is surrounded by Jamuna river and several channels of Jamuna and Jinjiram river. This union is completely dissected by water from the mainland and it is a truly hard to reach area. The waterway is the best way to reach Erendabari Char. From Balasi Ghat (under Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district) one can reach Erendabari Char by boat (shallow engine driven). It takes 2.5 hours to 3 hours to reach Erendabari Char. Road connectivity in Erendabari Char is not found significant. Main sources of household income are: 70.8% on day labour and share-cropping; 21.6% on cultivation; 7.6% on fisheries, nonagricultural labour, business and employment. Shops and other facilities are not so good. People are living through primary economic activity.

Source of Information: Journal of South Asian Disaster Studies

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

With regard to rural people, indigenous knowledge practices for disaster management are very important considering both management and coping issues. Indigenous knowledge has passed on through hundreds of years and from generation to generation, community to community. Indigenous knowledge is generated through practical knowledge and no laboratory test has been done for it. But it plays an important role in disaster management at the individual and community levels. In Char areas where people have no access to modern technology, indigenous knowledge for weather forecasting based on observation of certain natural phenomena plays an important role to protect and save themselves. Chars are hard-to-reach areas, therefore to address disaster risk reduction, setting a holistic approach is important, as well as having successful disaster risk reduction. A community-based approach is very important for creating community ownership—which is one of the major preconditions for a sustainable disaster management process.

Knowledge Management: Journal