Establishing Parameters for Identification of Vulnerable Occupations in a Disaster Scenario in Gujarat, India

Abstract

Natural disasters in developing countries have direct and indirect economic effects, which impact the persons from all economic strata. While some can recover, many are left stranded in the aftermath of the disaster, deprived of earning opportunities. An effectual policy targeting this population, mostly engaged in low‐income jobs or the informal sector of the economy, can be formulated only if the impact on these occupations can be competently computed. This paper establishes parameters to identify vulnerable occupations and gives direction to devise the strategy for “occupational resilience.” The paper also shares the results of a preliminary study conducted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, involving 40 disaster hit communities; victims of urban floods in the last decade, spatially distributed over urban, peri‐urban and rural areas and validates the previously laid parameters at the field level. It also gives an insight into the communities' survival strategies and the issues that link the employment and urban‐rural linkage elements to the disaster.