Plight of Riverbank Erosion Related Internally Displaced Persons in Assam: A Study of South Salmara Mankachar District

Abstract

This paper explores the plight of those in Assam and the South Salmara Mankachar District who are impacted

by riverbank erosion and floods. Due to its extensive river network, Assam is vulnerable to natural calamities

like erosion and floods, which hinders the state's overall progress. The Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers, which

have over 50 tributaries, are the main cause of flood destruction each year during the monsoon season. As a

result of the massive erosion, number villages have disappeared since the last few decades. Peoples are forced

to displace from the one place to another to take shelters in different places including the nearest state of

Meghalaya. Due to erosion, people lose their life, homestead, agricultural land and earning sources, which also

a cause of urban migration in the state. As a result of such intense of bank erosion, pose severe challenges to

human security in the State as well as in the study district. Government’s initiative to address the issue has also

been minimal against the context of security threat that people encounter on a daily basis. In the above

backdrops, this paper is an attempt to understand the socio-economic and political impact of riverbank erosion

on the displaced people. Besides, it also examines the effectiveness of governments approach to mitigate the

riverbank erosion problem as well as the plight of displaced persons in the selected district.