Human development approach to vulnerability assessment : A study based in East Sikkim

Abstract

The thesis aims to examine the link between poverty and vulnerability of natural resource dependent rural mountain communities in East district of Sikkim, through capability approach to human development. A human development approach was found to be appropriate for the research work because it is well established that climate change threatens and undermine human development across countries by limiting people’s ability to live long and healthy life, to be educated, to have a decent standard of living, and to participate in community life with dignity and self-respect etc. The research was intended to contribute to formulation of pro-poor interventions on multiple dimensions of poverty in the region for strengthening community’s resilience. This research builds an understanding on contextual vulnerability which focuses on the capacity of individuals and social groups to respond to, cope with, recover from, or adapt to, any external stress placed on their well-being and livelihoods. Understanding on contextual vulnerability has evolved to acknowledge the complexity of climate-society interactions and its multidimensional nature. It emphasize that there is an intrinsic link between poverty and vulnerability, which is not only context-specific but is complex and multi-faceted. This recognition came with the view that vulnerability is an inherent property of a society determined by multitude of factors such as poverty, inequality, gender patterns, lack of access to basic need such as health care and housing etc.