title: Post-tsunami relocation of fisher settlements in South Asia: evidence from the Coromandel Coast, India.
abstract: The tsunami that struck the coasts of India on 26 December 2004 resulted in the large-scale destruction of fisher habitations. The post-tsunami rehabilitation effort in Tamil Nadu was directed towards relocating fisher settlements in the interior. This paper discusses the outcomes of a study on the social effects of relocation in a sample of nine communities along the Coromandel Coast. It concludes that, although the participation of fishing communities in house design and in allocation procedures has been limited, many fisher households are satisfied with the quality of the facilities. The distance of the new settlements to the shore, however, is regarded as an impediment to engaging in the fishing profession, and many fishers are actually moving back to their old locations. This raises questions as to the direction of coastal zone policy in India, as well as to the weight accorded to safety (and other coastal development interests) vis-à-vis the livelihood needs of fishers.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bavinck
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.affiliation: Associate Programme Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van der Plaat
authors.affiliation: Trainee with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jorik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravesteijn
authors.affiliation: Geography Teacher at IJburg College, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.affiliation: Courier with Miedema-AGF, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arendsen
authors.affiliation: Freelance Stage-builder and Courier, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Currently in between jobs and travelling in Australia.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Hoog
authors.affiliation: Geography Teacher at the Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ant
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Koolwijk
authors.affiliation: Energy Adviser at Greenfocus, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuijtel
authors.affiliation: Geography Teacher at the Barlaeus Gymnasium, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zuurendonk
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D004190:Disasters; D005398:Fisheries; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D057766:Policy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012066:Relief Work; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057192:Tsunamis
keywords: Coromandel Coast; India; Tamil Nadu; coastal management; fisheries; housing; resettlement; tsunami