Governing Displacement in a Climate-Risked Wetland: The Case of Kuttanad, Kerala

Author(s): Vishnu Aravind

Abstract:

This paper examines the intersection of climate change, human displacement, and livelihood transformations in Kuttanad, a low-lying wetland region in Kerala, India, renowned for its distinctive agro-ecological characteristics and rich socio-cultural heritage. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, official data, and extensive secondary literature, the study examines how recurring floods, rising salinity, erratic rainfall, and infrastructural degradation have contributed to a slow-moving displacement crisis, particularly among marginalised communities. The paper documents how these environmental pressures have intensified agrarian distress, altered traditional occupations, and reconfigured social relations and economic hierarchies. Despite the presence of adaptation policies such as the Kuttanad Package and decentralised governance mechanisms, the responses remain fragmented, technocratic, and insufficient in addressing the root causes of vulnerability. By situating the Kuttanad case within broader debates on climate justice, rural dispossession, and environmental governance, the study advocates for a justice-oriented framework that prioritises local knowledge systems, participatory planning, and the recognition of climate-displaced individuals. The paper contributes to ongoing discussions in rural studies, climate governance, and displacement literature, underscoring the urgency of rethinking climate adaptation beyond infrastructural resilience toward a more inclusive, ecologically grounded, and socially just rural transition.

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Pages: 54-61     |    3 View     |    1 Download