Extreme climatic events are behind the mass migration from Odisha’s coastal Kendrapara district and Jharkhand’s Palamu district, says a study funded by the U.K. Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
“Climate extremes in coastal Odisha are predominantly rapid-onset events like cyclones, floods and storm surges. Jharkhand primarily experiences drought, which is typically a slow onset event. Our study’s findings from both rapid-onset and slow-onset contexts show that social protection mechanisms could not absorb the climate shocks or efficiently cover all eligible households.,” says the study titled ‘Climate change, migration and vulnerability to trafficking’.
The study says, “Kendrapara had been one of the most fertile and prosperous regions of Odisha. But climate extremes, in the form of rapid-onset events, have proven that even stable ecosystems and prosperous economies can collapse.”
