This book explores the ways in which gender-sensitive and inclusive policies can be developed to address the basic issues of marginalization, livelihood, poverty and vulnerability in the Eastern Himalayas. The essays in the volume touch upon current concerns, such as the economic and social challenges faced by women, their control over resources, questions of patriarchy, discrimination, gender rights and equity, information, empowerment and participation, and women as agents of change.

This book provides an understanding of the challenges in Northeast India in terms of the nature of flows and ruptures in the daily lives of people. It brings together multiple and interconnected issues of identity, development, environment, migration, land alienation and policy impacts to the forefront. Northeast India’s history is affected both by internal dynamic processes, as are its linkages with adjoining countries, marked by a fluid movement of people and goods across porous borders. The book explores how the region has emerged as a resource frontier for the global markets, yet its resource mobilization has led to disparity within the region. The volume discusses key themes concerning the region such as the processes of development and people’s resistance; underdevelopment in the peripheral areas; resource flow and conflict; community response and local agency; state and customary practices; politics of land and citizenship; development-induced dispossession; human mobility, immigration and conflict; the notion of "outsiders"; inter-state border conflict; and spatial connections. Rich in empirical data, the volume will be relevant and useful for students and researchers of development studies, Northeast India studies, sociology, political science, border and migration studies, public policy, peace and conflict studies, as well as practitioners and policymakers.

This book presents a broad overview of the challenges posed by COVID-19 in India and its neighboring countries. It studies the differing responses to COVID-19 infections across South Asia, the variegated impact of the pandemic on its societies, communities and economies, and emerging challenges which require an interdisciplinary understanding and analysis. With a range of case studies from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, this book, Analyses the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, including the structural challenges faced by farmers in the agricultural production and migrant workers in the informal sectors; Examines the shifting trends in migration and displacement during the pandemic; Explores the precarity faced by LGBTQ+, transgender, Dalit, tribal, senior citizens, and other marginalized communities during the pandemic; Discusses the gendered impact of the pandemic on women and girls, combining with multiple and intersecting inequalities like race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, geographical location, and sexual orientation; Sheds light on the position of health infrastructure and healthcare services across different countries, and the transitions experienced in their education sectors as well, in response to COVID-19. A holistic read on the pandemic, this book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of sociology, medical anthropology, sociology of health, pandemic and health studies, political studies, social anthropology, public policy, and South Asian studies.

Entangled Lives is a case study in environmental history, multispecies history, more-than-human history, posthumanism, and environmental humanities. Its main objective is to foreground that history is co-created, but that its contours are locally specific.

Land Conflicts Across Frontiers compares Myanmar’s journey with North East India on the critical and contested issue of land. It examines concerns related to land in pre-colonial and colonial history, causes and consequences of land conflicts today, the socioeconomic dynamics attached to land, along with attempted community-based institutional interventions and rural activism. As Myanmar takes its steps towards a democratic future, it becomes critical for the country to be aware of North East India’s experiences, as they could provide valuable lessons of what to ‘implement’ and what to ‘avoid’. Loss of common property resources, non-recognition of customary rights, ambiguous land laws and inadequate attention to people’s grievances have led to a rural landscape which has witnessed livelihood vulnerability, displacement and conflict. The book not only tries to capture cross-border experiences in order to have a better understanding of land alienation, agrarian discontent and peripheral marginalization but also notes recent trends in rural spaces and suggests policy measures.

Myanmar is known for its engaging history, rich cultural heritage, and diverse ethnic communities. Its tumultuous political past has been discussed by academics and policy makers for decades; however, the land of the Shwedagon cannot only be defined by conflict and contestation. Myanmar is complex and multi-layered with innumerable issues shaping its identity and manifold interpretations creating its distinctiveness. A deeper comprehension of its past glory with thoughtful deliberation on its socio-economic challenges helps to understand the country better. This book fills this gap by focusing on four broad themes––reminiscence, restoration, re-evaluation, and resurrection. It studies interconnected issues ranging from nostalgia and belonging to Myanmar’s contribution to art and heritage (through its museums, cinema, folk traditions); from the problems of landlessness, resource dispossession, and climate change to the experience of marginalized groups. The author weaves these themes into a common narrative of discovering Myanmar through a holistic lens. The book aims to explore the country through its history, culture, communities, and challenges. A unique contribution, the book highlights the myriad facets of Myanmar by contemplating on its inherent strengths and visible weaknesses. It would be indispensable for scholars and researchers of Southeast Asian studies, Asian studies, area studies, Myanmar studies, political studies, cultural studies, and sociology.

This open access volume is the first comprehensive assessment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. It comprises important scientific research on the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable mountain development and will serve as a basis for evidence-based decision-making to safeguard the environment and advance people’s well-being. The compiled content is based on the collective knowledge of over 300 leading researchers, experts and policymakers, brought together by the Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP) under the coordination of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). This assessment was conducted between 2013 and 2017 as the first of a series of monitoring and assessment reports, under the guidance of the HIMAP Steering Committee: Eklabya Sharma (ICIMOD), Atiq Raman (Bangladesh), Yuba Raj Khatiwada (Nepal), Linxiu Zhang (China), Surendra Pratap Singh (India), Tandong Yao (China) and David Molden (ICIMOD and Chair of the HIMAP SC). This First HKH Assessment Report consists of 16 chapters, which comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the HKH region, increase the understanding of various drivers of change and their impacts, address critical data gaps and develop a set of evidence-based and actionable policy solutions and recommendations. These are linked to nine mountain priorities for the mountains and people of the HKH consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals. This book is a must-read for policy makers, academics and students interested in this important region and an essentially important resource for contributors to global assessments such as the IPCC reports.

Contributed articles.

Urbanisation Is Still At A Nascent Stage In The Eastern Himalayan Region Of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim And The Hills Of Darjeeling In West Bengal. In The Indian Portion Of The Eastern Himalayas The History Of The Growth Of Towns Does Not Go Back Beyond The Late 19Th Century-While Urban Centres Emerged In Bhutan Only In 1960S. Most Of The Hill Urban Cetnres That Have Subsequently Emerged Are Small-With Population Even Less Than A 1000 In Some Cases. The Problem Of Urban Development Is A Complicated Process In The Himalayas As The Entire Human Habitation Is Largely Controlled By The Natural Environment. The Unstable Nature Of Terrain, Heavy Rain, Soil Erosion And Mass Wasting Create Many Problems In The Physical Distribution Of The Towns And Sometimes Further Complicates The Situation In The Long Run. Problems Are Accentuated By The Uneven Distribution, Unbalanced Growth And Disparity In The Size Of These Small Towns. The Number Of Studies Relating To Urbanization In The Eastern Himalayas Is Negligible. The Book Includes Articles By Scholars From Different Disciplines Like Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, History, Political Science, Economics And Fills Up The Gap In This Area.

This book addresses disaster and disaster risk reduction (DRR) practices, constraints and capacity in the context of coastal Bangladesh. Located in the lower riparian of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has to face frequent disasters such as floods, cyclones, river erosion, salinity intrusion as well as drought. Drawing together a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, Coastal Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh explores the connection between climate change and DRR issues in this region. The editors reorganize disaster studies around social and physical changes that can reduce these risks and put at risk populations on a stronger footing by making risk reduction the focus. These include measures to improve disaster preparedness, to boost recovery by creating better disaster planning and programs, and physical and social initiatives to improve disaster resilience. Also, analyzing the gender perspective, the volume also utilizes the local knowledge framework to consider whether these populations have resilient knowledge that needs to be incorporated into initiatives based on advanced technology and perspectives. This book will be of interest to academics, researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners in the field of disaster, DRR and governance, climate change, climate change adaptation (CCA) and the environment.