Member-only story

Development NGOs and Artisanal Fishers After the 2004 Tsunami: Ethnographies of Recovery and Resilience

Sam Carter

·12.6k Followers· Follow

Published in Building Back Better In India: Development NGOs And Artisanal Fishers After The 2004 Tsunami (NGOgraphies: Ethnographic Reflections On NGOs)

4 min read · 1 week before

1k View Claps

55 Respond

Save

Listen

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history. It killed over 230,000 people and displaced millions more. In the aftermath of the tsunami, a massive international aid effort was launched to help the affected communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Building Back Better in India: Development, NGOs, and Artisanal Fishers after the 2004 Tsunami (NGOgraphies: Ethnographic Reflections on NGOs)

by Raja Swamy

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1958 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	240 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

One of the key groups of people affected by the tsunami were artisanal fishers. These are small-scale fishers who use traditional methods to catch fish. In many of the affected communities, fishing is the main source of income and food. The tsunami destroyed fishing boats, gear, and infrastructure, and left many fishers unable to earn a living.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, a number of development NGOs (non-governmental organizations) stepped in to help artisanal fishers rebuild their livelihoods. These NGOs provided a variety of assistance, including new boats and gear, training, and microfinance loans. In some cases, NGOs also helped fishers to form cooperatives and marketing groups.

This book examines the role of development NGOs in the recovery and resilience of artisanal fishers after the 2004 tsunami. It is based on ethnographic research conducted in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, two of the countries that were most affected by the tsunami. The book explores the ways in which NGOs interacted with fishers, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their interventions.

The book argues that NGOs played a significant role in the recovery process, but that their work was often constrained by a lack of understanding of the local context and a tendency to focus on short-term relief rather than long-term development. The book concludes by calling for a more nuanced and collaborative approach to development that is based on a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people being served.

Key Findings

NGOs played a significant role in the recovery of artisanal fishers after the 2004 tsunami.
NGOs provided a variety of assistance, including new boats and gear, training, and microfinance loans.
NGOs helped fishers to form cooperatives and marketing groups.
NGOs often lacked an understanding of the local context and tended to focus on short-term relief rather than long-term development.
A more nuanced and collaborative approach to development is needed that is based on a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people being served.

The 2004 tsunami was a devastating event that had a profound impact on the lives of artisanal fishers. Development NGOs played a significant role in the recovery process, but their work was often constrained by a lack of understanding of the local context and a tendency to focus on short-term relief rather than long-term development. A more nuanced and collaborative approach to development is needed that is based on a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people being served.

Building Back Better in India: Development, NGOs, and Artisanal Fishers after the 2004 Tsunami (NGOgraphies: Ethnographic Reflections on NGOs)

by Raja Swamy

4.7 out of 5