Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cascading Vulnerabilities: Food Insecurity Among Women in Disaster-Prone Areas in India

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disaster Studies

Part of the book series: Disaster Studies and Management ((DSDM))

Abstract

The relationship between food insecurity and gender inequality is well acknowledged in food security policy and programme discourse. Studies also indicate that the presence of continual shocks and stresses (political, social, environmental, etc.) have significant negative implications on food security, especially for women and in their households. In this regard, a relevant question is how do shocks and stresses in gender-asymmetrical spaces affect food security and what is the nature and form of the food insecurity experienced by vulnerable women. While there is ample documentation that relates food insecurity with gender or with shocks and stresses separately, explorative study knitting together the three aspects—namely food insecurity, shocks/stresses and gender inequality, at the micro-level for context-specific understanding is limited.

This study was conducted by Ms. Larina Fernandez and Ms. Manomita Das under the supervision of Prof. Janki Andharia. The site in Kerala was covered by Ms. Fernandez and the one in West Bengal by Ms. Das.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Conditions to be included in the sample: women above 15 years of age belonging to the study area experiencing some forms of food insecurity. The indicators of household food insecurity were taken from 1995 CPS Food Security Supplement as presented in USDA Guide to Measuring Household Food Security, 2000 (Bickel et al. 2000).

  2. 2.

    Names have been changes to protect identity.

References

  • Ajani, O., & Yetunde, I. (2009). Gender dimensions of agriculture, poverty, nutrition and food security in Nigeria. NSSP working papers 5, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

    Google Scholar 

  • Balatibat, E. M. (2004, October 15). The linkages between food and nutrition security in lowland and coastal villages in The Philippines. Retrieved December 22, 2016, from Wageningen UR E-depot: http://edepot.wur.nl/121598.

  • Beyani, C. (2014, October). Climate change and internal displacement. Project on Internal Displacement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhushan, C., Ghosh, A., & Chaudhuri, J. (2012). Living with changing climate: Impact, vulnerability and adaptation challenges in India Sundarbans. Centre for Science and Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bickel, G., Nord, M., Price, C., Hamilton, W., & Cook, J. (2000). Guide to measuring household food security. Measuring Food Security in the United States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, S. (2013). Gender, development and disasters. UK, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, A. (2015). Gender and food security: An overview. Institute of development studies. Available at: http://www.wocan.org/sites/default/files/Gender%20and%20FS%20In%20Brief.pdf.

  • Brown, L., Deshpande, C., Hill, C. L., Lambrou, Y., Marina, & Ragasa, C. (2009). Gender and food security. In Gender in agriculture sourcebook (pp. 11–20).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryce, J., Coitinho, D., Darnton-Hill, I., Pelletier, D., Pinstrup-Andersen, P., & Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group. (2008). Maternal and child undernutrition: Effective action at national level. The Lancet, 371(9611), 510–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, M. R., Little, P. D., Mogues, T., & Negatu, W. (2007). Poverty traps and natural disasters in Ethiopia and Honduras. World Development, 35(5), 835–856.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandar, C. Y. (2016). The ailing India. Notion Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakrabarty, M. (1996, December). Gender difference in cereal intake: Possible impacts of social group affiliation and season. Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 54(4), 355–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakravarty, S., & Dand, S. A. (2005). Food Insecurity in India: Causes and Dimensions. Ahmedabad: IIM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury, A. N., Brahma, A., Banerjee, S., & Biswas, M. K. (2009). Pattern of domestic violence amongst non-fatal deliberate self-harm attempters: A study from primary care of West Bengal. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 96–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damodaran, A. (2006). Tribals, Forests and Resource Conflicts in Kerala, India: The Status Quo of Policy Change. Oxford Development Studies, 34(3), 357–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600810600921976.

  • Deere, C. D., & Unidos, E. (2010). Poverty, headship, and gender inequality in asset ownership in Latin America. In Conferencia Regional Sobre la Mujer De America Latina Y El Caribe. Brasil: CEPAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Disaster Management. (2011). Disaster Management Manual. Government of West Bengal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. (2009). District human development report South 24 Parganas. Kolkata: HDRCC, Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodson, B., & Goebel, A. (2014). Food security and gender. In D. L. Kleinman, K. A. Cloud-Hansen, & J. Handelsman (Eds.), Controversies in science & technology: From sustainability to surveillance. Oxford: Oxford University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edet, G. E., & Etim, N.-A. A. (2014). Poverty and gender inequality in asset ownership among households in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Studies in Social Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, K. A. (2015). Food Security in Developing Countries: Is There a Role for the WTO? Center for Global Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enarson, E. (2000). Gender and natural disasters. Working paper No. 1, Infocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction. Geneva: International Labour Organization, Recovery and Reconstruction Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enarson, E. (2000). gender issues in natural disasters: Talking points and research needs. Geneva: ILO InFocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction Workshop.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. (2006, June). Food security—policy brief. Retrieved January 7, 2017, from Food and Agricultural Organization: http://www.fao.org/forestry/13128-0e6f36f27e0091055bec28ebe830f46b3.pdf.

  • FAO. (1997). Report of the world food summit, 1996. In World Food Summit. Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. (1893). World food security: A reappraisal of the concepts and approaches—Director generals report. Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization. (2002). State of food security in the world. Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/y7352e/y7352e00.htm

  • Food and Agriculture Organization. (2005). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2005. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2015a, November 26). Surge in climate change-related disasters poses growing threat to food security. In The impact of disasters on agriculture and food security.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2015b, May). The imapct of natural hazards and disasters on agriculture and food security and nutrition. In A call for action to build resilient livelihoods.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2003). Trade reforms and food security.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fothergill, A. (1998). The neglect of gender in disaster work: An overview of the literature. In E. Enarson & B. H. Morrow (Eds.), p. 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government Office for Science. (2014). National workshop on migration and global environmental change in India. New Delhi: UK Aid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haen, H. D., & Hemrich, G. (2007, December 19). The economics of natural disasters: implications and challenges for food security. Agriculture Economics, 37(s1), 31–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzman, S. B., & Nezam, T. (2004). Living in Limbo: Conflict induced displacement in Europe and Central Asia. Washington DC: The World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hyder, A. A., Maman, S., Nyoni, J. E., Khasiani, S. A., Teoh, N., Premji, Z., et al. (2005). The pervasive triad of food security, gender inequity and women’s health: Exploratory research from sub-Saharan Africa. African Health Sciences, 5(4), 328–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • IDMC’s Global Internal Displacement Database. (2017). Retrieved from IDMC: http://internal-displacement.org/database/.

  • IFAD. (1996). Household food security: Implications for policy and action for rural poverty alleviation and nutrition. World Food Summit.

    Google Scholar 

  • INCCA. (2010). Climate change and India—A 4 × 4 Assessment. New Delhi: Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. (2006). Hazard assessment and disaster mitigation for West Bengal due to tropical cyclones. Kolkata: Department of Disaster Management, Government of West Bengal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. (2013). Contextual factors linked to child food insecurity and hunger. In Research opportunities concerning the causes and consequences of child food insecurity and hunger: A workshop summary. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jencik, A. (2010). Deconstructing gender in New Orleans: The impact of patriarchy and social vulnerability before and after a natural dsiaster. University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanjilal, B., Bose, S., Patra, N., Barman, D., Ghosh, U., Mandal, A., et al. (2013, June). How healthy are the children of Indian Sundarbans? Kolkata: Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanjilal, B., Mazumdar, P. G., Mukherjee, M., Mondal, S., Barman, D., Singh, S., et al. (2010a). Health care in the Sundarbans (India): Challenges and plan for a better future. Jaipur: Future Health Systems Research Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanjilal, B., Mazumdar, P. G., Mukherjee, M., Mondal, S., Barman, D., Singh, S., et al. (2010, January). Health care in the Sundarbans (India): Challenges and plan for a better future. Kolkata: Future Health Systems Research Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laska, S., Morrow, B. H., Willinger, B., & Mock, N. (2007) Gender and disasters: Theoretical considerations. In Katrina and the Women of New Orleans. Newcomb College Center for Research on Women.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. (1999). Development in disaster-prone places: Studies in vulnerability. London: IT Publications (Practical Action).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathur, P. R. G. (1994). Applied Anthropology and challenges of Development in India. Egully. com.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. (n.d.). Ground water information booklet—South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal. Retrieved December 29, 2016, from Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): http://www.cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/WestBangal/south_parganas.pdf.

  • Molestane, V. R. (2011). The gendered dimensions of food security in South Africa: A review of the literature. Human Sciences Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, E. (2005). The concept of internal displacement and the case for internally displaced persons as a category of concern. Refugee Survey Quarterly, 24(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, A. (2001). Rural women and food insecurity: What food Calendars reveal—A “Longitudinal Study”. Economic and Political Weekly.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Committee on the Development of Backward Areas. (1981). Report on development of coastal areas affected by salinity. Delhi: Planning Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Negin, J., Remans, R., Karuti, S., & Fanzo, J. C. (2009). Integrating a broader notion of food security and gender empowerment into the African Green Revolution. Food Security, 1(3), 351–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office of the United Nations High Commisoner for Human Rights. (2009). Relationship between climate change and human rights. Document A/HRC/10/61, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pingali, P., Alinovi, L., & Sutton, J. (2005). Food security in complex emergencies: Enhancing food system resilience. Disasters, 29(s1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, M., Taylor, F., Agrawal, S., Prabhakaran, D., & Ebrahim, S. (2013). Food acquisition and intra-household consumption patterns: A study of low and middle income urban households in Delhi, India. Indian Journal of Community Health, 25(4), 391–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennartz, P & Niehof, A. (1999). The domestic domain: Chances, choices and strategies of family households.

    Google Scholar 

  • Remesh, M. (2007). Ethnobotanical studies on tribal groups of Palakkad district, Kerala. Calicut: University of Calicut.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rammohan, A., & Pritchard, B. (2014). The role of landholding as a determinant of food and nutrition insecurity in rural Myanmar. World Development, 64, 597–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, H., Quarantelli, E. L., Dynes, R. R. (Eds.). (2007). Gender and disaster: Foundations and directions. In Handbooks of sociology and social research, 130–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roser, M., & Ritchie, H. (2018). Hunger and undernourishment. Our World in Data.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samaddar, R. (1999). The marginal nation: Transborder migration from Bangladesh to West Bengal. New Delhi: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena, N. C. (2018). Hunger, under-nutrition and food security in India. In Poverty, Chronic Poverty and Poverty Dynamics (pp. 55-92). Singapore: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharmin, S. (2013, December). climate change and its effect on coastal area Of Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Science and Technology, 015–020.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaji, K. A. (2016, October 18). Malnutrition continues to stalk tribal children. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Malnutrition-continues-to-stalk-tribal-children/article11624466.ece

  • Simon, G.-A. (2012, March). Basic readings as an introduction to food security. Retrieved January 7, 2017, from Food and Agricultural Organization: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ERP/uni/F4D.pdf.

  • Sodano V. (2009). Food insecurity, Human rights, and gender inequalities. In K. Miller, P. Hobson West, & B. Nerlich (Eds.), Ethical futures: Bioscience and food horizons, (pp. 291–296). Wageningen academic publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spieldoch, A. (2007). A row to hoe: The gender impact of trade liberalization on our food system, agricultural markets and women’s human rights.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundar, N. (2005). Laws, policies and practices in Jharkhand. Economic and Political Weekly, 4459–4462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sujith, A.V. & R. R. (2014). Analyzing livelihood status of tribes in Attappady block, Kerala. International Journal of Advances in Remote Sensing and GIS,2(3), 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taft, J. V. (1987). Issues and options for refugee women in developing countries.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Hindu. (2013, August 22). Maternal under-nutrition cause of infant deaths in Attappady: study. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/maternal-undernutrition-cause-of-infant-deaths-in-attappady-study/article5046945.ece.

  • Tobin, G., & Montz, B. (1997). Natural hazards: Explanation and integration. New York and London: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, A. C., Bangsberg, D. R., Emenyonu, N., Senkungu, J. K., Martin, J. N., & Weiser, S. D. (2011, December). The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda. Social Science & Medicine, 73(12).

    Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay, P. R., & Palanivel, C. (2011). Challenges in achieving food security in India. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). (2007). Strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development (Report of Secretary General. UN doc. E/2007/71). New York: ECOSOC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiest, R. E., Mocellin, J. S., & Motsisi, D. T. (1994, June 20). The needs of women in disasters and emergencies. United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Food Programme. (2009). Retrieved from https://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp204445.pdf.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies, Mumbai, India

    Larina Fernandez, Manomita Das & Janki Andharia

Authors
  1. Larina Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manomita Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Janki Andharia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janki Andharia .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Janki Andharia

Annexure

Annexure

See Table 1.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Fernandez, L., Das, M., Andharia, J. (2020). Cascading Vulnerabilities: Food Insecurity Among Women in Disaster-Prone Areas in India. In: Andharia, J. (eds) Disaster Studies. Disaster Studies and Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9339-7_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9339-7_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-32-9338-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-32-9339-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation