ABSTRACT
Post-disaster reconstruction has become big business today with billions of dollars in investment pouring in. Due to the volume of these investments, the guiding principles behind reconstruction have become the subject of serious academic debate. This article presents a case study of an earthquake reconstruction programme from India, which was implemented in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra after the Latur earthquake that took place on 30 September 1993. The objective is to analyse the impact of reconstruction on communities and households in terms of building assets and livelihoods. It seeks to assess the contribution of the reconstruction programme in building household assets, expanding economic opportunities and reducing the vulnerability of earthquake-affected people. It also explores certain considerations of equity and empowerment that could be introduced through a reconstruction programme.
