ABSTRACT
The chapter provides comparative analysis of the performance of local government in reducing the risk of landslide disasters that frequently occur in Sikkim and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) region (consisting of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts) in West Bengal by taking up the case of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Both the regions have similar geological, geomorphologic, geographical structures, and common landslide problems, but there is a difference in terms how the local government deals with landslide disasters. Decentralised government is entrusted with the function of dealing with landslide problems in Sikkim, while it is the district government which deals with landslide problems in the GTA region since there is no local government at the village level on account of the non-conduct of elections. The chapter finds that the performance of Sikkim is better in the implementation of MGNREGS activities, such as flood control, water conservation and harvesting, land development, and renovation of traditional water bodies, which have considerable potential to reduce the risk of landslides. The better performance in Sikkim is attributed to the well-functioning decentralised government in the state.
