ABSTRACT
An unprecedented level of rainfall in 2018 in the state of Kerala has exposed not just the severity of the ongoing global environmental crisis, but also lends deep insights into the fracture and buffer points in the state infrastructure. It brought to the fore vulnerabilities of human life, especially of those occupying informal settlements. The floods wreaked havoc, causing destruction and displacement of people at a scale never witnessed before. Using data collected as part of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2018 in addition to the framework of livelihoods provided by the Department for International Development (DFID), the chapter assesses the impact of the floods on the capabilities of the households with a focus on the various coping mechanisms employed by the families. In addition, the crises also witnessed the rapid mobilisation of resources by the citizens and civil society that sped up the recovery. This chapter highlights the impact of the large-scale destruction and the suffering caused to various aspects of human life and livelihood in the aftermath of the floods. The chapter focuses upon the role of international migration, relative to other livelihood strategies and institutions, in the aftermath of the 2018 floods and in the context of global climate change, which is likely to lead to further climate events, disasters and crises within the region. The livelihood assets of the people are classified into human assets, physical assets, social assets and financial assets. Focusing on the recovery mechanisms, it also emphasises the pressing importance of human and social capital as a social safety net during a crises period.
