ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a political-ecological analysis of the transformation of rural livelihoods in Majuli in the context of the disasters and the degradation of the island’s natural resources. Historically, the rural economy in Majuli has been predominantly agrarian, which is now changing due to the agrarian crisis facing the island. The chapter presents a critical analysis of the agrarian crisis by focusing on, among others, questions of land, geographical location, labor, and the role of the state. It then proceeds to discuss two other sectors of rural livelihoods in Majuli – fishery and pottery – both of which are also undergoing serious crisis today. The chapter foregrounds the role of embankments in reconfiguring the island’s ecologies and thereby contributing to the rural livelihood crises. Finally, the chapter presents an in-depth discussion on livelihood diversification by the disaster-affected communities in Majuli. This diversification, I argue, is not a case of “resilience”; rather, it reflects survival strategies of the rural population in Majuli, faced with dire situations.
