3.1. Overview of Tamil Nadu Coast Case Studies

There is also sustainable livelihoods framework which talks about the asset framework where it is a different model in 1997, which they have developed how the individuals or a groups access the resources which are basically an assets to organize their livelihoods and how the capacities make them able to act engage and change the world.

The sustainable livelihoods framework emphasizes that people access various resources, termed 'assets,' to build their livelihoods. These assets can include physical, human, social, and financial resources that empower individuals and groups to engage effectively in their environment and transform their circumstances. This framework underlines the importance of understanding how these resources work together to enable communities to adapt and grow in changing conditions.

Imagine a small fishing community where families have access to fishing boats (physical assets), knowledge about fishing techniques (human assets), connections to markets (social assets), and savings to buy equipment (financial assets). Together, these resources allow them to not only catch fish but also to sell them profitably, making their livelihoods sustainable.

Apart from this, Tony Lloyd Jones and Carole Rakodi also propose that there is also the futures like how the infrastructure and development has an impact in those access to these assets and the vulnerability context. As well as the livelihood opportunities and also the policies and the institutions, how these actually make the individual or the groups to act upon.

Jones and Rakodi suggest that the infrastructure and development policies directly affect how communities access their assets and opportunities for livelihoods. In this context, vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of these communities to adverse impacts from hazards. By understanding infrastructure's role, researchers can assess how it enables or limits communities in times of need, especially during recovery phases after disasters.

Think of a town with poor road infrastructure after a flood. Without roads, fisherfolk may struggle to transport their catch to markets, severely limiting their income and recovery. Conversely, if the roads are repaired quickly, it could significantly enhance their ability to sell fish, rebuild, and thrive.

But here, the thing is it is not just for the economic necessity where households or groups act upon. But it is with the cultural factors which people manage the results and make their livelihood choices to act upon.

Cultural factors often play a crucial role alongside economic necessities in determining livelihood strategies. People make choices based not only on what is financially viable but also what aligns with their cultural practices, values, and traditions, shaping their responses to opportunities or threats.

Consider a community that relies on traditional fishing methods passed down through generations. Even if modern fishing techniques could increase profits significantly, they might choose to stick to their traditional methods because it's a vital part of their culture, which fosters a sense of identity and community cohesion.

So my methods have started understanding from two subject domains, one is talking about the change which is about this morphology which how the spatial character has changed before disaster and after disaster. The second aspect when I am looking at the cultural dimension of it that is where I have to draw the methods from the cultural anthropology.

The research combines two areas: morphology, which studies physical forms and spatial characteristics, and cultural anthropology, which examines cultural behaviors and practices. By analyzing changes pre-and post-disaster, researchers can understand how the built environment and cultural factors influence recovery and resilience within communities.

Picture a village that was flattened by a tsunami. By looking at the village's layout (morphology) before and after the disaster, researchers can assess how the new design affects residents' day-to-day lives, alongside studying how cultural practices influence rebuilding strategies.

So, I travelled around Tamilnadu, I have taken a lot of statistical information of the damage statistics what districts have been affected, what are the villages, what are the NGOs working on, what approaches they are doing whether they are doing Institute or a relocation and accordingly have visited about 17 villages along the stretch of Tamilnadu coast.

This part of the research involved extensive fieldwork across Tamil Nadu, where the researcher collected statistical damage data and examined the role of various NGOs in recovery efforts. By visiting numerous villages, it provides a comprehensive view of how diverse communities respond to and recover from disasters.

Consider a researcher studying the effects of a major flood across different towns. By visiting each affected area, they can gather firsthand accounts of the recovery process, evaluate different recovery strategies used by local NGOs, and understand the unique cultural responses of each community.

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