In the era of globalisation, where opening of borders is being advocated all over the world, there is one issue over which no nation-state is ready to compromise with its territorial borders. The issue of migration and refugees is considered so sensitive that states have often linked it with their sovereignty, independence and even existence. Environmental degradation has become a crucial issue in the contemporary world. The effects of climate change are likely to trigger mass human movement both within and across international borders. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) predicts that between 50 and 200 million people may be displaced by 2050. Thus, the human impact on the environment is creating a new kind of global casualty for the twenty-first century—an emergent class of environmental migrants. Environmental crisis in the rural areas of developing countries is increasingly becoming an important cause of cross-border migration of population and South Asia is no exception to this phenomenon. Such movement of population in the Indo-Bangladesh context is generating a range of destabilising socio-political, economic, ethnic and communal tensions in India. It has embittered Indo-Bangladesh relations, causing tensions between the two countries.
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction
Significance of the study
Literature Review
Objectives
Hypothesis
Research Methodology
Chapterization
II. Environmental Conflict: A Conceptual Analysis
Evolution of Environmental Conflict Research
III. Environmental Degradation in Bangladesh
Sea Level Rise
River Bank Erosion
Coastal Erosion
Population pressure
Flood
Decline in the Quality and Quantity of Freshwater Resources
Air Pollution
Cyclones & Storms
Loss of Bio-diversity
IV. Consequences of Environmental Degradation
Decline in Agricultural Productivity
Economic Decline
Health Hazards
Decreased Industrial Production
Fuel Wood Scarcity
Growing Incapability of State
Migration
V. Migration to India
Climate change and migration
Migration from Bangladesh to India
Why Bangladeshi Migrants Take refuge in India
Why Bangladeshi Migrants Come to India and not Chinese or Pakistani Migrants
VI. Impact in India
Security Implications
Demographic Impact
Tension between Two Countries
Threat to Territorial Integrity
Economic Impact
Political Impact
VII. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This research examines environmental degradation in Bangladesh as a primary driver for cross-border migration into India and analyzes the resulting socio-political, economic, and security-related consequences for the Indian state.
- Exploring environmental change as a catalyst for international migration.
- Analyzing the dynamics of environmentally induced migration from Bangladesh to India.
- Assessing the security, demographic, and political impacts of Bangladeshi migration on Indian states.
- Evaluating environmental security as an integral component of national security.
Excerpt from the Book
River Bank Erosion
Riverbank erosion has also been a regular natural phenomenon along the major and some minor rivers in Bangladesh adversely affecting the people and their properties. Since 1973, over 158,780 hectares of land has been eroded and in 2010 alone, river bank erosion is expected to displace 11,000 people living on the banks of the Jamuna, and more than 5,000 living alongside the Ganges and Padma rivers. The Riverbank Erosion Impact Study (REIS) shows that, of the 462 upzillas bank erosion is taking place in about 94 and of the 64 zillas it is taking place in about 50 districts. In 35 upzilas bank erosion is severe and recurrent.
The problem of displacement by river bank erosion has long been recognized in Bangladesh and, from the landmark River Erosion Impact Study (1984-1988) onwards, there have been a number of studies into the effects of loss of land on residents. In some cases, erosion may be so severe, or the capacity to cope so strained, that whole households and even communities may opt to move out of an area. For example, a survey carried out in 1998 among 230 households in Serajganj, found that 5,500 of 30,000 slum dwellers were erosion-affected displaces. Most were forced to live in marginal areas of the city – for example along railway lines or along the city's flood protection embankments – and only 7 per cent had received some sort of assistance from a government or NGO. 90 per cent of those surveyed were working as unskilled labour, with length of residence seemingly having little impact on earning capacity.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter provides the background on globalization and environmental degradation, setting the research scope and defining the study's significance and methodology.
II. Environmental Conflict: A Conceptual Analysis: This chapter defines environmental conflict and security, tracing the theoretical evolution of the field through various research groups.
III. Environmental Degradation in Bangladesh: This chapter evaluates critical environmental issues in Bangladesh, including sea-level rise, riverbank erosion, and pollution, which jeopardize regional stability.
IV. Consequences of Environmental Degradation: This chapter details the socio-economic effects of environmental scarcity, such as agricultural decline, health crises, and the subsequent forced migration.
V. Migration to India: This chapter examines the historical context, drivers, and patterns of migration from Bangladesh to India, specifically highlighting climate change as a key factor.
VI. Impact in India: This chapter analyzes the profound security, demographic, and political implications of migration for Indian states, particularly those in the Northeast and West Bengal.
VII. CONCLUSION: This concluding chapter summarizes the findings and offers policy recommendations for both nations to manage migration and address the underlying environmental causes.
Keywords
Bangladesh, India, Migration, Environmental Degradation, Climate Change, Environmental Security, Resource Scarcity, Riverbank Erosion, Demographic Impact, Border Security, Illegal Immigration, Socio-political Tension, Sustainable Development, Regional Cooperation, SAARC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The work focuses on the link between environmental degradation in Bangladesh and the resulting cross-border migration into India, analyzing its impacts on India's national security and socio-economic stability.
What are the central themes covered in the study?
Key themes include environmental conflict theory, the physical impacts of climate change in Bangladesh, the drivers of human migration, and the security and political implications for India.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The objective is to explore how environmental stress functions as a catalyst for international migration and to propose a framework for managing the resulting security and bilateral challenges.
Which scientific methodologies are utilized?
The study employs an analytical and empirical approach, relying heavily on qualitative secondary data to correlate environmental changes with population displacement patterns.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body covers the conceptual framework of environmental conflict, detailed environmental crises in Bangladesh, the socio-economic consequences, the migration flow to India, and the resulting impacts on Indian demographics and security.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Essential keywords include environmental security, cross-border migration, climate-induced displacement, socio-political impacts, border management, and bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
How does the author define environmental conflict?
The author describes it as a conflict arising from the environmental scarcity of a resource, caused either by human-made disturbance of its regeneration rate or the overstrain of the environment's sink capacity.
What is the relationship between riverbank erosion and migration?
Riverbank erosion is a continuous process that destroys livelihoods, forcing victims to migrate in search of survival, frequently leading them into urban slums or across international borders to India.
How have Indian political entities responded to migration?
The response has been multifaceted, ranging from the implementation of border control measures and legal acts like the IMDT Act to political debates regarding vote banks and demographic shifts in states like Assam.
What policy solutions are proposed to mitigate the migration crisis?
Proposals include strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing border management through technology, investing in the economic development of Bangladesh, and fostering regional cooperation via platforms like SAARC.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Susanta Kumar Parida (Autor:in), 2014, Environmental Degradation and Migration from Bangladesh to India : Conflicts and Challenges, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263833
