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Disasters in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh region

In a disaster-affected area, while focusing on economic growth, it becomes imperative that the government pursues
sustainable development which does not negatively affect the fragile natural environment of the region. Economic
measures are important, but all economic activity such as investment, trade, and tourism depends, to an extent, on the
security of the area. Over the years, the security situation in the region has improved substantially but remains fragile and
prone to outbursts in the form of violent protests and terrorist attacks (Khan, 2017). There exists a trust deficit between the
local population and the administration and this need to be bridged by more inclusive community engagement approaches.
There is an urgent need to increase the social capital of the people of the region by making local communities’ stakeholders
in the functioning of the government. It can be done through decentralization of power and authority and through the
implementation of developmental programs focused on the needs of the community, with their active participation. In
addition, the recent bifurcation of the UTs and administrative policy change in the region has given government enough
space to work on the safety, security, and economic development agenda of the region.

4. Conclusions
While our study has managed to present a comprehensive overview of the impacts of disasters on the lives of people in the
region of J&K and Ladakh, it does have some limitations. The study is based entirely on available literature and no primary
data were collected for it. In a dynamic situation like the one in J&K and Ladakh region, the study, while being true to the
intrinsic nature of disasters, terrorism and violence, may fail to present the current situation. The study also leaves scope for
in-depth research into the different impacts of the disasters highlighted here. Based on the findings, the study recommends
the strengthening of effective disaster risk reduction and management systems, early warning systems and infrastructure –
especially health facilities, schools and roads – in J&K and Ladakh region. In addition, emphasis must be laid on reducing
the underlying vulnerabilities of the population through better community engagement approaches for both development
initiatives and conflict resolution, with a special focus on the youth. Interventions made by the government to improve the
resilience of communities should be implemented in a sustainable way, taking into account the risks posed by both natural
disasters and terrorism. This study strongly recommends in-depth research and advocacy to ensure that resilience measures
with regard to both natural and man-made disasters in the region are appropriately addressed.

Disclaimer

The views and geographic names or definitions expressed in this article solely reflect those of the authors and do not
reflect those of the organizations the authors are affiliated to nor the publisher nor those of the editorial office and the
editorial board of the Journal.
Authors’ Contributions

Conceived and designed: Sangram Kishor Patel. Review of literature: Sangram Kishor Patel, Ankit Nanda, Govind Singh
and Sunita Patel. Contributed to tools/materials/data collection: Sangram Kishor Patel and Ankit Nanda. Drafted and
wrote the manuscript: Sangram Kishor Patel, Ankit Nanda, Govind Singh and Sunita Patel.
Conflicts of Interest

No conflicts of interest were reported by the authors.
Ethical Approval

Not applicable.
Availability of Supporting Data

Open data sources.
References

Ali I, Mir AA, Jabeen R, Ahmad M, Fazili A, Kaul RU, Kumar R and Keshkar S. (2010). Morbidity Pattern and Impact of Rehabilitative
Services in Earthquake Victims of Kashmir, India. International Journal of Health Sciences, 4(1):59-67.
Amin S and Khan AW. (2009). Life in Conflict: Characteristics of Depression in Kashmir. International Journal of Health Sciences,
3(2):213-23.

78 International Journal of Population Studies | 2020, Volume 6, Issue 1