Colonisation of Lifeworld: Voices of Kacha Farmers and Perspective of National Disaster Management Agency of Pakistan on Flood Hazard Management Endeavours

Muhammad Qasim, Nizamani (2019) Colonisation of Lifeworld: Voices of Kacha Farmers and Perspective of National Disaster Management Agency of Pakistan on Flood Hazard Management Endeavours. PhD thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

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Abstract

Floods hazards are one of the worsening challenges humanity is facing on earth, causing widespread death and destruction. Pakistan is also vulnerable to flood catastrophes and most of the flood victims in Pakistan are Kacha (floodplain) farmers. Hence, flood is severely endangering their lives and livelihood, marginalising Kacha farmers. Despite the continuous flood perils, it is astonishing to note that no visible strategic flood hazard management endeavour is observed for Kacha farmers until today. This thesis argues that Kacha farmers are entwined of National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) of Pakistan biasness towards them, therefore, the present exercise of flood hazard management is plagued with prejudice and devoid of Kacha farmers’ empowerment. The study intends to examine Kacha farmers’ voices (bottom) and NDMA’s (top) perspective of difference and convergence nodes on flood hazard management exercise. The most literatures on flood hazard management research suggest that past inquiries were conducted from the narrow perspective isolating to a single cycle event. Whereas, flood victims are either examined at individual cycle of preparedness and mitigation or response and recovery cycle. Rather, flood hazard victims have to endure the complete flood hazard management cycle which encompasses from preparedness to recovery cycle. Theory of Communicative Action (TCA) also noted that a phenomenon of flood hazard cannot be developed suddenly nor it is an isolated flood hazard management cycle, rather, it is inter-connected cycle, which should be view as a complete cycle. Moreover, TCA called that marginalisation of flood victims is due to lifeworld’s (i.e., Kacha farmers) colonisation by system (i.e., NDMA) and powerful forces (i.e., Wadero). The thesis deploys a framework to investigate above narrated facts by exposing colonisation of lifeworld at the hand of the system and powerful forces by observing flood hazard management phenomenon as a sphere of complete cycle under the umbrella of TCA. The methodological approach of present research employs a critical inquiry of qualitative realm through in-depth interviews and field observation sample size of n=38 (31 Kacha farmers and 7 NDMA officials). Findings reveal that current antagonistic flood hazard management practices are disenfranchising flood victims instead of empowering them in flood hazard management cycle. Resultantly, this present investigation noted that the engagement exercise for amicable resolution is to re-engage on the adverse legality issue of Kacha area occupancy. The current inquiry exposed malicious corrupt nexus of powerful forces and NDMA’s field officials that greatly exploited the resources allocated for hazard stricken Kacha farmers. Accordingly, unequal distribution and corruption of flood hazard management resources for destitute Kacha farmers, diminishes the empowerment objective of marginalised Kacha farmers for their well-being. Therefore, the study proposes that local knowledge must be utilised to overcome exploitation of powerful actors by engaging flood victims and applying benign approach towards them. Above suggestions, may not eliminate flood hazard completely but may produce saliency to the safety, well-being and empower the marginalised flood victims. Likewise, NDMA should seize the opportunity of middle ground with flood victims for the development of collaborative flood hazard management exercise. Keywords: Flood, flood hazard management, Kacha farmers, NDMA, marginalisation, colonisation of lifeworld, system

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