Smart Governance in times of extreme Natural Disasters: An Introspection. The ‘After Phase’ of Super Cyclone Amphan in India and Bangladesh

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Abstract

Every year, the Bay of Bengal coast shared between India and Bangladesh is struck by one or more cyclonic storms during both pre- and post- monsoon seasons. Although the inhabitants of this region remain mentally prepared to withstand the devastation caused by natural calamities, they don’t have adequate financial support to combat the physical losses involved. This year, super cyclone Amphan caused irreversible disruptions to lives and livelihoods among those living in the Sundarban and along the coastal areas of Odisha. This paper aims to explore the collateral damages caused by Amphan across both India and Bangladesh. We intend to identify the ground reality of disaster governance – what goes wrong and why? Furthermore, how is it that, in spite of a widespread awareness concerning the hazard-prone character of this coastline, permanent solutions are never sought? This question leads us to a quest for alternative channels of governance. With an overview of success stories across different countries in the world, this study focuses on future prospects open to e-media, particularly as concerns unconventional channels for information collection and service delivery to affected citizens.