Assessing socio-economic vulnerability to riverbank erosion in the Middle Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam, India

Riverbank erosion is a catastrophic phenomenon that has rendered floodplains worldwide vulnerable and has significantly impacted millions of people. This article aims to examine the relative status of socio-economic vulnerability to riverbank erosion at the village level in the Middle Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam, India, by constructing a socio-economic vulnerability index (SeVI). The index was constructed based on the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) approach by integrating the three components of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Data on the site-specific indicators of these components were collected through a field survey of 508 households from 18 villages. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between vulnerability and its components. The SeVI analysis revealed that eight villages were highly vulnerable to bank erosion while seven and three villages experienced moderate and low vulnerability respectively. High vulnerability is attributed to displacement of erosion-affected people, soil degradation, land use land cover (LULC) changes and poor performance in the fields of health, education, economy, infrastructure and agriculture. The regression analysis indicated that the degree of vulnerability was mostly impacted by exposure followed by sensitivity. The study calls for infrastructural upgradation, improvements in education and healthcare facilities, construction of erosion control structures, use of geotextiles, application of bioengineering techniques and adoption of traditional knowledge to reduce the level of vulnerability. The SeVI as a planning tool has not only identified the vulnerable villages but also helped in setting priorities for socio-economic development. Thus, the methodological framework adopted in this study may be utilized by other geographical regions for assessing vulnerability and safeguarding the communities from the risk of bank erosion.