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Is The Three Gorges Resettlement A Livelihood Resilience For The Resettled People

Posted on:2007-10-17Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:S F r a n c i s L u n g o GaFull Text:PDF
GTID:2167360182489058Subject:Sociology
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Development projects are effective in terms of generating employment, income, infrastructure development and there contribution towards social welfare and the far reaching benefits conferred on the economy as a whole. However, there are innumerable adverse impacts, particularly on the disadvantaged sections of the society. This thesis has looked at the displacement and resettlement of people in the Three Gorges Project, particularly focusing on Zigui County of Yichang City. The objectives of the study were two fold namely: - examining the changes in the pre- and post-displacement livelihood patterns of the people in Zigui County;and assessing the availability and accessibility to social amenities among the people in Zigui County.This study has revisited Community Development as a model for understanding resettlement. This has resuscitated the old approach to issues involving the development of the under-privileged members of the community hence beefing up on existing knowledge provided by other researchers particularly Scudder-Colson Relocation Theory and Cernea's Risk Improvement Model. Community Development perspective as applied in this paper seeks to unite previously unorganized people into effective groups and coalitions that work together in pursuit of a shared social agenda (e.g., improved livelihood patterns, increased participation in public activities, etc.). It also seeks to strengthen traditional family, kinship, and neighborhood ties in the community and to develop new social arrangements that are essential to the effective functioning of communities in relation to the environment.Results of this study indicate that income inequalities have increased between genders with female household income reducing significantly. Agriculture oriented income has reduced significantly. As expected from all development induced displacement, the livelihood patterns of the people have altered significantly. Agriculture based livelihoods have significantly reduced whereas those in formal employment, small business and fishing has increased. Results show clearly that as households become better off, they tend to move out of agriculture oriented activities and when it comes to advocacy, they don't see agriculture as an area requiring improvement.Productive land has reduced significantly. Results show that the average land per household has reduced and the median has dropped. However, land is more evenly distributed now than before resettlement.The road network has improved with more villages connected by a paved or tarred road network. This has greatly enhanced the inter-connectivity of communities within theproject area. Results also reveal that the water situation has improved with more people having access to piped water than before. This has greatly reduced the distance traveled by people from source of water. Slightly above half of the respondents indicated affordability of water in terms of costs. However, the majority of the people with annual income of below Y 10,000 have no access to piped water. Results also indicate that the housing condition has improved both in size and structure. The size of housing units has become bigger than before and there are more structures made of permanent materials than before. Results further indicate that all households were connected to the national grid and this is primarily used for lighting purposes. However, firewood, coal and gas/methane are the most popular source of energy primarily for room warming, boiling water and cooking. Results also indicate that solar energy is still under utilized as a source of energy. Only very few respondents use it for warming water.Alarmingly, the majority of the people are not taking part in communal activities. However, results indicate that there has been more female participation in a combination of entertainment activities than before. Previously, only male respondents indicated taking part in a combination of entertainment activities. This shows that gender is no longer an impediment to one's choice of entertainment activity.Information was more adequately disseminated by the local village leadership and displacement office as indicated by the knowledgeableness of the respondents in displacement issues. However, there has been a lapse now in information dissemination as results indicate that the majority of the respondents are not aware of any support programs put in place by the government.In view of the above, this thesis has recommended the encouragement of productive sociological research in resettlement areas. It has further recommended that activities which engage resettled people should be encouraged so that they drive the wheel of development in the right direction.
Keywords/Search Tags:Community Development as a Model, Livelihood patterns, Living Conditions, Standards of living, The Three Gorges displaced people
PDF Full Text Request
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