Who governs reconstruction? Changes and continuity in policies, practices and outcomes - Rebuilding After Disasters: From Emergency to Sustainability - page 150

be able to influence reconstruction practices on the ground through better
guidelines and manuals.
In this chapter I argue that large international NGOs, in particular, in spite
of their vast experience and their discourses emphasizing equity, sustainability
and participation, are often unable or unwilling to follow their guiding
principles on the ground. Through a review of reconstruction policy-making
processes, practices and outcomes in the Indian states of Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which were affected by severe disasters between
1993 and 2006 (Table 8.1), I will show that local stakeholders, including
state governments, civil society organizations and local communities, have
more influence on reconstruction approaches and outcomes than international
actors do. However, whether local actors' role in shaping reconstruction
leads to equitable and sustainable reconstruction depends on a number of
factors, such as previous disaster and post-disaster recovery experience,
the relation between the state and civil society, and local power structures.
Variations related to these factors, in combination with the availability of

Table 8.1 Three disasters in India at a glance

Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Kerala,
Andaman and
Nicobar Islands Affected states Maharashtra Gujarat

Type of disaster Earthquake Earthquake Tsunami

Date of the
disaster

30 September 1993 26 January 2001 26 December 2004

Number of deaths 7928 19,727 12,405

Number of
injuries

16,000 167,000 6,913

Affected districts Total 13; over 50%

of human losses and
damage in Latur and
Osmanabad districts

21 out of 25; over
85% of human
losses and damage
in Kutch district

Over 80% of human
losses and damage
in Tamil Nadu's
Nagapattinam
district

Number of
affected villages

2500 7633 1089

Number of fully
damaged villages

52 450 NA

Estimated
number of fully
damaged houses

27,000 344,000 157,400

Sources: Government of Maharashtra 2005; Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority
2005; Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Program and World Bank
2005.