Defining disasters a social sciences perspective

Photo courtesy: Angelo_Giordano

NDMA reports that over 58.6 per cent of India’s  landmass  is prone to earthquakes.

Abstract: The definition of disaster has been continuously changing due to the vulnerabilities and risks attached to it. However, despite being defined as natural, disasters tend to have political, cultural, economic and social impacts as well.

The author is an Associate Professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, and an adjunct faculty at the Special Center for Disaster Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. sunitareddyjnu@gmail.com