The Hindu Editorial Analysis
5 November 2025
Lives saved, livelihoods lost
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS 3 – Disaster Management
Context
Odisha’s toughest test starts after the storm passes.
Introduction
Building long-term resilience in Odisha demands shifting focus from disaster response to livelihood renewal. While life-saving systems have become efficient, economic recovery remains uneven. The goal now is to empower farmers, fishers, and smallholders with rapid insurance, accessible credit, and green protection—linking financial resiliencewith ecological stability to ensure communities thrive beyond each cyclone’s shadow.
Cyclone Montha’s Landfall and Immediate Impact
- Cyclone Montha hit the eastern coast on October 28, 2025, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
- Wind speeds reached 100–110 kmph, moving inland through southern Odisha (Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput)and parts of Telangana before weakening into a depression.
- The storm flattened fields, flooded villages, and displaced thousands who took refuge in cyclone shelters.
- Agriculture and horticulture suffered major losses across the affected belt.
Structural Vulnerability of Odisha
- Odisha’s 575-km coastline lies in one of the six most cyclone-prone zones of the world.
- In the past century, nearly 260 cyclones have hit the state — from the 1999 super-cyclone to Phailin (2013), Titli (2018), Fani (2019), and Yaas (2021).
- The 1999 super-cyclone caused catastrophic loss of life and property, while Phailin alone led to ₹9,000 crore in damages, over one-fourth from agriculture and livestock.
- This history shows that Odisha’s exposure to tropical storms is chronic, not accidental.
Economic and Livelihood Fallout
- Immediate economic shocks include income loss for farmers, cash-flow crises for traders, and food supply disruptions in urban areas.
- After Cyclone Fani, a UNDP-led study estimated:
- ₹3,000 crore damage to agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
- Seven crore lost rural working days, worth nearly ₹2,700 crore in wages.
- Long-term distress follows: farmers must repay loans and buy inputs; fishers must replace damaged boats and gear before insurance payments arrive.
- Informal enterprises stay shut for months, credit tightens, and public funds are diverted from health, education, and infrastructure to reconstruction.
Disaster Management Success and Remaining Gaps
- The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has improved cyclone shelters, early warnings, and mass evacuations.
- Human casualties have drastically dropped —
- 1999 Super-cyclone: ~10,000 deaths
- Phailin (2013): < 50 deaths
- Yaas (2021): only 2 deaths
- However, livelihood recovery lags behind: reconstruction focuses mainly on roads, housing, and power, leaving economic rehabilitation secondary.
- Ecological stressors like saltwater intrusion, storm surges, and rising seas degrade soils and wetlands, forcing farmers toward low-yield crops or migration.
Building Long-term Resilience
- Livelihood recovery must now match life-saving efficiency:
- Simplify and speed up crop and fishery insurance claims.
- Provide emergency credit and short-term loan moratoria to prevent distress sales.
- Expand MGNREGS for rebuilding embankments, ponds, and rural assets.
- Nature-based solutions are key:
- Mangroves and wetlands reduce wave energy by up to 90%, protecting coasts and sustaining incomes.
- Odisha’s mangrove restoration and climate-smart aquaculture (mud-crab farming, rice intensification) combine ecology with livelihoods.
- Financial reforms should include contingency funds, regional insurance pools, and direct transfers to smallholders and coastal communities.
Conclusion
Sustainable resilience is not built in cyclone shelters but in restored farms, revived fisheries, and rejuvenated ecosystems. By combining swift financial support with nature-based defences like mangroves and wetlands, Odisha can secure both livelihoods and landscapes. Integrating ecology, economy, and equity will transform recurring disasters into opportunities for climate adaptation and inclusive coastal development.