European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to highlight the role Social capital played in protecting the
most vulnerable families and individuals in emergency and carried out series of preventive
and preparedness strategies to effectively manage risk and crisis situation during the wake
of disaster. The researcher primarily engaged qualitative methods of data collection like
focused group discussion, key informant interview and observation. Men and women from
the different occupation very much affected by disasters like flood and cyclone in the year
2011(great flood), 2013 (cyclone Phailin) and 2019 (cyclone Fani) participated in the data
collection process. The empirical results suggest that social capital in the form of bonding,
bridging and linking extended humanitarian support to the individuals, families and
communities in pre, during and post disaster situation especially providing relief, rescue,
and evacuation and above all solaced the people suffered from psychological and physical
shocks due to horrendous loss of livelihood and infrastructure they witnessed. The
immediate support, cooperation and help that the disaster victims received are they
themselves. Before the govt. administration or any external help reaches, people in the
communities helped each other for survival. Social capital for and with the most
vulnerable people is like an informal insurance in cases of disasters.
These findings may be eye-opening fact for the readers, researchers, developmental
professional and policy makers to formulate a road map to build resilient communities