Interaction of Capitals and the Climate Change Vulnerabilities: A Study on Santal People of Ramdevpur Abasan of Barind Tract Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

In spite of Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change because of its geographical location, geomorphology, and greater dependence on nature, all the communities of the country are not vulnerable to climate change in the same ways. The Santals of Bangladesh are one of the most climate change-vulnerable communities because they are marginalized because they have fewer physical, natural, economic, human, and social capitals. Truly, there is much research on the climate change vulnerability of Bangladesh; however, existing research does not discuss this matter. This research was conducted with the objectives of knowing the interaction between Bangladeshi Santals’ different types of capital, the effects of climate change, and the vulnerability of indigenous peoples to climate change. Following the qualitative methodology, this research found that Santals of research field are already marginalized because of having no ownership of land, homesteads and livestock, least access to fresh water, naturally-grown vegetables, trees, and crop seeds), no alternative income sources, less annual income and savings, less educational qualifications, less or no knowledge about climate change, no training on climate change and climate change adaptation, no skills for alternative income, and no access to prior warning about natural calamities, less connectivity to organizations, least access to government services, and having few helpful kin relatives, and interaction among these capitals; climate change effects are making them more vulnerable.