Fences Mobility And Citizenship At The Northeast India Bangladesh Border

At the Northeast India Bangladesh border, numerous challenges arise due to the intricate relationship between fences, mobility, and citizenship. This region has witnessed the impact of border fences on people's lives, especially concerning their movement and access to citizenship.

The Fences

The border between Northeast India and Bangladesh spans a significant length, and over the years, fencing has become an integral part of border securitization efforts. These barriers aim to prevent the unauthorized movement of people across the border, but their consequences extend beyond security concerns.

Critical Disaster Studies: Fences, Mobility, and Citizenship at the Northeast India-Bangladesh Border (Critical Studies in Risk and Disaster)

by Andy Horowitz (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2224 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	274 pages

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The fences vary in nature, ranging from barbed wire to physical walls. They affect the lives of individuals from different walks of life, including farmers, traders, and daily wage laborers. Restricted mobility caused by these fences has led to economic hardships and disrupted social ties.

Border fences have also impacted wildlife by restricting their natural migratory routes. This interference with the ecological balance can have long-lasting consequences for the region's biodiversity.

Mobility Challenges

One of the primary consequences of border fences is the restriction of mobility for individuals residing near the border. Communities that were once closely connected now face difficulties in visiting their relatives, accessing essential services, and engaging in cross-border trade.

This limitation on mobility creates significant hardships for individuals who relied on cross-border interactions for their livelihoods. Farmers find it difficult to access their agricultural lands, thus affecting their productivity and income.

Moreover, the long and often complicated bureaucratic procedures for obtaining border passes further hinder movement. This leads to delays, outright denials, and potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals who seek a better life or family reunification.

Citizenship Challenges

Border fences also have severe implications for citizenship rights and documentation. People residing near the border often find themselves caught in a legal limbo, where their citizenship status becomes uncertain due to their proximity to the fence.

Obtaining essential documents such as identity cards, ration cards, and birth certificates becomes a challenge, as government agencies may question the legitimacy of individuals living in these sensitive areas. This lack of documentation further restricts access to education, healthcare, and various social welfare schemes.

Border security measures have also led to the displacement of indigenous communities. These communities, already marginalized, face heightened challenges due to the fences limiting their traditional movement patterns and access to their ancestral lands.

A Need for Comprehensive Solutions

Recognizing the multifaceted impact of border fences on mobility and citizenship, it is crucial to explore comprehensive solutions for the Northeast India Bangladesh border region. Policymakers, civil society organizations, and affected communities must collaborate to address these challenges.

The first step is to initiate dialogue and engage with individuals impacted by the fences to understand their specific concerns and needs. This will facilitate the development of inclusive policies that take into account the socio-economic realities of the region.

Additionally, exploring alternative methods of border management that consider the cultural and ecological sensitivities of the region can help in reducing the negative impact on mobility and citizenship rights.

Furthermore, seeking the involvement of international organizations and neighboring countries can provide a broader perspective on border management, ensuring that the Northeast India Bangladesh border is not viewed solely through the lens of security concerns.

In

The issues surrounding fences, mobility, and citizenship at the Northeast India Bangladesh border are complex and require careful consideration. By acknowledging the challenges faced by individuals impacted by the fences, implementing inclusive policies, and exploring alternative approaches to border management, a more equitable and sustainable solution can be achieved.

It is imperative that the dialogue surrounding this issue continues, giving voice to those affected and working towards a future where fences no longer hinder mobility and citizenship rights.

Critical Disaster Studies: Fences, Mobility, and Citizenship at the Northeast India-Bangladesh Border (Critical Studies in Risk and Disaster)

by Andy Horowitz (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2224 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	274 pages

FREE

This book announces the new, interdisciplinary field of critical disaster studies. Unlike most existing approaches to disaster, critical disaster studies begins with the idea that disasters are not objective facts, but rather are interpretive fictions—and they shape the way people see the world. By questioning the concept of disaster itself, critical disaster studies reveals the stakes of defining people or places as vulnerable, resilient, or at risk.

As social constructs, disaster, vulnerability, resilience, and risk shape and are shaped by contests over power. Managers and technocrats often herald the goals of disaster response and recovery as objective, quantifiable, or self-evident. In reality, the goals are subjective, and usually contested. Critical disaster studies attends to the ways powerful people often use claims of technocratic expertise to maintain power.
Moreover, rather than existing as isolated events, disasters take place over time. People commonly imagine disasters to be unexpected and sudden, making structural conditions appear contingent, widespread conditions appear local, and chronic conditions appear acute. By placing disasters in broader contexts, critical disaster studies peels away that veneer.

With chapters by scholars of five continents and seven disciplines, Critical Disaster Studies asks how disasters come to be known as disasters, how disasters are used as tools of governance and politics, and how people imagine and anticipate disasters. The volume will be of interest to scholars of disaster in any discipline and especially to those teaching the growing number of courses on disaster studies.