Human Capital

Natural Disasters cause huge damage to human capital and lead to loss of productivity. A higher degree of socioeconomic vulnerability, inadequate mitigation measures, and low levels of economic development lead to an increased risk of fatalities and infrastructure damage. The risk increases initially with development before it starts to decline. Natural disasters, besides causing huge loss of life and property, also severely damage human capital and its development owing to physical and mental trauma. These further affect the other dimensions of society, such as crimes against women and children, domestic violence, food security, and the enhanced burden of care. The government, therefore, plays an important role in disaster risk mitigation and fatality control. The disaster risk mitigation policies should account for the disproportionate effects of natural calamities on the marginalized sections, which include people with low incomes, women, and young children.