How Kerala’s Coastal Women are Mapping Tidal Floods

Located along the coast of Kerala, Ernakulam is one of the nine districts facing tidal flooding, responsible for inundating over 20,000 homes with saltwater intrusion. The impact was largely unpredictable as the flood reached homes via streams and canals, finding its way as much as 12 kilometres inland. While the climate crisis has certainly exacerbated the flooding, another contributor to the crisis is the switch from paddy cultivation to shrimp farming owing to the latter’s profitability. This switch altered the region’s landscape, leading to narrower canals and an altered drainage system. Climate-research organisation Equinoct has stepped in to address the growing crisis, even providing a tidal calendar to the community members to keep track of seawater intrusion. According to Dr. Sreeja K.G. of Equinoct, women have been at the frontlines of data collection. In addition to tracking tidal floods, volunteers like Shyama from Kumbalangi have mapped tidal intrusions to understand the routes they take. While these collaborative efforts have helped build the community’s resilience and anticipate damage, long-term solutions are still necessary. What stands out though, is a democratic conception of research undertaken by the women volunteers of Ernakulam. Here, for once, they are not only subjects of a disciplined inquiry but also active participants in it.