Governing the Tides: State Capacity and Cyclone-caused Disaster Management in Odisha, India

The increasing occurrence of tsunamis and cyclones, attributed to climate change, has heightened the vulnerability of coastal communities to natural disasters. Addressing this requires government accountability and proactive responsiveness through the development of effective emergency-response mechanisms. Odisha, historically plagued by poor governance and neglect of poverty, hunger and socio-economic development, has witnessed a transformation in its disaster governance model since the 1999 supercyclone. This evolution has led to a responsive bureaucracy, improved state capacity and international recognition as a disaster governance model. This article examines Odisha’s shift from a poorly governed state to an exemplar of disaster governance, offering insights into how a poor state can enhance its capacity to deliver positive outcomes despite material limitations. It analyses the evolution of the state’s capacity to effectively handle cyclone-caused disasters despite multiple challenges. The cyclone-caused disaster management in Odisha has successfully transformed into a people’s movement.