Civil society and coastal governance: empirical insights for Shoreline Management Planning in Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
Shoreline Management Plans have become an important component of coastal planning in India, but their effectiveness depends on how well they reflect the social and ecological realities of coastal communities. This study examines the contribution of civil society to shoreline governance in Tamil Nadu, a region where rapid development, ecological shifts and repeated cyclone impacts have intensified the need for coherent shoreline management. The research is based on 180 consultations conducted across fourteen coastal districts and focuses on four categories of civil society organisations: non-governmental organisations, women’s self-help groups, fisher cooperatives and religious institutions. The findings show that these groups play complementary roles in interpreting and supporting shoreline management. Non-governmental organisations are involved in ecological restoration, monitoring and community awareness activities. Women’s collectives draw attention to essential aspects of resilience such as water quality, sanitation, shelter conditions and personal safety. Fisher cooperatives highlight the practical requirements of daily marine access, including dredging and harbour facilities. Religious institutions provide trusted networks for relief, coordination and dispute resolution during extreme events. These combined efforts help translate technical shoreline plans into practices that are meaningful at the local level. Comparisons with
coastal experiences in the Philippines, Bangladesh and the Netherlands indicate that Tamil Nadu reflects a wider pattern in which civil society strengthens the acceptance and performance of coastal adaptation measures. The study argues that resilience emerges through shared learning, distributed responsibility and cooperation across institutions. Embedding civil society participation within the Shoreline Management Plan framework is therefore essential for developing approaches that are socially credible, ecologically informed and adaptable to changing coastal conditions.
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