Drought, mortality and social structure

The social aspects of drought-induced morbidity and mortality in India are analyzed in this study. "As a sample study, mortality trends in Rajasthan State in India in the 1980s were analysed to correlate the increased death rate with the drought of 1987. It is demonstrated that drought-induced malnutrition is the root cause of death. Sociologically, populations are divided into three sections--fragile, resilient and potent--which are differently affected by droughts, the fragile section suffering worst."