South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Fishing communities around Chilika Lake are exposed to ecological change, constraints on resource access, and limited livelihood assets; however, village-level evidence is needed to prioritise interventions. This study assessed the livelihood vulnerability of eight fishing villages distributed across the Northern, Central, Southern, and Outer Channel zones of the lake. Parameters and sub-parameters were identified using the Delphi technique. The villages were selected systematically, and household data were collected from 240 fishing households (30 per village) through stratified sampling, using structured and semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and focus-group discussions. Twenty-two indicators grouped under exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity were scored, normalised to a 0–1 scale, weighted, and aggregated as LVI = EI + SI - ACI. Sananairi (Village 5, Zone 3) recorded the highest Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI = 0.866; EI = 0.781, SI = 0.815, ACI = 0.730), followed by Balia (0.819) and Mansingpur (0.816), whereas Bidharpur (Village 2, Zone 1) recorded the lowest LVI (0.472; EI = 0.748, SI = 0.437, ACI = 0.713). High vulnerability was associated with ecological disturbances, strong dependence on fisheries, restricted resource access, and deficits in storage, markets, credit, training, and organisational support. The findings support village-specific prioritisation that combines ecological restoration and disaster-risk reduction with improved market infrastructure, affordable credit, skills development, and stronger collective institutions.