1Assistant Professor, Dept of English, Christ College, Thrissur. Email: shintovp@christcollegeijk.edu.in
2Assistant Professor, Dept of Economics, Christ College, Thrissur. Email: aneesrahman10200@gmail.com
3Assistant Professor, Dept of Commerce, Christ College, Thrissur. Email: drlindamarysimon@gmail.com
4Assistant Professor, Dept of Business Administration, Christ College of Engineering. Email: jerryjohnyat@gmail.com
5Assistant Professor, Dept of Business Administration, Ahalia School of Management. Email: jyothisrachel@gmail.com
6Assistant Professor, Dept of Commerce, Christ College, Thrissur. Email: sijipaul@christcollegeijk.edu.in
*Corresponding Author: Anees Rehman A, Assistant Professor, Dept of Economics, Christ College, Thrissur. Email: aneesrahman10200@gmail.com
Disaster impact evaluation remains predominantly monetary, often overlooking the disproportionate burdens faced by low-asset and marginalized households. This study examines 312 vulnerable landslide-affected households in Idukki District, Kerala, to construct a comprehensive Disaster Loss Index (DLI) that assesses losses across multiple dimensions physical, economic, social, and livelihood. The results reveal an "upside-down" pattern: households with smaller assets report lower absolute monetary losses, yet endure complete destruction and prolonged livelihood disruption. By integrating quantitative index construction with field-level evidence, the study demonstrates that conventional monetary valuation fails to reflect the full scale of disaster-induced deprivation among marginal communities. The findings argue for a shift beyond monetary value toward relational metrics that capture proportional, structural, and livelihood-based dimensions of loss. Such an approach enhances the equity and accuracy of post-disaster assessments and strengthens policy efforts toward inclusive recovery and resilience building.
Key Words: Landslide Disaster, Economic Loss, Disaster Loss Index, Marginalized Community, Resilience
How to cite this article: Shinto VP, Rehman A A, Simon LM, Johny J, Mathews JR, Paul SV. Beyond Monetary Value: Understanding the Upside-Down Pattern of Disaster Loss in Marginal Communities. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(11s): 156-161; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.11s.18
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: Nil