INSURANCE AWARENESS AND DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS: EVIDENCE FROM TAMIL NADU

  • Unique Paper ID: 204319
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 1
  • PageNo: 1786-1799
  • Abstract:
  • Disaster risk management at the household level is critically dependent on financial preparedness, and insurance represents one of the most accessible risk transfer mechanisms available to urban families. However, insurance penetration in India remains markedly below global benchmarks, and knowledge gaps about disaster-linked insurance products continue to impede adoption among urban households. This study examines insurance awareness levels and their relationship with disaster risk management behaviour among urban households in Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected from 220 urban household respondents across Coimbatore, Chennai, Tiruppur, Erode, and Tirunelveli using a structured questionnaire. The study investigates five dimensions: (i) levels of general and disaster-specific insurance awareness; (ii) current insurance ownership patterns and product diversity; (iii) perceptions of disaster risk and their relationship to insurance adoption; (iv) knowledge and experience of insurance claims processes during disaster events; and (v) barriers impeding insurance adoption for disaster risk management purposes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's reliability testing, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and paired samples t-tests. Findings reveal that while general insurance awareness is moderate, awareness of disaster-specific products (flood insurance, crop loss insurance, home structure insurance) is significantly lower. Risk perception is a significant predictor of insurance adoption, but cost sensitivity, trust deficits in insurers, and procedural complexity of claims remain primary barriers. The study recommends targeted financial literacy interventions, simplified product design, and community-based insurance promotion to enhance disaster resilience among urban Tamil Nadu households.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{204319,
        author = {Dr. N. Saranya Devi},
        title = {INSURANCE AWARENESS AND DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS: EVIDENCE FROM TAMIL NADU},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {1786-1799},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204319},
        abstract = {Disaster risk management at the household level is critically dependent on financial preparedness, and insurance represents one of the most accessible risk transfer mechanisms available to urban families. However, insurance penetration in India remains markedly below global benchmarks, and knowledge gaps about disaster-linked insurance products continue to impede adoption among urban households. This study examines insurance awareness levels and their relationship with disaster risk management behaviour among urban households in Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected from 220 urban household respondents across Coimbatore, Chennai, Tiruppur, Erode, and Tirunelveli using a structured questionnaire. The study investigates five dimensions: (i) levels of general and disaster-specific insurance awareness; (ii) current insurance ownership patterns and product diversity; (iii) perceptions of disaster risk and their relationship to insurance adoption; (iv) knowledge and experience of insurance claims processes during disaster events; and (v) barriers impeding insurance adoption for disaster risk management purposes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's reliability testing, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and paired samples t-tests. Findings reveal that while general insurance awareness is moderate, awareness of disaster-specific products (flood insurance, crop loss insurance, home structure insurance) is significantly lower. Risk perception is a significant predictor of insurance adoption, but cost sensitivity, trust deficits in insurers, and procedural complexity of claims remain primary barriers. The study recommends targeted financial literacy interventions, simplified product design, and community-based insurance promotion to enhance disaster resilience among urban Tamil Nadu households.},
        keywords = {Insurance Awareness, Disaster Risk Management, Urban Households, Tamil Nadu, Risk Perception, Flood Insurance, Financial Preparedness, Insurance Adoption, Claims Process, Community Resilience.},
        month = {June},
        }

Cite This Article

Devi, D. N. S. (2026). INSURANCE AWARENESS AND DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AMONG URBAN HOUSEHOLDS: EVIDENCE FROM TAMIL NADU. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 13(1), 1786–1799.

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