LOCAL LEVEL ACTION Drought in Gujarat: Need ABOUT THIS ISSUE for Adaptation Measures

ndia is reeling under an tates of India such as Gujarat Dwarka district. In these villages, I intense drought situation which has Sare increasingly facing the state authority is providing affected close to 330 million people droughts. What is needed is large water through tankers and from 10 states. Bad monsoons and weak scale adaptation measures. subsidized fodder for the cattle. policies around water security have However, the state's unfolding further compounded the problem and Gujarat is reeling under an acute response in tackling the scarcity precipitated a crisis. Rising drought and shortage of drinking has already created a huge temperatures and acute water shortages water in areas like Saurashtra, shortage of drinking water in are adversely affecting human health Kutch and some northern parts of rural areas where no other sources as well as the economy which is the state. Last two monsoons have are available. primarily reliant on agriculture. been below normal, causing a shortage of drinking water and As an emergency measure, the This issue of Southasiadisasters.net is adversely hitting the agriculture, government of Gujarat has titled 'Towards Drought Free India'. which is the main source of declared that water stored in any Droughts are complex, slow on set livelihood for more than 80 % reservoir or any dam will be disasters which have great implications population in the state. Due to reserved only for drinking for society and the economy. With close uneven and erratic rainfall last purpose, hitting the farmers who to 60% of the population involved in year, the state's reservoirs and would not get any water for agriculture and allied activities, dams, which supply water for irrigation. This measure may lead droughts in India can be particularly drinking and also irrigation, to loss of crop. debilitating. They disrupt rural remained half filled and at livelihoods and lead to an increase in present, they are nearly empty Recently, farmers in Banaskantha distress migration. holding less than 20 % storage. district had blocked highways demanding release of water for Besides agriculture and drinking irrigation as their standing crop A combination of strong policy water shortage, the drought has was wilting. Similarly, farmers of measures and robust grassroots also affected cattle breeding and Bhavnagar district were on initiatives are needed to alleviate the animal husbandry throughout the protest for last few days distress caused by the droughts. This state. demanding irrigation water from issue of Southasiadisasters.net takes stock Shetrunji dam because the of such measures. It highlights the The Gujarat government has irrigation department stopped prevailing drought situation from 7 recently declared total 1150 supply on the grounds that the Indian states, viz. Maharashtra, Bihar, villages as "scarcity hit" in Rajkot, water is reserved for drinking Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, , Amreli, Kutch, Jamnagar and purposes. Jharkhand and . Short and long term measures to combat the adverse impacts of such droughts have SC Directs Centre, States to Tackle also been elaborated. In a predominantly agrarian country like Drought India, livelihood security during a drought is perhaps the most effective n a scathing 53-page verdict on the "lack of will" shown by the preparedness measure. This issue also ICentre and States in combating drought and saving lives, the highlights how the Mahatma Gandhi Supreme Court on Wednesday pronounced the Centre guilty of National Rural Employment "washing its hands of" a national disaster that consumed one-fourth Generation Scheme (MNERGS) can be of the country. It also pulled up Gujarat, Bihar and Haryana for leveraged to provide succor to drought adopting an "ostrich-like attitude" towards declaring drought and affected rural communities. driving their own people to suicide, starvation and mass migration. – Kshitij Gupta, AIDMI Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/declaration-of- drought-define-time-limit-supreme-court-tells-centre/article8584340.ece

2 southasiadisasters.net June 2016 According to one estimate of civil districts where drought occurs once On its part, the Gujarat government society groups, more than 5000 in every three year. has spent over Rs 20000 crore in villages in Saurashtra and Kutch will Narmada canal and pipeline network be severely hit with water and In Ahmedabad district, there are six to create a water grid to supply fodder crisis in summer and the state blocks of 4,429 sq km which were water in parched districts and far administration is not gearing up to covered under DPAP, while in flung areas in north Gujarat, address the crisis and create support Vadodara there are five blocks of Saurashtra and Kutch. systems to deal with the emerging 3,244 sq km area. In Saurashatra situation. Over 50 towns and region of Amreli 11 blocks with an However, coastal districts like Saurashtra and Kutch don't get water area of 7,393 sq km were covered Junagadh, Amreli and Dwarka are supply on day-to-day basis. under DPAP, followed by not covered under the Narmada Bhavnagar, 4,896 sq km, Junagadh, project and are therefore adversely As per the union agriculture 3162 sq km and Porbandar 1,729 sq affected by the poor monsoon in ministry's drought management km. Out of the total cultivable land terms of water availability for division, in Gujarat, an area of 43,938 of 9.7 million hectares in the state, drinking and agricultural purposes. sq km in 14 districts has been about a third is irrigated area, while The inordinate dependence of these declared as drought prone. a large part of the land is rain fed, districts (expect Jamnagar) on According to the survey of Drought thereby leaving farmers exposed to agriculture has further exacerbated Prone Area Programme (DPAP) the vagaries of monsoon. the drought situation. there are 67 blocks in these 14 – Mihir R. Bhatt

MAHARASHTRA Drought to Jalyukta Maharashtra

he Maharashtra government has water harvesting activities like in 5 districts from Pune division in Tdeclared drought in 14,708 sludge extraction in Latur district and the year 2012-13. Under this, an villages of the state. However, well refilling in Nanded district have action plan was prepared for water according to the recent data been successfully conducted. To harvesting and increasing published by South Asia Network permanently overcome the drought groundwater level by implementing on Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP) situation, Jalyukta Gaav (waterful various schemes collectively through based on a comparative analysis of village) campaign was implemented coordination of all departments. the water situation in 1972 and 2015 in Maharashtra, the drought has been cited as the result of inadequate and corrupt water management and not poor rainfall as rationalized by the state authorities.

Keeping in mind the drought situation, the government has also declared that the fees of school and college for students in these villages will be waived off. Other than this, the electricity bill of agricultural pumps too be will be waived off. The government also announced that it will establish special centers to purchase agricultural products.

Since the past two years, the Government officials and citizens gathered at the Latur railway station to welcome Mahatma Phule water and land the water train. (Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_640x362/HT/ conservation campaign has been p2/2016/04/12/Pictures/distributed-destination-distribution-marathwada-maharashtra- implemented in the state. Similarly, administration-purification_476a4460-0076-11e6-859d-3d3bb55f49d3.jpg)

June 2016 southasiadisasters.net 3 To be fair, the government has been Aligning NREGA with programs of Such water based projects can also pro-actively dealing with the agriculture and allied sectors are be used in change adaptation drought situation, but a lot more can leading to enhanced yields. With the through community involvement be done. Till now, the main drought scope of works under NREGA and as a livelihood option. preparedness measures consist of expanded to include lands of small Conservation technologies — stress- just giving money or packages to the and marginal farmers, it is now tolerant, climate-resilient varieties of affected people. Also, they have possible to significantly enhance the seeds, drip irrigation, zero-tillage, cattle shades, school programs but irrigation potential in rain fed areas raised-bed planting, laser-levelling, which are mostly initiated by CSR and drought-proof small-holder Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI), or stakeholders other than the agriculture, leading to sustainable can build adaptive capacities to cope government. They do provide water and higher yields. with increasing water stress, by tankers, as this year they are providing "more crop per drop". using train water supply, but serious The main objective of the NREGA questions about the feasibility of scheme is to provide Similarly, strengthening land such measures prevail. complementing employment development practices such as land chances with the secondary objective levelling, conservation bench We can use many new water of eco-restoration & regeneration of terracing, contour and graded harvesting technologies so as to save the natural resource base for bunding, and pasture development water during the monsoons. For sustainable rural livelihood. This in prevent soil erosion and loss of instance, the cash- crops which turn will help in transparency and organic matter. Reclamation of requires lots of water should be accountability to permeate in rural wastelands and degraded lands cultivated depending upon the water governance leading to a together with afforestation, availability. Also use of green or solidification of grassroots level horticulture plantation and agro- natural pesticides, and the use of democracy. The following water forestry have the potential to local seeds should be given based projects come under the sequester carbon both above and preference over western purview of the NREGA scheme for below ground, thereby contributing technologies. drought preparedness. to carbon mitigation. • Water harvesting Also crop- insurance will be a great • Desalting of tanks Also other projects such as land help to the farmers. For larger scale • Micro and minor irrigation works development, horticulture and road water harvesting projects, they can • Renovation of traditional water network development can be used use NREGA schemes, which will • Provision of irrigation facilities for climate change adaptation in a give them a temporary livelihood bodies drought situation. and future sustainability. • Flood control and protection – Niranjana Hingane, Tata Institute works of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai DISCUSSION National Disaster Management Plan Celebrated at AIDMI

IDMI team celebrated India’s first and comprehensive National Disaster AManagement Plan (NDMP). Directions and guidelines given in the plan are aligned to SFDRR priorities and AIDMI team is committed to implement activities mentioned in the plan in AIDMI’s ongoing projects and activities.

The NDMP provides a framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle. The NDMP is a “dynamic document” in the sense that it will be periodically improved keeping up with the emerging global best practices and knowledge base in disaster management. It is in accordance with the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the guidance given in the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009 (NPDM), and the established national practices.

The NDMP incorporates substantively the approach enunciated in the Sendai Framework and will help the country to meet the goals set in the framework. – AIDMI Team

4 southasiadisasters.net June 2016 UTTAR PRADESH Drought In Uttar Pradesh: Role of Job Cards

he climate of Uttar Pradesh is Thumid subtropical with dry winters. The summer season starts from March and extends till May. However, due to changing climatic situation, it is hard to observe even traces of monsoon in the month of June. In Uttar Pradesh, 50 districts out of 75 are declared as drought prone. The figure of 67% of districts being drought prone in Uttar Pradesh sheds light on the fact that the revenue of Uttar Pradesh will decrease.

Faizabad, , Sant Ravidasnagar, Lucknow, Allahabad, Mirzapur, 50 Uttar Pradesh districts declared drought-hit. Ballia and Ghazaibad are among the (Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-52312726,width- drought prone districts. The state 400,resizemode-4/52312726.jpg) government has decided not to In Uttar Pradesh the main district 300-400 voters present in that area. collect revenue from the drought that is severely prone with drought So, the sarpanch decided to provide prone districts. In order to cope up is . The soil of the job cards to people in Jiyawan. with the drought situation, certain Bundelkhand agricultural field is rich relief measures have been ordered for agricultural activities but it is sad Job cards are an entitlement. They by the chief minister and that the district is facing so serious give on identity to the person working departments like irrigation, rural problem and people are so poor that on the drought relief measures. The development, panchayat raj, they do not have food to eat. cards enhance transparency of agriculture, social welfare, Although it has been more than 60 payment. The cards account for time institutional finance, animal years of independence but still we spent as well as mention asset husbandry and health. Line are not so much developed that created in the community. departments play a major role in the irrigation facilities can be provided mitigation and recovery process in to the drought prone areas in the Conclusion: case of any disaster situation. state. Bundelkhand is facing drought The drought situation in Uttar situation since years and so the level Pradesh with the changing climatic The management of drought is of development in the region conditions is becoming severe and undertaken by both government and remains abysmally low. The drought Bundelkhand is one region which non-government organisations. The situation in Bundelkhand is due to has been facing droughts since years. main role of government both the reasons, hydrological and This has adversely affected the organisations is the management of meteorological. standard of living of the region's drought in terms of analysing policy people. Lately, Marathwada has issues at national, regional and Although NREGA is a ray of hope received a lot of attention for district level. Another important for people, but its implementation suffering from a terrible drought, focus of governmental organisations lies in the hands of the other ground but Bundelkhand which has been is on agriculture and rural level authorities. For instance, reeling under a protracted drought development infrastructure. In case Mithula Bai of Baisai which falls for years remains has now been of non-governmental organisations under administrative region if relegated to the periphery of the the main role is played by NGOs, Jiyawan, a 40 year old resident was country's consciousness. rural institutions, private sector, and not provided job card by the – Disha Dwivedi, Student, TISS, international aid agencies. sarpanch because there were only Mumbai June 2016 southasiadisasters.net 5 JHARKHAND Integrated Approach Plan for Drought in Jharkhand

harkhand has taken Integrated drought condition prevails, it areas, in order to monitor the JApproach Plan for drought. The receives some amount of rain during programs implemented. approach integrates key inputs such that time. But in years like 2002, 2009 as food, water, health, and it was severely being affected when According to Government of India, livelihoods in several ways to the coping capacity of the farmers Ministry of Rural Development it mitigate impact o drought. were seriously impacted, and the was informed that Jharkhand had 24 government came up for their districts out of which 16 were The Metrological Department assistance. Integrated Approach Plan (IAP) shows the report in which there has districts. The tender for conducting been a constant decline and Looking into the vulnerabilities and survey and resurvey within two deviation in the rainfall pattern in severity of the drought prevailing years is being approved; also the India. And the whole chain of in the state for over two decades or transferring of funds has been rainfall and agriculture has been more the government came into approved. greatly impacted, as the food security action. But it is only being half a and human mortality is directly decade back that the government has Through IAP the government has dependent on it. Jharkhand is a state taken concerted action on drought tried to bring up many projects and situated among the drought affected mitigation, though it started very it has tried to integrate these areas like Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West late compared to the other programs like, through NREGA Bengal thus the state is too impacted neighboring states. In these efforts, people are being employed, but also with the kind of changes in the it has tried to seek help from various employed in schemes like (IWMP) rainfall pattern in that region. Also agencies and departments like Integrated Watershed Management According to Jharkhand State Department of Land and Resources, Program, also through some other Disaster Management Plan all the 24 Birsa Agricultural Trust, Global and programs and provisions the districts of Jharkhand are drought National Climate Change etc. And affected farmers are given seeds, prone and affected. mostly after the 2009 drought fertilizers and also the compensation condition, the government has tried if the year is being declared as According to the India to mitigate the condition through drought hit. Also the people of the Meteorological Department, various kinds of seeds and fertilizers same affected villages work in these Jharkhand gets erratic rainfall, but tested in Birsa Agricultural Trust of schemes, which also checks that there has been no constant decline Jharkhand, which has developed people do not migrate to other in case of Jharkhand, as sometimes hybrid seed that can prevail in different areas or states. due to the cyclonic pressure in the drought prone areas. Also the Bay of Bengal it gets heavy rainfall government has tried to link up with References: as well. Thus, even though the various NGOs working in these Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad, Prof. P.S. Roy, Dr. T.S. Murty, Dr. R.K. Bhandari. (2012, December). Disasters and Development. Journal of the NIDM, p. Vol. 6. DS Virk, V. B. (n.d.). Participatory crop improvement in Eastern India: An Impact Assessment. Plant Sciences Research Programme: Highlights and Impacts Participatory Crop Improvement, 86-96. M.V.R.Sesha Sai, C.S.Murthy, K Chandrasekar, A.T Jeyaseelan. (2016). Agricultural Drought: Assessment and Monitoring. Mausam, 131-142. NIDM. (2011). Jharkhand: National Disaster Risk Reduction. Jharkhand: Source: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/even-climate-change-discriminates- NIDM. – Nancy Bhengra, between-women-and-men Student, TISS, Mumbai

6 southasiadisasters.net June 2016 MADHYA PRADESH Diversification of Land Use Against Drought in Madhya Pradesh

ue to its varying geographical Preparedness for the Current Year of climate change and drought Dfeatures, climate conditions and Though this year prediction for condition, thus to motivate vast area, the Indian state of Madhya south west monsoon by IMD shows sustainable development. Madhya Pradesh has been consistently prone that rainfall will be comparatively Pradesh is one of the most drought to drought lie conditions for years. high than the previous years as 70% stricken districts in the country. Every year, many districts of of the agriculture area is highly Almost 35 Districts of the state have Madhya Pradesh have been dependent on rainfall, but still some been declared as drought prone repeatedly facing the drought preparedness measures need to be district in the last financial year by situation. taken to ensure the continuity of the department of agriculture. developmental activities in the state Almost 9 Districts in eastern Madhya Drought Preparedness as well as agriculture. For Pradesh received only 29% of the To fight with the drought situation preparedness, the focus can be given actual rain in the last year they were in the state, many research and on arranging and distribution of getting earlier. Katni was one of the development initiatives have been essential commodities such as water, severely impacted districts of the taking place in the recent past. The fodder and food at subsidized rates state. The NREGA scheme focused state has started focusing on weather in advance only. Information and towards a set of particular non- forecasting, early warning, awareness to the community must urban growth actions such as: water vulnerability and preparedness be provided for optimum utilization preservation and growing measures for the information of of resources in the affected areas afforestation. Hence, in order to have community, farmers and even with emphasis on primary resources drought mitigation policy, watershed administration. The state is focusing like soil, water, vegetation, livestock, developments and development of towards best practices for rain water and manpower, etc. Relief works percolation tanks, pond and and soil management through must be undertaken for employment development of check dams at the linking on station and on farm in advance for the population living village level can be feasible for the research activities. The state is also in drought prone areas mainly for drought mitigation within the focusing on contingency crop drought proofing. village. It helps in conserving water, planning as well as mid-season thereby recharging the ground corrections based on the weather NREGA for Drought Preparedness water to the people at the same time conditions and the forecasted The main objective of NREGA is to providing employment to the reports. improve the income condition of the villagers within their surroundings. people in the rural area by providing To reduce the drought impact on the the hundred days of employment to NREGA aims at regenerating the state, recently the focus is also being the rural families. It aims to environment through creation of given on alternate and diversified strengthen natural resources which productive assets such as water tanks, land use systems. The use of remote can be controlled through different ponds, bunds, check dams and sensing and GIS has also been types of works to deal with hardship through afforestation programmes. integrated for the drought So far the link of NREGA to climate preparedness activities. Remote To reduce the drought change adaptation has not been sensing has helped in timely, impact on the state, recently sufficiently understood, but it is clear accurate and synoptic coverage of the focus is also being given that the afforestation (which also crops and also assessing crop at a on alternate and diversified serves as a carbon sink) can help in range of special scales. Remote achieving the climate change goals sensing data on crop environment, land use systems. The use of of the MDGs. Recently, the crop distribution and leaf area index remote sensing and GIS has government have come across can be coupled in a number of ways also been integrated for the planting trees across all the roads of to estimate crop yield and yield drought preparedness the states to promote climate change loss. activities. and mitigation strategy. – Yuvraj Singh Rajput, TISS, Mumbai

June 2016 southasiadisasters.net 7 GUJARAT Drought in Gujarat: Using MGNREGA

eographically the areas of throughout the state, however state taken so that the impacts of the G Gujarat state can be divided in government expanded Narmada droughts can be reduced. Apart from 3 major parts, Middle Gujarat, Kutch canal network and provided water above mentioned measures and Saurashtra, South Gujarat. up to Kutchh. The Government of government should focus on proper Historically, Middle Gujarat and Gujarat also launched Disaster Risk implementation of schemes like South Gujarat get enough rainfall Management (DRM) scheme in MGNREGA. every year and these areas are also which it integrates various disaster have good water resources with management plans in to the Some other measures consist of the major rivers and dams like development plans of local self- following: Narmada, Tapi, Sabarmati etc., while governments. • Formation of drought most of the other parts Kutchh and monitoring cell to manage the Saurashtra are affected by droughts. Last year too, there was a drought severity of the event. Many studies show that on an like situation in Gujarat state • Enabling drought management average every 3 to 4 years, Kutchh wherein many districts are facing group would serve the situation and Saurashtra are affected by a water scarcity. The state government better. drought. announced 3400 crores for drinking • Improvement should be on the water. State government with the lines of storage and storage Major part of Gujarat's population help of centrally sponsored schemes techniques should be given (more than 60 %) is engaged in provides assistance to farmers preference. agriculture and allied activities. In through crop loans at subsidised • Drought proofing and crop agriculture economy drought is most interest rates. To mitigate drought insurance should be raised with probably the worst disaster which and drought like situation it is very awareness program. makes great implications. After important to conserve water • Livelihood diversification i.e. droughts or drought like situations resources carefully, state employing people into other it is very difficult for marginal and government also provides subsidies activities apart from agriculture, medium farmers and agriculture to buy sprinklers and drip irrigation so as to reduce the impact of labourers to survive. The Financial system with the aim of drought drought. crisis, which occurs from droughts mitigation in the state. • Improvement in drinking water are making communities more in terms of groundwater table, vulnerable. Ultimately, in recent 2. What should be done in the sources, availability & quality. years the crisis situations due to current year? • Use of advance technology, e.g. droughts are leading towards farmer Present year 2015-16 is also a Sanghi Industries in Kutch is suicides and Gujarat is at 13th drought year in Gujarat. Western using technology that converts position in number of farmer parts of the state are facing extreme lake water into sweet water and suicides with 564 farmer suicides in water scarcity. In response to these supplies to nearby villages for the state in one single year. situations, the first focus should be drinking and farming. on providing drinking water to • It should be mandatory for 1. What has happened in the state highly affected villages of the state. corporates to develop water regarding preparedness in the As there are huge losses in crop conservation and crop last 2-3 years? agriculture production there is a development strategies and It was the state government's target need to provide more financial implement same as a part of to provide drinking and irrigation assistance to drought affected farmer their CSR projects. water throughout the state by the communities. As there is a large • There are certain organic year 2012 from the Narmada river, decrease in annual incomes of powders and solutions available through pipelines and canals. Due to farmers due to crop failures the only which will absorb water in various reasons the state income source available with them crops, once pored, and government fails to provide is animal husbandry, so measures to maintains moisture level in drinking and irrigational water provide cattle fodder should be crops in span of a week or 10

8 southasiadisasters.net June 2016 days. Such technology is 3. How to use MNREGA for and government should implement observed in Israel, where drought preparedness as well as the scheme so that the coverage of rainfall is low but crops still adaptation to climate change? these canals can be extended. Under grow better. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural the scheme there should be • Promotion of NGOs working Employment Guarantee Act promotion of various drought for water conservation and (MNREGA) is the best scheme which mitigation measures like roof rain developing check dams. can be utilized towards drought water harvesting, etc., so that the • Awareness of benefits of preparedness and adaptation to capacity of ground water can be rainwater storage at household climate change. Towards the increased. Towards adaptation of level. People in Kutch, preparedness of drought under climate change under the NREGA especially Patel community, NREGA scheme small check dams plantation of trees in the villages at follow this technique and avoid can be built apart from that the various locations like near check water scarcity problem. capacity of present small lakes and dams, ponds, dams can be done. • Any measures taken should lead dams in the villages increased by NREGA can be integrated to other to long term solution thus deepening them. Wherever there is schemes like watershed leading to sustainability, as availability of water irrigation management scheme so that impacts short term techniques wouldn't canals for irrigational use, under the of climate change can be reduced. resolve the problem. NREGA its capacity can be extended – Vira Chudasama, and – Meet J. Gadhvi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

ANDHRA PRADESH Drought in Andhra: Making DPAP Work

ndhra Pradesh is basically an Irrigation Project, Watershed helped in improving the situation in Aagricultural State, with 34% of Development etc. the state. its GDP contributed by agriculture. Agriculture is the major source of The rising population of the state has The following steps should be taken employment for the people as well. considerably increased its to address the present drought Drought is a recurring phenomenon dependence on natural resources like situation: in Andhra Pradesh as there is a forest resource and ground water. • Along with the watershed drought in the state once every 5 Over-exploitation of such resources development project, drip years. Given the overwhelming has led to their depletion. With irrigation practice should be reliance of Andhra Pradesh on increased awareness in the adopted. agriculture, droughts tend to have a community, desertification in • Treatment of drainage, ponds, severely crippling effect on the southern drought prone drought has lakes and check dams should be state's economy. brought under been control. done to avoid water leakage/ Formation of Van Samrakshana wastage. In 2015, the state suffered its most Samithies (VSS) under the • Wells should be constructed severe rainfall shortage when it only community forest management near the river or on received 153.8 mm rainfall against programme has helped in underground water drainages. its normal of 624 mm leading to controlling the depletion of forest in • To tackle the issue of food most severe drought in state in last many districts. Watershed security and nutritional level 50 years. As a consequence of which, development projects have led to an employment programs and the Kharif crop throughout the state increase in the net irrigated area and schemes like Sampoorna faced acute shortage of water which the ground water level has also Grameen Rozgar Yojana should lead to crop failure. The state has improved considerably. Migration be continued as this will help been trying to tackle the problem of of labor has been decreased with this livelihood generation and in droughts by the implementation of program. Projects like Rural developing infrastructure to various programs like Drought infrastructural development, deal with drought. Prone Areas Program (DPAP), Water integrated watershed development, • The role of self-help groups can Harvesting Structures, Micro Livelihood regeneration etc. have all be increased for monitoring the

June 2016 southasiadisasters.net 9 health and nutritional status of The State water supply department women and children to In 2015, the state suffered should take a special campaign for providing supplementary food providing clean drinking water in to Aanganwadis. its most severe rainfall those areas which are affected by • Anganwadis in state should be shortage when it only arsenic and fluoride contamination. strengthened and additional temporary Anagnawadis should received 153.8 mm rainfall The State public health department be sanction in high risk areas. against its normal of 624 should maintain sufficient stock of • Increase monitoring of Mid-day mm leading to most severe chlorine and other disinfectants in Meal Programmes during the drought-affected areas. drought, as it is an important drought in state in last 50 source of supplementary years. As a consequence of A public health campaign should be nutrition. which, the Kharif crop organized for immunizing and • Community kitchens should be inoculating the entire population run during the droughts. throughout the state faced against likely diseases such as • Information on availability and acute shortage of water typhoid and cholera. the requirement of fodder for the cattle population in the area which lead to crop failure. Capacity Building and training of all should be calculated as cattle are functionaries and stakeholders an important source of should be done. livelihood in rural areas of the The State public health department state. should undertake a campaign for Use of NREGA: • The Collector can project fodder disinfecting all drinking water NREGA will not only help in scarcity for each successive sources with disinfectants such as developing infrastructure to mitigate month of drought. chlorine. Since water availability is drought, but also to prove • People have less immunity in at a shallow level, it is more likely employment to poor and vulnerable drought situations due to poor to be contaminated. Necessary care people. NREGA will check migration levels of nutrition. PHC and needs to be taken to clean water and in drought affected areas. Through CHC throughout the state disinfect it before using it for the NERGA equal opportunity to should be trained deal with it purpose of drinking. employment to women and at the most basic level. Mobile vulnerable will be ensured. Work for health teams should be Train the community in disinfecting food is a popular scheme in drought organized for visiting all public water and checking its quality for prone areas under NREGA. works to do checkups. the purpose of drinking. Climate change adaptability is a multi-dimensional; it should be done from policy level to community level. At community level eco-sensitive approach will help in dealing with climate change. Balance of Nature system and Human system should be maintained. A scheme like drought, land degradation and desertification, creation of artificial drainage, underground water source regeneration and ecosystem restoration should be promoted. This restoration task can them be clubbed with NREGA which will help in improvement of condition on groundwater and forest. Worrying situation in drought-hit , Andhra Pradesh. – Ankita Padhalni, (Source: http://www.news18.com/news/india/worrying-situation-in-drought-hit- telangana-andhra-pradesh-1226504.html) Student, TISS, Mumbai

10 southasiadisasters.net June 2016 BIHAR Impacts of Water Scarcity and the Drought Situation in Bihar

espite the wide variety of confront this hazard. This situation poor quality and access to water and D resources, large size of land, results in deep physical, sanitation, and mal nutrition, even and population of the State of Bihar, psychosocial, environmental and in some cases hunger. the state is prone to many disasters, economic impacts. especially to floods and droughts in The severity of the impact is also recent times, placing the water In terms of physical impacts, the conditioned and triggered by the situation in a serious crisis. The hazards affect the soil moisture and context, which includes the social southern and western parts of Bihar level of ground water. "Rivers, lakes, and cultural practices, the economic are mostly affected, while also in ponds and reservoirs tend to dry up status and the capacity to respond other parts of the state the wells and tube-wells are rendered from the government institutions. In availability of rainfall is decreasing, unserviceable due to lowering of the view of that, the most aggressive which consequently results in threats ground water table"2. In addition, impacts are felt in vulnerable and to their agriculture, environment, when there is little to non rainfall, poor areas, in which women, living conditions and overall the agricultural production of many children and the elderly are more economy. regions of Bihar is severely affected; exposed and vulnerable. This is an hence there are shortages of grains important aspect, since "more than In the last couple of years, the state and other crops, resulting in the half of Bihar's population is has suffered major droughts, economic losses and social impacts below the poverty line, and nine out understood as a deficiency in its for the people. of ten Biharis continue to live in water supply surface or rural areas, depending upon underground, due to consistent low In August 2015, out of Bihar's 38 agriculture as a prime source of precipitation. These droughts have districts, 30 have received deficit livelihood".3 increased in the last couple of years rainfall. This is a serious concern for and estimations of experts say that the state since it's highly dependent From the illustrated impacts we Bihar will reach a state of water on the rain to secure the irrigation understand there is a need to stress by 2020, since "the gross per needs of the crops, which poses a improve the water supply for the capita water availability in Bihar scenario of high risk for crop loss. citizens in terms of quantity and will decline from about 1,950 m3/yr In addition, increased pollution in quality and also to upgrade the in 2001 to as low as about 1,170 m3/yr Bihar degrades freshwater and sanitation facilities and services, by 2050".1 coastal aquatic ecosystems. This which are essential to enhance public situation receives more attention health and improve development Furthermore, droughts are one of when we consider that a great within the state. the most difficult hazards to prevent, number of people in Bihar live and since they slowly become visible and work from agriculture. If the crops The Public Health Engineering their appearance could be attributed are affected, so will be the people, Department of the state of Bihar is to multiple causes. To better identify as their income will diminish and responsible of providing safe the intensity and duration of a the levels of unemployment drinking water to rural areas. In drought there has to be a close look increase. order to maintain drinking water up to the weather, vegetation, supply, it is essential to keep hand temperature conditions and past On the other hand, there are many pumps functional. However during experiences in the State. However, social impacts droughts have in the a drought scenario, the PHED's the impacts droughts have in many cities, mostly felt in education, in obligation to ensure its functioning cities of Bihar are enlarged by the health and sanitation of the people in order to supply the people with little preparation the State has to with common diseases related to the drinking water becomes a critical 1 India Water Portal. "Qualitative and quantitative water scarcity issues in Bihar" 2 Mohita, Negi. "Impact of Droughts in India: Physical; Agriculture and Economic Impact” 3 Bertho, Anna; Pande Devyani; Srichand, Pankaj; Singh, Shika. "Impacts of Disaster on Children: A case study of five disaster disaster-prone districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. Knowledge Community on Children in India.

June 2016 southasiadisasters.net 11 challenge. This issue may lead to drinking water and sanitation farmers, analyzing and encouraging develop new water supply and conditions"4. If the provision and the use of alternative methods and sanitation schemes, which should be quality of water is improved in the technologies for preventing the loss created with the participation of the city, so will the conditions of the of crops, such as alternative community and by generating citizens. irrigation mechanisms, and also for partnerships with several public and taking care of the employees of the private stakeholders. The improvements on water agriculture sector. management must be accompanied To gather the insights of by additional contingency As for all the hazards Bihar may community's representatives on how programmes, which should experience, an essential and cross- to better supply the city with water contribute to the emergency wide aspect to consider is the is an essential aspect in the design response process in drought preparedness level within the process, as is can define the priorities scenarios. Although the government villages and households. In this in terms of needs of the community. of Bihar has carried out a number of sense, it's indispensable to conduct This issue is being raised by the drought relief programmes to activities to raise awareness in the Bihar State Water and Sanitation mitigate their impacts, these haven't communities on how to prepare for Mission of the Government of Bihar, focalized on long term effects for the these situations and how to take care who works with several State and also haven't reached many of children who are especially programmes to improve water people. vulnerable as they're still growing quality and sanitation in the state. and developing their immune The programmes should consider systems. There should be actions But there still has to be a consistent long term actions for shelter, food destined to strengthen people's and long term development policy and health care, and they should knowledge on the frequency and for water and sanitation." The World reach a wide number of citizens, magnitude of these events, as of the Health Organisation estimates that placing children and women as a government's actions and about 80 per cent of all sickness and priority. In addition, special assistance. diseases are linked to the poor attention should be destined to the – Isabella Johnston

4 Bertho, Anna; Pande Devyani; Srichand, Pankaj; Singh, Shika. "Impacts of Disaster on Children: A case study of five disaster disaster-prone districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. Knowledge Community on Children in India.

Editorial Advisors: Denis Nkala Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu Regional Coordinator, South-South Cooperation and Sub-Regional Coordinator, Central Asia & South Country Support (Asia-Pacific), United Nations Caucasus, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Development Programme, New York Reduction (UNISDR), Kazakhstan

Ian Davis Mihir R. Bhatt Visiting Professor in Disaster Risk Management in All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India Copenhagen, Lund, Kyoto and Oxford Brookes Dr. Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Universities The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York, USA Dr. John Twigg Senior Research Associate, Department of Civil, T. Nanda Kumar Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University Chairman, National Dairy Development Board College London, London (NDDB), Anand, Gujarat, India

AIDMI is delighted to receive generous support of UNICEF (India) towards this issue.

ALL INDIA DISASTER MITIGATION INSTITUTE 411 Sakar Five, Behind Old Natraj Cinema, Near Mithakhali Railway Crossing, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad–380 009 India. Tele/Fax: +91-79-2658 2962 12 E-mail: [email protected], Website: southasiadisasters.nethttp://www.aidmi.org, www.southasiadisasters.net June 2016