Climate Change Adaptation in Gujarat, India1

1. BACKGROUND Available observational evidence indicates that regional changes in climate, particularly increases in temperature, have already affected a diverse set of physical and biological systems in many parts of the world (IPCC 2001). International communities have tried to respond to these changing phenomena though establishing high level Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Adaptation to climate change has the potential to substantially reduce many of the adverse impacts of climate change and enhance beneficial impacts, though neither without cost, nor without leaving residual damage. While the climate change adaptation has been discussed over past several years through organizational response, adaptive response, little has been focused on the community level adaptation, and integrating the adaptation methods in the policy perspective. Needless to say that international level interventions are essential for the commitments and negotiations among the governments, however at the community level, there is an urgent need to send the messages to impacts of climate change, and its possible adaptation strategies. Since the worst sufferers of climate change impacts are the rural communities, (who depends mainly on agriculture as their livelihoods), it is important to focus on the impacts of climate change on livelihoods, and re-establish the links among poverty, livelihood and environment. However, focusing on the communities only are not enough, and so long the community initiatives do not become part of the government policies, it is difficult to sustain the efforts. Perhaps the most important prerequisite for creating sustainable livelihoods, and for achieving sustainable development, is good and accessible government (Helmore and Singh 2001). Thus, the link between local, state, and national governments to the community is of utmost importance. Therefore, the current research proposes a case study to be undertaken in the state of Gujarat, India. The purpose is to find the sustaining elements from the case study, and apply it to other areas in form of an adaptation model. In past forty years, Gujarat has experienced 12 years of drought, and four major scarcity situations. However, the intensity and return period of major drought events have increased substantially in last couple of decades, and it is often correlated to the climate change impacts. Although there is a need to study systematically the impact phenomenon, the fact is that the rural masses are highly affected in terms of their livelihood. India, being a major agriculture-based country, and almost 70% of the population living in the rural area, this impact will be a vital one in the long term. Therefore, a preliminary study is needed, based on which a model of community level climate change adaptation can be established, and further focus areas can be stressed. The goal of this study was to study the interrelationship of environmental impacts, and suggests possible mitigation measures as policy options, and prepare a community adaptation model. For the environmental impacts, climate change issues are considers, and its effects as a drought in the arid to semi-arid climate will be studied. To achieve this goal, specific objectives were: 1. To analyze the current policies on drought management in the case study country (India) 2. To study the current issues at community level, focusing on livelihoods,
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This is a summary of the original report: Community level climate change adaptation and policy issues, prepared by Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, March 2005

Fig 1. 100 years of rainfall trend for Kutch District, Gujarat (1897-1997)(SOURCE: Kutch Ecology Fund)

3. To suggest possible community adaptation schemes, and integrate these schemes in the policy options 2. CLIMATE CHANGE AND GUJARATS DROUGHT VULNERABILITY Our review on the available results from the model studies indicate that there would be a general increase in rainfall over western part of the India with more intense rain events. While the increased rainfall is a welcoming development to this much drought stricken part of the country, an increase in intensity rainfall might lead to a high surface runoff and loss of water from the region where it has fallen. The past analysis of rainfall data for the state of Gujarat indicates a different picture all together. Gujarat has experienced 12 years of drought, and four major scarcity situations. However, the intensity and return period of major drought events have increased substantially in last two-three decades, and it is often correlated to the climate change impacts. Traditionally, Gujarat has a drought cycle of 5 years, where in 2 years there is moderate rainfall, 2 years less rainfall, and 1 year of good rainfall. Consecutive 2 years of less rainfall makes it difficult for the communities to sustain their livelihoods. It becomes worse, when there is 3 years of consecutive less rainfall. Statistical data show that in last two decades, the intensity of the 3 years of consecutive less rainfall is increasing, and thereby creating severe drought situation (Fig 1). There is still a need to study systematically the impact phenomenon of these increasing drought incidences and on how the local communities are coping with them.

3. CASE STUDY: PORBANDAR In order to promote sustainable methods of rainwater harvesting techniques, SEEDS decided to test and promote activities involving collecting rooftop rainwater and recharging underground water. Based on their survey, existing village data and focus group discussions, two villages in Porbandar, Thoyona and Digvijaygadh were selected. Thoyona especially suffers from irregular availability of irrigation water while DigvijayGadh has drinking water problem. Therefore, activities decided for work were: 1. Roof top Rainwater Harvesting at Digvijaygadh school building 2. Well recharge structure and farm pond at Thoyona 3. Training of communities in water conservation and harvesting Specific objectives were set by SEEDS for this initiative as shown in Table 1 below. Table 1. Community Level Objective Setting
1. Generate awareness in the community regarding water conservation techniques for long term drought management and link it with the development perspective 2. Training of village community for execution of drought proofing work 3. Impact assessment of the implemented water harvesting structures for enhancement of the program 4. Awareness regarding how the community can solve their problems of drinking water as well as water for agriculture and other purpose 5. Awareness about mitigation measures to combat the effects of scarce rainfall in the intervention area, which is largely a farmers community 6. Enabling community to formulate their own water model plan which can be implemented for their village based on their felt needs 7. Community involvement and participation right from identifying their needs and actual implementation

In order to achieve their goal and objectives, SEEDS began with organizing community meeting and Focus Group Discussion followed by community mobilization. After community members were mobilized, training as well as small scale workshop with participants were conducted during implementation process. Following summarize the specific detail of initiatives in two targeted villages, Thoyona and Digvijaygadh, and their outcomes. 3.1 Initiative in Digvijaygadh District: Porbandar Taluka (Block): Ranavav Village: Digvijaygadh Location: Digvijaygadh school building (Figure 2) 3.1.1 Overview Digvijaygadh is a labor class village with around 70 households from the Sager and Rabari community. It is socially and economically backward village. Once a village with good farms, the community has been reduced to labor class due to degradation of the natural resources. In general the community was enabled to recall right from the survey when they had cited drinking water problem.

Fig. 2. Construction of rooftop rainwater harvesting system in the school buildings

3.1.2 Process SEEDS began with holding community meetings participated by various stakeholders including children, Panchayat (local elected body) members, masons, women and teachers. During the meeting, discussion was about the water-harvesting principles, techniques, and advantages with specific focus on the roof top water harvesting. After more villages inspired by this technique, actual implementation began. 3.1.3 Community Involvement and Output At Digvijaygadh, the villagers are mostly Maldharis or labors. It is socially and economically backward village. The villagers could not contribute in terms of finance but they contributed in terms of labor, transportation, water from the well, water curing etc. Most importantly, they were able to participate in the program right from identification of needs, resource mobilization to the implementation. Some of the villagers have also shown interest as to how the water of the village can be collected collectively. 3.2 Initiative in Thoyana District: Porbandar Taluka (Block): Ranavav Village: Thoyana Location: Thoyana Agriculture land (Figure 3) 3.2.1 Process Numerous meetings were held at Thoyana during which the villagers were oriented about water harvesting techniques, well recharging, including different techniques, theland after its Figure 3. Green agriculture costs and benefits. During the first meeting a discussion was carried out to interventions find water need for villagers, water need for irrigation, interventions to be carried out. Villagers support was sought and different methods for participation in work were explored. 3.2.2 Community Involvement Because of the past experience, only two people were ready for the work instead of the 10, as originally scheduled. But once the work started and the on site interactions started and along with explanations, villagers were motivated to take up the work in their own farms. Seeing is Believing worked out for the villagers. Community involvement includes providing their manpower for labor work, their vehicle for material transportation, utilizing existing village fund etc. The villagers provided material help in kind to a maximum of Rs. 5000. Rest contribution (amounting in a range of 15% to 25%) was from the beneficiary. For farm pond construction, minimum 20% contribution was made by the community. 3.2.3 Output Table 2 shows the estimated water harvesting practices in the two buildings which implemented rain water
Table 2. Annual water harvesting potential

Roof area of building A = 37.625 sq. m. Roof area of building B = 68.025 sq. m. Total Roof area of both buildings = 105.65 sq. m. Average annual rainfall in this region = 450 mm = 0.450 m Runoff coefficient for concrete surface = 0.7 Annual water harvesting potential = Total Roof area x Average annual rainfall x Runoff coefficient = 105.65 x 0.450 m x 0.7 = 33.27 cu. M. (33,279 Liters)

harvesting system. Table 3 shows the change in water depth in the wells before and after the interventions (SEEDS 2004). Table 3. Impacts of interventions Sr. No . Name of beneficiary 1 Devshi Giga Bhutia. Rambhai Karshanbhai 2 sindhal Bharatbhai Mashribhai 3 Bhutia Bhanubhai Ramabhai 4 Ratadia Virambhai Rambhai 5 Audedra Parbatbhai Arjanbhai 6 Audedra No's of Well Water well in Surface Water level depth depth in surroun catchments in well after (ft) well (ft) ding area (Hector) 1 rain (ft) 85 5 20 2 10 70 100 90 72 80 25 40 5 15 10 10 15 10 10 10 41 41 32 10 6 65 90 80 28 25

Year & month 2004july 2004july 2004july 2004july 2004july 2004july

4 CASE STUDY: KUTCH The district of Kutch which comprises of 24% of the total area of the State of Gujarat falls in the arid tracts of the country and has a unique arid coastal climate. While Kutch has always been a drought prone region, the incidence of drought has become regular, and any 5 year cycle has 2 to 3 years of droughts.
Table 4. Objectives of Drought Proofing Project 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. To bring an attitudinal and perceptional change within the communities To encourage, in a drought year, communities to engage in works which have a long-term developmental impact in the village, and does not just create short term employment. To create a model in the district to strengthen their traditional water resources. To enable more dry-land farmers to undertake critical irrigation for one crop the kharif crop To undertake farmland treatment by increasing soil and moisture conservation, which prevents crop failure. To increase the productivity of grasslands in the pilot villages, thereby improving grassland productivity and strengthening the grass reserves of the communities. To arrest migration from the villages, thereby making it possible for the village to access, and stay integrated to other rural development and poverty alleviation programs, even in drought year. To strengthen the partnership between the District Government, and the Network of NGOs, thereby increasing the potential for more sustainable rural development planning and implementation in the district To build the capacity and abilities of the communities and the NGO workers to plan for, and implement drought proofing activities

Many communities of Kutch have not only lived through regular droughts for generations, but also represent a history, which is replete with drought management techniques and systems. However, in the last 30 years, there has been a gradual increase in the communitys dependence on the Government for Drought Management, and decline in community methods of drought managements. Resources utilized in the drought relief works have sustained villages in the short term, with each affected village receiving, on an average, wages worth Rs.800,0002 to 1 million in the scarcity period. However, while the resources have led to drought relief, it has not necessarily led to the mitigation of the effects of droughts. Therefore, local NGO, Abhiyan proposed to work on self-sustaining solution for their drinking water, agricultural and livelihood problems. These activities will lead to an increase in the household income in good rainfall years, and a reduction in their liabilities in drought years. Following introduces two specific initiatives taken by Abhiyan, one focusing on water and another focusing on livelihood option. Specific objectives were set for initiatives as shown in Table 4. 5.1 Water Related Initiatives Drought Proofing Program Implemented by: Abhiyan and other local NGOs Supported by: Ministry of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat, UNDP 4.1.1 Overview The Drought Proofing Program is being implemented in 31 villages spread across the districts of Kutch. These villages have been identified by 15 different NGOs working in Kutch district. The villages communities of these 31 villages have voluntarily agree to participate for the long-term drought proofing program. The initiatives was implemented, coordinated and monitored by Joint Cell under the chairmanship of District Collector, Bhuj, Kutch. The NGOs, responsible for implementing the project at the village level were coordinated by the central office of Abhiyan. 4.1.2 Process Based on criteria set, targeted villages were selected. In order to maximize the outcome of the initiatives, the targeted villages were familiar to the NGO and vice versa, as a whole voluntarily agreed to the long-term drought proofing project, were willing to contribute 5% towards its own village maintenance fund, and nominated and formed drought proofing committee. After selecting villages, based on hearing from village people, engineers from NGOs determined the size and the location of the dame to be constructed. 4.1.3 Output As shown in Figure 4, it was visible that they were able to collect rainfall water effectively. In order to secure their water, village members set own rules of using the water collected in the dam. According to NGO members, women are more motivated to construct the dam than at first. However, after a while, most of village members participated the work. In the end, both man and woman were more aware of and confident about long-term drought proofing activities and less depend on short-term relief by the government. 4.2 Livelihood Related Initiatives Implemented by: Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, Nehru Foundation for Development Supported by: Government of India Figure 4. Water resulted from the drought-proofing program
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1 US$ = 25 Rs

4.2.1 Overview In the arid, drought prone district of Kutch, practice of handicrafts provides livelihood to over 40,000 families (Figure 5). One of the first steps in Kutch livelihood programs is identifying the local resource base the skills, raw material, traditional knowledge, aptitude, or interest. Since Kutch is one of the most craft-rich areas in the country, it becomes the most visibly identified area of livelihood generation. The various crafts practiced including weaving, ajrakh block printing, tie-dye, pottery, leather, bell making, knife making, silver and gold jewelry, rogan art and so on. However, to initiate craft programs, without a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of craft in artisans lives, its very niche markets, designs, and craft market, means that the initiating organization immediately runs into its first and primary problem of having created expectations amongst artisans, before developing the marketing chain. More problems ensue- quality, designing with the artisan, markets, unsold stocks of produce generated in the initial enthusiasm to help, and the blockage of the fund flow. Crafts activities have led the NGOs to walk between the Figure art and craft, and socio-economic developmental needs of the community, the arena of5. Craft as one of the the key livelihoods for world of business and that is a difficult and complex task. women in Kutch 4.2.2 Activities NGO supports workers involving handicraft work to provide followings to materials, secure constant incomes. - Market Support, mainly to handicraft artisans - Distribution of raw material and equipments for handicraft work - Training & Capacity Building through vocational training programs for women and youth - Infrastructure support in terms of work-shed reconstruction for craft artisans 4.3 Implementation Mechanisms: SETU Two initiatives undertaken in Porbandar and Kutch have not only achieved desired physical goals such as saving water or generating income, but also created awareness of droughts and idea of long-term drought proofing among local people. However, in fact, there are hundreds of other villages, which still suffer from recurrence of droughts and need to implement longterm drought-proofing initiatives. In order to implement such effective initiatives widely and effectively, a network established in Kutch after Gujarat Earthquake could be one option. 4.3.1 Establishment Chie Coordinator f With a long history of NGO activities in Gujarat, numbers of NGO networks has been TCB Accounting Div. established. Abhiyan which established SETU is one of them. The SCR C purpose of SETU was to Admin. & HR establish the link between government, NGO and community (Figure 6). After the 1998 cyclone hit Kutch, twenty six local NGOs in Kutch had came together and established Abhiyan. Since its establishment, Abhiyan has taken an important role as local NGO network as each member NGO continues working in their specialized SETUSoon after the earthquake, Figure 6. field. as a bridge the member of Abhiyan realized the needs of coordination of efforts. Despite a great number Te Le r am ade of aids and effort came into Kutch, they were not distributed properly. Therefore, Abhiyan Proje Coordinator ct instituted a cluster level sub-center for every fifteen Community Organizer all across the district. to twenty villages This center became SETU. With its unique institutional Coordinator SETU focused on Information structure, coordination between villages and government or aid agencies and information management 15-20 to bring the most needed support to the communities during relief and rehabilitation process. Figure 7. Structure of SETU
V illages

4.3.2 In-House Structure Originally twenty SETU was established. Along with needs, it increased the number to thirtythree in the rehabilitation period and currently eighteen SETU, that cover over two hundred villages, conduct activities. Each SETU consists of five to seven staffs, with specialized role as shown Figure7. At the head of each SETU, team leader oversees its staff members as project coordinator plan and coordinate its projects within the cluster, community organizer specially work closely with villages, and information coordinator collect and distribute necessary information between SETU and villages and SETU and head office (SCRC). Although most staff members were from outside of cluster villages such as local NGO members, at least one person comes from villages with a hope that SETU or similar body will run by villagers. Since these staffs live by the villages and communicate with local people in daily basis, they have gained trust from villagers and have understood their situation and needs accurately. This trust and understandings is essential to provide necessary support for local people and the community. Since they work with villages closely and independently, SETU has been able to work with a multi-sectoral grievance mechanism. It helps to create more equality and transparency in village community and its decision making process. 4.3.3 Network Structure Unique characteristics of SETU is not only how closely they work with local people but also how they cooperate with other stakeholders such as government, nonLocal Community government, and international organizations shown in Figure 8. The Government NGO SETU arrow in Figure 8 shows the way of support among K-Link stakeholders. It should be noted that K-link (Kutch Local Information Kendra) Abhiyan/ is a body which also UNDP established after the earthquake to coordinate all TCS GSDMA the information such as damage of each villages and household. K-link collects Figure 8. Multi-stakeholder cooperation scheme of SETU information from each (GSDMA: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority), village by SETU, analyses it TCS: Tata Consultancy Services) and distributed information to governmental organizations and other NGOs/private sectors, which works in villages. 4.3.4 Role of SETU Because of its unique structure, SETU can work closely with local communities in located over a large area and outside organizations including government and NGOs. Like most rural villages of India, village community is the basic social system in Kutch. Each village community has decision-making body usually called Panchayat which make various decisions

for the village economy and the self-governance. Traditionally it is dominated by people with power and it sometimes causes inequality or corruption. However, by involvement of SETU, Panchayat has been reestablished as a fair decision making body which considers vulnerable people. In addition, with local communities, SETU helps them identify their needs and does not give them support unless they ask. By doing so, it prevents dependency among village people and community, which often becomes a problem with excess support from outside organizations. Although they work to provide necessary support for people and communities, their ultimate goal is to establish self-sustained mechanism in local communities. Another important role of SETU is the network structure shown in Figure 7. Often, in rural areas in India, there is lack of linkage between NGOs, local communities, and governmental organizations and necessary information from each sector is not passed onto others. Because of the establishment of SETU, which can work closely with local communities, government and NGOs, communication between each stakeholders done more smoothly. 4.3.5 Future Possibility of SETU Although initially SETU was established for Earthquake responses, it has taken an important role in rehabilitation process and now is working well in development process. Because of its unique characteristics, establishment such local based network organization in drought prone area may work well. The organization, of course, work closely with local communities as well as local government and NGOs so that necessary information for drought proofing both short term and long term will be disseminated in local communities more effectively and efficiently. 5. CONCLUSION Based on the above observations and case studies, following summary can be made for different aspects of community level climate change adaptation: Impacts of climate change (hydro-meteorological issues): - Increase in temperature - Variation in monsoon rain (extreme summer rainfall, decrease in number of rainy days) - Continuation of dry days - Decrease in runoff and water availability in arid and semi-arid area Actions for adaptation and coping with drought (development issues) - Water management Deepen well, utilize water supply system properly Construct check-dam, artificial damage, integrated water shed management, conserve water, rain water harvesting system - Agriculture Improve agronomic practice, drought tolerant seeds Soil conservation, seeds conservation - Animal husbandry Migration, utilize fodder bank, cattle camp Control livestock population, conserve fodder - Local economy Engage in non-agriculture labor work, relief work, loans

 Secure income from other livelihoods, craft Local Government Policy measures - Focus on development oriented drought mitigation - Utilize drought relief fund on regular development practice - Incorporate future climate scenario in drought proofing plans - Enhance climate prediction capability through link to the hydro meteorological organizations Implementation Mechanism - Establish SETU type set-up in several clusters of villages - Provide development schemes and climate related information to SETU - Institutionalize SETU through local government development budget Figure 9 shows the model incorporating the above factors, and can be considered as the community based climate change adaptation model. Although an attempt has been to link the climate change impacts to drought, and its adaptation actions at community and local government policy levels, however, it should be kept in mind that the study presents only the preliminary observations base don limited data. A detailed study should be undertaken on the following aspects to grasp the bigger picture and identify specific issues: - Collection of available climate data on a regional level (including one or two states in the country or on a river basin), and analysis of data to obtain the trend of past climatic conditions - Obtaining detailed climate scenario at a micro level, and correlate the past data and future climate projections - Detailed analysis of the policies in two or three different drought prone states (at state and district levels) - Documenting different drought proofing schemes in the country and states - Documenting best practices on community actions at various levels - Organize local workshops to facilitate discussions among the local stakeholders, including local NGOS, government, academic bodies etc.

Figure 9. Community based climate change adaptation model