Presentation on Integrating Social Perspectives in Drought Monitoring – Practices in State of Rajasthan

1. Presentation on Integrating Social Perspectives in Drought Monitoring – Practices in State of Rajasthan Disaster Management & Relief Department Government of Rajasthan

2. Integrating Social Prospective in Drought Monitoring – Best Practices What is Drought There is no universally agreed upon definition of drought. It May be generally defined as a temporary reduction in water or moisture availability significantly below the normal or expected amount for a specified period. Drought has now become less of a macro-economic problem, and more of a human problem, a problem of entitlements. Drought is different from other disasters as it is creeping disaster which invariably leads to affect the purchasing power of agriculture based population. Drought last for several months i.e. upto on set of good rains in the next monsoon, whereas other natural calamities normally last for a few days/ weeks.

3. Impact of Drought • The impact of drought results in shortage of food, fodder and water, or in discrepancies between supply and demand for food, fodder and water. • Adverse effects can be grouped into three sectors viz. Economic, Environmental & Social. • The impact of drought is severe in the sphere of nutrition and health in general, especially amongst children, lactating and pregnant mothers. The problem gets multiplied with association of poverty, illiteracy and backwardness.

4. Drought Relief Operations • Crop Contingency Plan • Additional Employment Generation through Relief Works • Cattle Conservation Measures • Drinking Water • Other Measures

5. Drought Scenario in Rajasthan • State faced more or less drought conditions almost in all years since 1950-51 except in six years viz. 1959-60, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1990-91 & 1994-95 • Frequency of Drought • Drought from year 1950-51 onwards in Rajasthan

6. Some Important Initiatives Taken By Govt. of Rajasthan • Drought Management Manual replacing the famine code of the year 1962 has been prescribed. • “vkink izcU/ku ,oa lgk;rk funsZf’kdk” (Apda Prabhandan Evam Sahayata Nirdeshika) giving detailed operational procedures have been issued. • For creating sustainable drought proofing infrastructure dovetailing method with other programmes and schemes has been adopted. • To ensure participation of individual beneficiaries dovetailing of labour component has been allowed for creation of assets for social and drought mitigation needs.

7. Some Important Initiatives Taken ByGovt. of Rajasthan Continued … • Prescribed nature of relief works is to be taken up on priority while providing labour employment. • For transparency, system of social audit has been made compulsory. • For effective supervision and monitoring of relief activities in drought affected areas Minister Incharge for each district has been designated. • For inspection, coordination and supervision secretary incharge of each district has been designated.

8. Steps Taken for Ensuring Effective Public Participation • Involvement of “Gram Sabhas” in selection of • Relief works • Identification and prioritization of labour employment seekers • Selection of beneficiaries for gratuitous relief • Social audit. • Involvement of “Panchayati Raj Institutions” • in selection of relief works • In execution of relief works (nearly 75% works are being executed by PRI’s) • In managing cattle camps, fodder depots and other cattle conservation activities. • In supply of drinking water through tankers etc. • In distribution of gratuitous relief and other relief assistance.

9. Involvement of Public at Large • Labour Component allowed in creation of individual assts of following nature for drought proofing as well as sustainable development. • Diggi Sprinkler Construction Works • Irrigation water channel construction Works • Coverage of irrigation water channel (Khala Covering) • Tree Plantation of Jetropha and Amla • Rural Sanitation Laterines • House construction • Khet Talai (Farm Pond) • Khadin Construction and Repairs • Water Tanks/ Tanka Construction and Repairs • Recharge/ Deepening of Wells

10. Involvement of Public at Large Continued … • Involvement of NGO’s and other voluntary organizations • in providing cattle conservation activities viz. Cattle Camps and Fodder Depots • In providing drinking water through tankers • In execution of relief works such as Individual Sanitary latrines, water harvesting structures, water conservation assets. • In selection of beneficiaries for labour employment/ gratuitous relief. • In Social Audit- Jan Sunvai method of Aruna Roy

11. Measures taken for ensuring social security to SC/ST, BPL and other vulnerable sections • Priority list has been prescribed for providing labour employment to these sections as under • Single poor women • Member of BPL family • Landless Agricultural Labours • Marginal Farmers • Small Farmers • Persons belonging to SC & ST which are not covered above • Farmers with single crop area • Other category persons. Who are in need of labour employment

12. Measures taken for ensuring social security to SC/ST, BPL and other vulnerable sections Continued … • Priority list has been prescribed for providing gratuitous relief to these sections • The aged and infirm; • The blind, crippled or insane; • Pregnant women and young children whose relatives will not or cannot support them; and • Those whose attendance on incapable adults or young children in their home is absolutely necessary.

13. Measures taken for ensuring social security to SC/ST, BPL and other vulnerable sections Continued … Food Stamp Yojana • To ensure no death from starvation, Govt. of Rajasthan has introduce ‘Food Stamp Yojana’ in which prepaid booklet of 100 food stamps each of 10 kg. wheat is being placed with each Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat for providing one food stamp assistance free cost to person who is on the blink of starvation. With the help of this ‘food stamp yojana’ food security in any possible crisis situation of extreme hunger has been ensured to vulnerable section of the society specially person belonging to SC/ ST, BPL etc.

14. Drought Mitigation Strategy • The Drought Risk Management Strategy will tackle drought as a complex phenomenon, through an end-to-end approach, taking into consideration: • Existing coping mechanism and indigenous knowledge on drought proofing; • Development of community based drought preparedness and mitigation plans, ensuring that women's concerns and drought related issues are taken into consideration both in the development and in the implementation phase; • Linkages between the community based drought preparedness and mitigation plans and other mitigation initiatives like DPAP/DDP etc;

15. Drought Mitigation Strategy Continued … • Design and development of drought information and knowledge management systems using ICT at national, state and district levels; • Review/strengthening of existing administrative and managerial arrangements at state and district levels; • Sustainable drought risk reduction strategies at state and district levels.

16. Drought Mitigation Strategy Continued … • Special emphasis on Water Management Strategy • Rainwater harvesting and Watershed Management • Artificial recharge of ground water • Pricing of water • Early completion of ongoing projects • Watershed development • Strategy based on Agro-Climatic Regional Planning • Water Management in Irrigated Agriculture • Cropping pattern

17. Drought Mitigation Strategy Continued … • Proper Maintenance of Irrigation system • Deficit Irrigation • Sprinkle and drip irrigation • Conjunctive use of surface and ground water • Reduction in conveyance losses • Reduction in evaporation from soil surface • Renovatoin of Tanks and Tankas • Percolation tanks • Rescue of Irrigation water • Ground water exploitatoin

18. Drought Mitigation Strategy Continued … • Prevention of evaporation losses from reservoirs • Desalination and fluoride plants • Shift to surface drinking water project from the ground water projects • Water Consciousness • Integrated basin planning • Inter Basin transfer of water • Lift Irrigation Schemes • Crop Diversification Towards Low Water Requiring Horticulture Crops • Construction of Rainwater Harvesting Structures

19. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) • Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries • Identification of locations/ sources of major fodder supply and sharing these with drought affected areas • Issue of guidelines/ instructions for proper community cattle health coverage and for running of Cattle Camps. • Sharing of information about innovative methods of utilization of cattle grade feed • Sharing of Information of the latest trends in supplementary animal nutrition • Keeping a watch on the need to permit inter-State Movement of fodder • Department of Drinking Water Supply • Identification/ census of schemes becoming infructuous due to drying up of sources. • Special attention to block displaying serious problems in previous severe droughts • Quick assessment of requirement of repairs/ renovation

20. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) Continued … • Department of Food & Public Distribution • Close monitoring of achievement of planned targets for movement of foodgrains by road and rail • Building up adequate additional stocks in vulnerable areas. • Assessment of availability of afflatoxin -free cattle grade feed within the FCI system. • Reconciliation of figures of lifting of food-grains with Ministry of Rural Development • Department of Health and Family Welfare • Keeping a watch on the nutritional status of the people of drought affected areas. • Assessment of additional requirements of vaccines and medicines in the drought affected States.

21. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) Continued … • Ministry of Petroleum, GOI • Issue of instructions to Oil Companies to cater to likely additional demand for diesel for pumping sets etc. in the event of inadequate availability of power. • Effective measures to curb adulteration/ black-marketeering of HSD etc. • Sounding the ONGC about making available drilling rigs for deep wells, if the occasion arisen. • Augmentation of allocation of Natural Gas for power generation. • Department of Power • Monitoring of production of hydro-electricity in the context of Reservoir level and suitable adjustments to make for generation of shortfalls, if any, in this sector through hydel gas etc. • Monitoring of supply to rural areas to facilitate irrigation and other agricultural operation

22. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) Continued … • Department of Rural Development • Issue of guidelines for giving primacy to water conservation in relief employment • Strengthening of guidelines for monitoring and vigilance in relief works • Closer monitoring of lifting of allocated SGRY food-grains • Close Monitoring of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme • Ministry of Railways, GOI • Indicating the rolling stock which can be set apart for movement of water and fodder where required • Special efforts to ensure meeting of planned targets of movement of food-grains for FCI • Liaison with relevant State Government authorities for activating/ reactivating sources of loading of water at lease at locations which were utilized for the purpose in 2002.

23. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) Continued … • Department of Water Resources • Issue of instructions for preparing water budget for major reservoirs • Review of existing arrangements for chemical treatment of reservoirs for minimizing evaporation • Coordination for close monitoring of water released for irrigation and impact of drought on irrigation.\ • To issue suitable instruction regarding ‘first charge’ of Drinking Water Sector on Reservoir and for judicious exploitation of ground water • Central Ground Water Board to be requested to carry out monthly estimates of water table in areas where there was steep fall in earlier drought.

24. Department-wise Standard List of Items for Drought preparedness(in alphabetical order) Continued … • Department of Women and Child Development • To issue instructions for allowing States to additional registrations in ICDS Centres in vulnerable areas • Close monitoring of additional registrations in such areas • Continuous assessment of requirements to provide special nutrition to additional registrations. • Assessment of nutritional status at Aganwadis situated in vulnerable areas.

25. Social PerspectivesIn Drought Monitoring Adaptation and coping strategies This can be grouped in three following categories 1. Risk minimization – This involves crop and herd dispersal, non farm income diversification and using the accumulated of assets and savings. 2. Risk absorption – This involves sale of live stock and non productive assets, a search for new sources of income and managing debts. 3. Risk taking to Survive – This involves reduced consumption, sale of productive assets, and reduced socialization.

26. Social Perspectives In Drought Monitoring Continued … Adaptive capacity and livelihood resilience This can be discussed in following heads • Credit indebtedness • Use of foodgrains and fodder stocks • Sale of assets • Sale of livestock and livestock products • Mortgaging assets • Social capital (Using kinship ties) • Changing occupation/ livelihood systems • Human Migration 9. Reducing Consumptive Expenditures

27. THANKS

28. Additional Employment Generation through Relief Works Only such relief works should be taken up which aim at long term drought proofing; Relief Works to be dovetailed with State/ Centre Sector Schemes so that durable assets are created; In case of availability of foodgrains, maximum 75% wage may be paid in food grain to ensure Food Security to the labourers; Promote private sector participation through creation of new assets like houses, new wells, recharging of wells, tanks, kunds, ponds and Khet Talai etc. Promote activities in the handloom and Khadi Sector to provide wage employment to weavers; Priority on relief works should be given to the most vulnerable categories like BPL, Small and Marginal Farmers, Landless agriculture labourers etc; Payment of wages should be made within 10 days of the close of the fortnight without fail. 7 days advance wage should also be given to the labourers reporting on relief works.

29. Cattle Conservation Supply of fodder at subsidized rates Maintenance of cattle in Cattle Camps and Gaushalas Bull Subsidy to Panchayats Cattle Feed Subsidy Focused attention to veterinary health Support price and subsidy to encourage cultivation of green fodder

30. Drinking Water Contingency Plan Augmentation of existing Resources Hiring of Private Wells Hand Pump repair programme Installation of New Hand Pumps and Tube Wells Revival of traditional water sources like Wells, Bauris, Tankas, etc. Transportation of water through road tankers and by Rail Reserve water for drinking purpose available in the tanks Request to Government of India for Rail Tankers

31. Other Measures Effective implementation of social security, nutrition and health schemes Active involvement of donors, NGOs and Panchayat Raj Institutions Gratuitous Relief to the infirm and destitute Extended programme of nutritional support through ICDS & Mid-Day-Meal programme Health care measures with focus on preventive and promotive aspects Effective implementation of old age pension scheme and Food Stamp Scheme

32. Economic Losses in production of crops, dairy and livestock, timber and fisheries. Loss of national economic growth and development. Income loss for farmers and others directly affected. Losses from tourism and recreational businesses. Losses to industries related to agricultural production. Decline in food production and increased food prices. Unemployment from Drought related production declines. Revenue losses to government and increased strain on financial institutions.

33. Social Food shortage effects (malnutrition, famine). Loss of human life from food shortage or drought related conditions. Conflicts between water users. Health problems due to decreased water flow and pollution. Inequity in the distribution of drought impacts and relief assistance. Decline in living conditions in rural areas. Increased poverty, reduced quality of life. Social unrest, civil strife. Transhumance for employment or relief assistance.

34. Environmental Damage to animal and fish species and habitat. Wind and water erosion of soil. Damage to plant species Effects on water quality (salination) Effects on air quality (dust, pollutants, reduced, visibility)

35. Crop Contingency Plan The contingency plan shall cover the following action programme: Agriculture input support: Arranging seed of short duration varieties and providing at subsidized rates, arranging plant protection chemicals (including biocides and biopesticides) at subsidized rate and arranging fertilizers. Energy Support : Supply of diesel should be maintained and it should be ensured at all time during the drought period through close monitoring and liaisons with the oil companies. The farmers should provided electricity for six-eight hours per day so as to save standing crop even by purchasing power at a higher cost from the neighboring states. Extension Support : Improved technologies developed by the Agricultural University and Central Research Institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendra should be pass on to the farmer through regular training programme and also through electronic media and compact disk.

36. Crop Contingency Plan • Market Support : Sufficient Arrangement should be made for procurement of crop if prices fall below support price in the market. • A normal support in term of support price is extended to agricultural commodities through regulated market. Pledged loan scheme for providing 75% of loan to the pledge agricultural produce to Krish Upaj Mandies and Rajasthan Warehousing Corporation should be introduced so as to facilitate the farmers to take advantage of the price movement. • Alternative crop strategies under irrigation wells and command area should be encouraged. • Proper utilization of water and crop stabilization strategy.

37. Credit indebtedness • Borrowing funds to meet the needs is a major coping strategy. • Backward classes and lower income groups generally dependent more on money lenders and had less access to funds from banks. • Despite all the welfare and target oriented programmes related to backward classes and lower income groups, the exploitative source of loans is moneylenders in most of the cases. • However, with the increase of banking network, now the shift is towards banks for borrowings to cater the immediate needs.

38. Use of foodgrains and fodder stocks • Stocking foodgrains and fodder during good crop years and accumulating other assets that can be sold when necessary is a common practice in drought affected areas of Rajasthan. • Borrowing of the foodgrains and fodder from friends, relatives and other resource persons is a common practice during drought period and return of the same as and when there is production of foodgrains and fodder in the good crop year.

39. Sale of assets • Among poor households distress sale of assets is a common practice for coping with drought. • Jewelry, vehicles, houses, land and other assets which have been procured during the good crop year by savings, are being sold to cater to the immediate needs during drought period. • Besides it, the assets taken on credit/ loans are also being distress sold, violating the terms and conditions is also seen in some cases.

40. Sale of livestock and livestock products • Changing the type of livestock owned and selling livestock and their products are common and easy drought coping strategies. • Poor households lose more livestock probably because they could not afford the high cost of fodder for them. • Even the livestock taken with help of the loan under various programmes have also been distress sold for catering the immediate need during drought by vulnerable groups.

41. Mortgaging assets • Mortgaging assets viz. land, houses, jewelry, trees etc. in order to obtain funds for consumption requirements during drought is a relatively common practice. • If there is consecutive drought years, these mortgage assets are often lost as they are unable to repay the borrowed money. • Mortgaging of assets are generally with money lenders at higher rate of interest, for borrowing funds to meet immediate consumption requirement.

42. Social capital (Using kinship ties) • Using the kinship relationship in coping with drought is a strategy common in all the economic classes and casts. • Help sought from friends, relatives and other kinships involving direct loans, foodgrains, fodder etc. is one of the import and common tools for coping with drought. • This help is being extended without mortgaging of assets and to save distress sale of the assets.

43. Changing occupation/ livelihood systems • For maintaining income level during drought period, the changing occupation/ livelihood from agriculture to casual wage labour is a major mechanism of coping with drought. • Diversification of occupation is practiced by all castes and income categories during drought period. • Livelihood diversification into non-farm activities emerges is an important strategy for coping and adaptation during drought.

44. Human Migration • Migration in search of employment and food is a common feature during droughts in Rajasthan. • Migration can be of short or long duration depending on the employment opportunity and household characteristics. • In some cases migration is forced upon households in order meet survival needs, whereas in other cases, it is for better source of income by availing employment opportunities. • In general, only male family members migrate except very poor households where women migrate along with male members.

45. Reducing Consumptive Expenditures • Reduction in consumptive expenditure on social functions, rituals etc. is a common practice during drought period. • Even the household consumption such as food items and other expenditure on education and health is directly affected by drought. • Removing children from schools specially girls, is identified as a common practice, so that they could become earning members of the family during drought. • Adjustment in food consumption is more widely practiced than withdrawing children from school or compromising on health.

46. Drought Scenario in Rajasthan • Drought from year 1950-51 onwards in Rajasthan # Included in Rabi Area

47. Drought Scenario in Rajasthan Continued …. # Included in Rabi Area

48. Drought Scenario in Rajasthan Continued ….