PROGRESSING TOWARDS A
RESILIENT NATION Evidence from Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth Programme (ICRG)
Introduction Climate change is a major challenge for developing countries like India that face large-scale climate variability and are exposed to enhanced risks from climate change. Close to 700 million of its rural population is directly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors (like agriculture, forests and fisheries) and natural resources (such as water, forests, biodiversity, mangroves, coastal zones, grasslands) for their subsistence and livelihoods. Marginal and poor communities, especially in rural areas, will be affected more as their capacities, access to resources and
In the Salka region of Surajpur district, individuals work on the construction of Climate Resilient Works (CRWs) and take home a daily wage via MGNREGA
coping mechanisms are limited. It is predicted that by 2050, land degradation and climate change will reduce crop yields by an average 10% globally and up to 50% in certain regions. The number of extreme climate-related disasters, including extreme heat, droughts, floods and storms, has doubled since the early 1990s, with an average of 213 of these events occurring every year since 1990. Rising temperatures will melt at least one-third of the Himalayan glaciers by the end of the century if we limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C.
The Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth (ICRG) programme is a technical assistance programme under a bilateral agreement between the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Under implementation since 2016, ICRG piloted embedding of climate resilient strategies and action within India’s (and the world’s) largest social protection scheme – Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). ICRG is implemented in 103 Blocks across 22 Districts of Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha covering a rural population of 1.8 million. ICRG adopted a grassroots intervention approach and is implemented at the Gram Panchayat level, by incorporating climate proofing strategies to the planning and design of MGNREGA assets, based on downscaled climate science at District and Block level.
At Kabirdham district, home to the Baiga tribe, women plough the land as men believe the land to be their mother
Bihar
Districts Nalanda Begusarai Katihar Banka Madhubani
West Champaran
West Champaran
Madhubani
Katihar
Bagusarai
Nalanda
Banka
Banka Block: Bausi GP: Faga Village: Ramsagar
Banka district
District:
Bausi
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
L M
H L
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
H H M
H H L
AGGREGATE M
The check dam at Banka district’s Kanikhet village allows farmers to irrigate their farms round the year.
Banka district
F
ARMERS in Kanikhet village in Bausi block of Banka district were unable to cultivate more than one crop because of inconsistencies in rainfall. MGNREGA enabled the construction of a check dam with irrigation channels designed as per ICRG programme recommendations that now allow farmers to irrigate their farms round the year. The dam also provides water for domestic uses, benefitting a total of 150 families, which include 70 farmers.
Following the construction of the check dam, Babu Ram (L) is able to cultivate chillies while Sukhi Laal (R) cultivates onions and chickpeas.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 432 Farmer Military Murmu from Kanikhet is trained to rear chickens, which he uses for personal consumption and trade-increasing his household income.
92% ST & SC Total HHs 80 with 60 HHs BPL
MGNREGA WORKS Check Dam + Irrigation Channel Total cost: Rs. 16.32 Lakh Mandays Generated: 2361
Banka district
Farmer Sukhi Laal and Babu Ram own adjoining small patches of land. Following the construction of the check dam, Sukhi Laal is able to cultivate onions and chickpeas while Babu Ram cultivates chillies. Both farmers are now able to cultivate an additional crop cycle but also grow high value, short duration crops between the rabi and kharif seasons. The ICRG programme has also facilitated convergence with various government programmes like animal husbandry—this has helped increase household incomes for individuals like Military Murmu from Kanikhet and trained him to rear chickens for personal consumption and trade.
Nalanda Block: Nagarnausa Gram Panchayat: Ariyawan District:
Village: Saidpur
Nagarnausa
Nalanda district
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M L
H M
VULNERABILITIES The stream passing through the Nagarnausa block in the Nalanda district is a double-edged sword in the monsoons—causing low water levels in the Nagarnausa block and flash floods in the adjacent Kariparsarai block
PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
L H H
M H H
M
N
The dam saves about 7,500 people from facing a flood.” Bhushan Pandit
Mukhian, Diawan village in the Kariparsarai block
This check dam at Nagar Nausa directly benefits eighty households by acting as a lift irrigation point for farmers.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
MGNREGA WORKS
Population 1630
Pyne De siltation + Check dam + Plantation + Repair of old check dam
6% ST&SC
Total Cost: Rs. 17.47 Lakh
Total HHs 345 with Mandays 220 HHs BPL Generated: 4938
Nalanda district
ALANDA is one of Bihar’s oldest and most important cultural centres, best known as the site of an ancient Buddhist monastery that attracted scholars from all over Asia and beyond. Today, the scenic district is spread across almost 2,400 sq. kilometres, with agriculture driving the economy in the district. Villagers have built their life around a stream that joins the river Phalgu – with the Kariparsarai block on one side, adjacent to the Nagarnausa block. However, the stream proves to be a double-edged sword as monsoons cause it to flood, leading to flash floods in the Kariparsarai block and low water levels in the Nagarnausa block. The low water levels affected the cropping cycle in Nagarnausa – with farmers planting crops with low water requirements.
The state’s Water Resources Department constructed a seven feet high check dam to redirect the flow of the river towards Nagarnausa. This became a source of irrigation for farmers and benefited about 2 lakh people in the block.
“The dam saves about 7,500 people from facing a flood,” states Mukhiya Bhushan Pandit from the Diawan village in the Kariparsarai block. At Nagarnausa, a check dam in the downstream acts as a lift irrigation point
for farmers and aids in recharging the ground water table. This check dam directly benefits eighty households, which includes two families that are headed by women and four families that are led by differently abled individuals.
Nalanda district Most of Bihar witnesses exceptional rainfall. This however leads to flash floods, which result in high runoff
T
Begusarai Block: Danderi GP: Mahipatol Village: Mahoba District:
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
L L
H M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
H H H
H H H
M
Villagers from Begusarai district’s Dandari block support themselves through agriculture that is dependent on a nearby stream—that has been treated with pynes to mitigate overflowing flash floods.
Begusarai district
Danderi
HE Mahoba village in the Dandari block of Begusarai district has small farmers earning their livelihood through agriculture supported by water from a nearby stream that passes through their fields. The harsh monsoons in Bihar cause flash floods in such streams and siltation with an overflow of water into irrigated lands. To manage this problem, a one kilometre stretch of the stream has been treated with pynes – these structures trap the silt, while increasing the speed of the water so that the excess water moves further ahead. These structures have been created as part of the ICRG programme recommendations and implemented by MGNREGA, executed along with the state Water Resources Department. This initiative is part of the state government’s flagship programme – the “Jal-Jeevan-Haryali” Mission. Anuj Kumar is one of the individuals directly benefitting from the restoration of the pynes. His main observation is that year-on-year his fields have experienced an average increased yield of 20% per annum for wheat. “The availability of water and dissipation of our fear of flash floods also gives us farmers the confidence to try out new things, like moving towards high value crops or short duration crops to grow between the rabi and kharif cycles,” he adds. The stream also proves to be a valuable source of additional livelihood for the villagers. Individuals like Anil Sadda and Phulo Sahni practice fish farming that is facilitated under Jal-Jeevan-Haryali – this increases the returns from the climate resilient works designed under the ICRG programme.
(right) Raj Kumar Singh is one of the more meticulous farmers of the region – it was his own initiative to start a plantation where he grows mangoes, garlic, onion and brinjal.
Begusarai district
Anuj Kumar Singh, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Ashok Singh (above L-R) are all farmers from Mahipatol Gram Panchayat in Begusarai. They are direct beneficiaries of the pyne restoration designed under the ICRG programme.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 1100 4% ST&SC Total HHs with 62 HHs BPL
Pyne Desiltation + 02 Unit Plantation Total Cost: Rs. 11.22 Lakh Mandays Generated: 3300
Anuj Kumar Singh, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Ashok Singh are all farmers from Mahipatol Gram Panchayat in Begusarai. They are direct beneficiaries of the pyne restoration designed under the ICRG programme. Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission encourages water conservation and sustainable farming practices across the state, providing awareness and infrastructures wherever needed. Raj Kumar Singh is one of the more meticulous farmers of the region – it was his own initiative to start a plantation where he grows mangoes, garlic, onion and brinjal. Through the Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission, Raj Kumar has received a hand pump on his land, fencing that surrounds his land and even a monthly stipend from the state government to maintain his plantation.
Begusarai district
Anil Sadda and Phulo Sahni Practice fish farming that is facilitated under Jal-Jeevan-Haryali—this increases the returns from the climate resilient works designed under the ICRG programme
MGNREGA WORKS
Katihar Block: Falka GP: Magheli Village: Magheli
Katihar district
District:
Falka
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
T
2021-2050
L H
H M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
M M H
L L M
L
HE Mageli village is located in the Falka block of Katihar district and is home to an extremely vulnerable community with no land holdings and meagre sources of income. The community is a closely-knit settlement of just 25 families and suffered from a shortage of potable water. The MGNREGA implemented a community pond based on recommendations of the ICRG programme and this is now helping meet the water requirements for domestic use, irrigation and even fish farming while simultaneously
recharging the ground water. Md. Nazir and Md. Budhan are two beneficiaries. “Despite not owning any land, we are able to farm now due to the availability of water,” says Budhan. The duo is currently cultivating corn, while Nazir also cultivates foxnuts. “Foxnut farming is difficult, but this is one of the few regions that grow the crop and even though the use of instruments like the gajiya (a cylindrical net-like instrument made of bamboo) makes it
easy, it is still technical and intensive,” explains Nazir. Md. Yuken is one of the few landowners in the region who was farming even before the construction of the pond. “My experience has been very positive. From struggling to irrigate our lands, to now having continuous access to water, I have personally seen an improvement in crop harvest and increased profits with each passing year thanks to the construction of the pond,” he explains.
The Katihar district is home to an extremely vulnerable community of just 25 families in the Mageli village that faced a shortage of potable water. A pond now meets the community’s water requirements and is even used for fish farming.
Katihar district
Foxnut farming is difficult, but this is one of the few regions that grow the crop and even though the use of instruments like the gajiya (a cylindrical net-like instrument made of bamboo) makes it easy, it is still technical and intensive,� Md. Nazir.
Farmer at Katihar
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
MGNREGA WORKS
Top: Md. Zamiruddin has received rajma seeds from the state Agricultural University, Patna along with educational support. Bottom: Md. Yuken is one of the few landowners in the region who was farming even before the construction of the pond.
Right: Despite not owning any land, Md. Budhan (L) and Md. Nazir (R) are able to farm due to the availability of water from the community pond.
Md. Zamiruddin is a direct beneficiary of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra project initiated by the state government. He has received rajma seeds from the state Agricultural University, Patna along with educational support. Rajma cultivation aligns well with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra initiative of the state as it uses less water and has a short cycle—it is also ideal for farmers like Zamiruddin who earn higher income from the high-value rajma crop.
Katihar district
Community Pond Desiltation + Protection Population 4567 wall + Inlet + 01 Unit Plantation Total cost: 2.5% ST&SC Rs. 10.34 lakh Total HHs 1007 Mandays Generated: with 632 HHs BPL 2840
Madhubani Block: Phulparas GP: Dharmdiha
Madhubani district
District:
Phulparas
D
Under the Bihar government’s Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission, Dharmdiha village in the Madhubani district is a model example for sustainable growth.
HARMDIHA village in Madhubani district is a model village for sustainable growth under the Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission. Mukhiya Santosh Kumar Singh, a recipient of the President’s Award has made it his mission to improve the livelihood of each individual from his village. Through MGNREGA and via Jal-Jeevan-Haryali, he has managed to provide landless farmers with mango plantations (covering a little more than 30,000 trees) on lease, which enables improved livelihoods. Md. Irfan and his brother Md. Shahbir Ansari are beneficiaries of the actions of Mukhiya Santosh Kumar. Following the community owned and operated model of land management, even trees that grow in public areas like on the roadside are maintained by individuals like Boku Sadai, who is able to earn a living despite having no land holdings or leases.
BLOCK RANKING
Mukhiya Santosh Kumar Singh is a recipient of the President’s Award. Through MGNREGA and via Jal-JeevanHaryali, he has provided landless farmers with mango plantations on lease, which led to improved livelihoods in his village.
EXPOSURE Drought Flood
A community pond in Dharamdiha now provides water throughout the years and benefits 200 families staying in the village.
1984-2014 M L
2021-2050 H M
DEMOGRAPHIC WORK DETAILS OFMGNREGA CRWS WORKS DETAILS Pyne Desiltation + Earth filling + Check Population 1631 dam + Culvert construction Total cost: 98% ST&SC Rs. 241.99 lakh Total HHs 319 Mandays with 67 HHs BPL Generated: 26230
Madhubani district
Dry spells were once a common occurrence in Dharmdiha, but a community pond now provides water throughout the years and benefits the 200 families staying in the village. The pond is a source of water for domestic and irrigation purposes and has helped convert patches of wasteland in the region to cultivable land through groundwater recharge. Umeshwar Prashad Singh has benefited from this wasteland conversion, in part because of the pond. He is also responsible for the maintenance of a plantation of 1,500 mango trees under the Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission that is spearheaded by Mukhiya Santosh Kumar. MGNREGA has also funded construction of individual soak pits that improve the sanitation and hygiene conditions at household and community level.
Madhubani district
Umeshwar Prashad Singh has benefited from wasteland conversion, due to the community pond in the Dharamdiha village. He also maintains a plantation of 1,500 mango trees under the Jal-Jeevan-Haryali Mission.
MGNREGA has funded the construction of individual soak pits in homes at Dharamdiha village, improving the sanitation and hygiene conditions
W. Champaran Block: Maintand GP: Mahua Sagrua Village: Sagrua District:
T
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
L H
M H
VULNERABILITIES Farmers in the Mahua village of the West Champaran district were unable to sustain even two crop cycles due to flash floods - a problem that was mitigated with the implementation of pyne structures allowing excess water to flow out without damaging crops.
PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
H M H
M L M
L
West Champaran district
Maintand
HE Mahua village is located in West Champaran district near the Nepal border. Even though the village lands were able to sustain two cropping cycles, farming was still difficult because of flash floods that led to high losses across plantations and hampered effective drainage of water. The ICRG programme recommended the construction of pyne structures that were subsequently implemented under MGNREGA to mitigate this problem and the 35 farmers that belong to this village directly benefit as the excess water flows out without damaging the crops. The beneficiaries are now able to join their counterparts from other villages at Narkatiyaganj, a major trade hub for farmers ten kilometres from Mahuwa to sell cash crops like cauliflower, tomatoes, eggplants, okras, peas, potatoes and cucumbers; whilst earlier they were limited to selling meagre amounts of rice and wheat. Convergence has played a major role in diversifying the crop base – farmers only need to register online with the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments of the state government for assistance. The registration enables access to a variety of seeds at subsidised prices. Manoj Paswan and Anil Kumar are two beneficiaries who have claimed these subsidies to cultivate cauliflowers on their land. As a community of small-scale landowners comprising of nearly 50 families, the Mahuwa village has a strong sense of community, which is why the residents work together on one- another’s fields. This allows better results quickly, whether it is cultivating the final produce or planting seeds in the fields.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
The low temperatures in this area are yet another problem for farmers – it is too cold for seeds to germinate into saplings. Under normal circumstances, the solution would have been the construction of an expensive polyhouse. As necessity is said to be the mother of all inventions, farmer Bir Kishore Mahato may have indeed found a solution for this. He has ingeniously constructed a small polyhouse using a bamboo frame and plastic sheets, and uses it to germinate seeds into saplings, after which he transplants them to the fields.
Residents of the Mahuwa village have a strong sense of community, which is why they work together on one-another’s fields - allowing better results quickly.
West Champaran district
MGNREGA WORKS Pyne Desiltation Population 554 + Protection wall (Stairs) Total Cost: 6% ST&SC Rs. 12.32 Lakh Total HHs 86 with 46 Mandays HHs BPL Generated: 2454
Chhattisgarh
Districts Rajnandgaon Kabirdham Gariaband Surajpur
Korea
Surajpur
Surguja
Korba Mungeli
Bilaspur
Kabirdham
Rajnandgaon
Jashpur
and riab Ga
The community pond at Rajnandgaon district’s Barbaspur Gram Panchayat supplies water to the village for domestic uses
Rajnandgaon Block: Rajnandgaon District:
Padumtara
Rajnandgaon
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M M
L M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
H H H
H H H
H
Rajnandgaon district
GP:
Rajnandgaon district The community pond at Rajnandgaon also works as a water body for the livestock in the village
A
The community pond caters to an entire village with a population of approximately 1500
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
MGNREGA WORKS Community Pond + Waste Population 1516 Weir + Check Dam Total cost: 11% ST & SC Rs. 21 Lakh Total HHs 333 Mandays with all HHs BPL Generated: 4406
Rajnandgaon district
T Rajnandgaon district’s Barbaspur Gram Panchayat, a check dam was built to help farmers cultivate in the kharif season. Beneficiary Nirmala Sahu is able to irrigate her land despite shortage of rainfall. The check dam irrigates her crops till February of the next year on filling up following consistent rainfall only for a short duration. “I have been taught by the engineers of the ICRG programme that efficient irrigation can happen with the use of sprinklers. For me, they act as an additional source of income as I rent them for Rs 500 per day within the community.” A community pond built under the ICRG programme ensures consistent supply of water for domestic uses to the local community. ‘“From my first interaction with the village stakeholders, we’ve come a long way as earlier I had a hard time even convincing them about the existence of climate change. But through persistence and with results, we are like a family—helping each other,” says 29-year-old Megha Rani, a community mobiliser in Rajnandgaon who looks after five Gram Panchayats and eight villages. Today, she is contesting for the Panchayat elections in her village and aspires to lead her village to a resilient future.
Rajnandgaon district
Nirmala is able to irrigate her fields with water that has been collected at the check dam
I have been taught by the engineers of the ICRG programme that efficient irrigation can happen with the use of sprinklers. For me, they act as an additional source of income as I rent them for Rs 500 per day within the community.� Nirmala Sahu
farmer at Barbaspur
Megha Rani, 29 mobiliser in Rajnandgaon
Rajnandgaon district
From my first interaction with the village stakeholders, we’ve come a long way, as earlier I had a hard time even convincing them about the existence of climate change. But through persistence and with results, we are like a family–helping each other,”
Young Baiga women at Kabirdham chop up a tree for firewood
Kabirdham Block: Bodla GP: Kamadabri District:
Kabirdham district
Bodla
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M M
M M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
H H H
H H H
H
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
Kabirdham district
Total Population 1013 24% ST & SC Total HHs 271 with all HHs BPL
MGNREGA WORKS Farm Pond + Earthen Dam + Gully Plug Total cost: Rs. 24.66 lakh Mandays Generated: 7334
T
HE Baiga tribe is an ethnic group that is entirely reliant on nature for its livelihood. Classified by the government of India as a PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group), this nomadic community is spread across central India with large settlements in Chhattisgarh. Thirty-three Baiga families are settled in the Kama Dabri Gram Panchayat of the Kabirdham district in Chhattisgarh. Baiga women are the primary agents of change and responsible for providing three square meals every day. Baiga men do not plough the land, considered to be their ‘mother’. Firewood collected from the forest is one of the major sources of income for the Baiga people of Kama Dabri. Trees are often cut down for fuel wood despite the best efforts of the state Forest Department to stop the practice. The Baiga community practice subsistence farming of millets like kodo and kutki. The earthern dam at the Kama Dabri Gram Panchayat stops the water from flowing downstream with surface runoff
Kabirdham district
It was difficult to water my field as logistics didn’t allow me to do so in one go; hence I had to do it in instalments. Also I could only grow one crop cycle in the season,� Jailaal Singh Marawi Community mobiliser in Kama Dabri
The community pond at Kama Dabri is widely used for fishing by the Baiga community
Kabirdham district
Community mobiliser Jailaal Singh Marawi orients the community about the impact of climate change on their livelihood. “These are very simple folks and convincing them to adopt new techniques and methods is not easy,” he says. However, the tribal mentality for collective decision making is an advantage and, if one member is convinced, the rest agree. This aspect facilitated mobilization of the community in building two climate resilient structures with the support of ICRG–an earthen dam (built in 201718) that stops the water from flowing downstream with surface runoff (thus preventing soil erosion), and a community pond (built in 2018-19) that is used for fishing and domestic purposes. Water that is held in the dam also serves to fulfil multiple community needs, mostly domestic. Under MGNREGA in collaboration with the state government and ICRG, small farmers like Titra Singh in the Kama Dabri area are able to provide lifesaving irrigation to iheir crops during the dry spell in the monsoon that occurs due to climate change. “For three years, I saw my efforts going waste as the crop would dry out and die. But thanks to this farm pond that we’ve made, that’s not the case anymore,” he smiles.
Kabirdham district
Similarly, Arjun Dhurve no longer has to depend upon a nearby stream. “It was difficult to water my field as logistics didn’t allow me to do so in one go; hence I had to do it in instalments. Also I could only grow one crop cycle in the season,” explains Arjun. But with a dug well built on his land now, Arjun has an asset that allows him to water his field with ease, and also cultivate an additional crop cycle with the well water accumulated for an extended time period even after a short period of rainfall. Not too far away from Kama Dabri is the Dani Ghatoli Gram Panchayat where MGNREGA using ICRG programme recommended interventions has helped farmers with climate resilient structures that have improved both agriculture and livestock conditions.
For three years, I saw my efforts going waste as the crop would dry out and die. But thanks to this farm pond that we’ve made, that’s not the case anymore,” Titra Singh
farmer in Kama Dabri
Arjun Dhurve
farmer in Kama Dabri
The dug well on Arjun Dhurve’s land is an asset that allows him to water his fields without depending on a nearby stream
Kabirdham district
It was difficult to water my field as logistics didn’t allow me to do so in one go; hence I had to do it in instalments. Also I could only grow one crop cycle in the season,”
District:
Kabridham
Block:
S. Lohara
GP:
Danighatoli
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE
1984-2014
2021-2050
M L
Drought Flood
H H
VULNERABILITIES Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
MARGINAL
AGGREGATE
L L M
M M H
L
Kabirdham district
PARAMETER
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
MGNREGA WORKS
Goat Shed + Recharge Pit + Renovation of Community Pond Total Cost: 21% ST & SC Rs. 13.29 Lakh Total HHs 336 with Mandays all HHs BPL Generated: 6214 Population 1336
Earlier the bore would dry up and we weren’t able to irrigate the fields properly till the recharge pit was established in 2017,” Ram Lal
farmer in Dani Ghatoli
The recharge pit allows Ram Lal to continue operating his bore even in the absence of rains
Kabirdham district
“Earlier the bore would dry up and we weren’t able to irrigate the fields properly till the recharge pit was established in 2017,” explains Ram Lal, who is the beneficiary of this intervention that enables him to irrigate his land. Livestock farmers like Ankalaha faced a monumental problem of high mortality rate for his goats that would often fall sick due to bad hygiene conditions. The problem was resolved with the construction of a goat shed funded under MGNREGA using an ICRG programme recommended design. “The shed is basically a raised platform that allows the goats to rest above the ground, where moisture may affect their health,” explains Ankalaha. As moisture and sludge carry infections that are lethal to goats, the shed makes use of the nature of goats to rest on higher ground and preventing them from coming into direct contact with the sources of infections – this has proved very beneficial for Ankalaha.
The shed is basically a raised platform that allows the goats to rest above the ground, where moisture may affect their health,” Ankalaha’s goats are able to live longer because of the goat shed that was built on his land
Ankalaha
livestock farmer in Dani Ghatoli
Gariaband district
and riab Ga
A Loose Boulder Check Dam under construction. The team working on the dam will be paid for their hours through MGNREGA
Gariaband district
T
HE Gariaband Forest is a rich landscape of natural resources partly located in the Gariaband district – one of the nine new districts formed by the Chhattisgarh state government in 2012. Currently, IFS Officer Mayank Agarwal is the Divisional Forest Officer at Gariaband and is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the forest. The ICRG programme collaborated with the State’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund to integrate climate resilient works in the planning and implementation of conservation efforts (soil and water) that are underway in the forest. This collaboration has resulted in the training of forest officials on the application of GIS assisted tools, and officials from the State Forest Department have prepared detailed project reports on 137 naruwas (streams). “It is important to understand what we’re doing won’t have a visible impact today, but will take at least ten years to show results,” says Mayank as he sheds light on the various structures built on the forest land he oversees. A depleting ground water table, silt deposition in the streams, and soil erosion with runoff are just some of the problems that ail the forest.
Silt traps throughout the Gariaband forest help keep the silt out of the flowing streams
Gariaband district
Across: The A-Frame accurately maps out markings for the construction of CRWs
Mayank Agarwal Divisional Forest Officer, Gariaband
The Gariaband forest is scattered with small streams called Naruwas
Gariaband district
It is important to understand what we’re doing won’t have a visible impact today, but will take at least ten years to show results,”
Small and medium sized streams flow throughout the forest region, carrying with them runoff that not only erodes the soil, but also deposits silt across the forest floor. Following the construction of silt traps, brush root check dams and loose boulder check dams, these problems have been mitigated. The result as Mayank elucidates, “is a slower, consistent supply of water throughout the forest that recharges the ground water, joins bigger streams that supply irrigation water to farmers and reduced siltation of forest and agricultural land across the state.” The structures are not just beneficial to the forests and to the farmers linked to these streams but, with MGNREGA supporting climate resilient designs recommended by the ICRG programme, both wages and livelihoods have improved. An A-Frame is used to accurately map out markings used for the construction of climate resilient structures across the forest floor. Each structure is marked out on a tree nearby in red – a first for the Forest Department as the only markings used on trees before were to notify which trees had to be cut. These markings in red contain all the relevant information about each structure that has been created.
Surajpur district Chhattisgarh’s rural landscape mostly comprises of networks of small streams called Naruwas
Surajpur Block: Bhaiyathan GP: Chandrapur District:
Surajpur district
Oudgi Pratappul
Bhaiyathan
Surajpur Ramanujnagar
Premnagar
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M M
M M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Naruwa, Garuwa, Ghurwa, Bari (NGGB) is the state government’s flagship programme that aims to restore the drainage systems of streams
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
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WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
Population 1391
Surajpur district
74% ST&SC Total HHs 335 with all JJs BPL
MGNREGA WORKS Community Pond + Dug Well + Farm Pond + Land Levelling + Renovation of Pond Total Cost: Rs. 25.65 Lakh Mandays Generated: 11899
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OST of Chhattisgarh’s rural landscape is crisscrossed by small streams that collectively form tributaries to join a river. Soil erosion, drying up of water bodies and ground water level depletion–all of which are related to the changing and unpredictable climate–are common problems. The Kodharya tributary flows across the Surajpur district. In the Salka Gram Panchayat, gully plugs with an assortment of check dams and stop dams are placed to serve two purposes–slowing the speed of the water and controlling the direction of the flow. As the water slows down, it erodes less soil and dries up slower, thus allowing ground water recharge. The state government’s flagship programme– Naruwa, Garuwa, Ghurwa, Bari (NGGB) – focuses on restoration of drainage systems of rivers under the Naruwa component. Villages like Chandrapur take the lead and set an example. Due to the large number of structures required in the area, the state can create more wage days under MGNREGA–one-fourth of the households in the village have members who are completing more than 100 days of wages in a year since two years in a row.
A check dam - built to slow down the speed of a stream of the Kodharya tributary
Surajpur district
Arjun Rajwade is an example of an individual
Harinandan Rajwade is a farmer who supplements
earning his livelihood by participating in the construction of the climate resilient structures under MGNREGA informed by ICRG recommendations.
his agricultural income by being employed under MGNREGA for the construction of the various climate resilient structures across the Kodharya tributary in the Salka region.
Arjun Rajwade is an example of an individual earning his livelihood by participating in the construction of the climate resilient structures under MGNREGA informed by ICRG recommendations. Harinandan Rajwade is a farmer who supplements his agricultural income by being employed under MGNREGA for the construction of the various climate resilient structures across the Kodharya tributary in the Salka region. Adjacent to the Salka Gram Panchayat are the Chandrapur and Chindiya Gram Panchayats. Like most of Chhattisgarh, Chandrapur also witnesses a prolonged break during the monsoon season that is rooted in climate change. To ensure that farmers like Mahato and Anita Bakla have enough water to keep irritating their lands, two farm ponds and one dug well have been constructed in the area. The Surajpur District Administration ran a pilot project that employed interns for scientific planning and quality assurance of NRM works under MGNREGA supported by the ICRG programme. This has helped the district effectively utilise more than 85% of funding under MGNREGA on NRM works in the last three years. At the last point of the Kodharya, a stop dam has been constructed under the supervision of the state interns. Its purpose is to prevent the water from flowing away and therefore to fulfil the need of water in the area, especially for irrigation purposes.
Surajpur Block: Bhaiyathan GP: Salka District:
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE
1984-2014
2021-2050 M M
Surajpur district
M M
Drought Flood VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
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The entire process took about five years to showcase results, but on what was once a barren piece of land, I’m presently cultivating a mango plantation,” Maan Singh
farmer in Chindiya
Maan Singh went from owning barren land to cultivating mango plantations by using the 30/40 method
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 2481 11% ST&SC
Farm Pond + Land Levelling + Dug Well + Goat Shed Total Cost: Rs. 14.07 Lakh Mandays Generated: 5347
Maan Singh is a small-scale farmer who has been able to convert an entirely barren landscape into productive, cultivable patches of land by following the ICRG recommendations of using the 30/40 Method. Used almost exclusively for wasteland cultivation, under this method 30 feet by 40 feet plots are mapped with a 7 feet by 7 feet by 3 feet water recharge pit constructed at a slope on the plot. The pit slowly adds moisture to the barren soil, converting it into a cultivable patch of land. “The entire process took about five years to showcase results, but on what was once a barren piece of land, I’m presently cultivating a mango plantation,” smiles Maan Singh.
A stop dam at the Kodharya’s last point to prevent the water from flowing away too quickly
Surajpur district
Total HHs 711 with all HHs BPL
MGNREGA WORKS
Odisha
Districts Nuapada Balangir Kalahandi Mayurbhanj Keonjhar
Mayurbhanj Keonjhar
a ad ap
Nu
Balangir
Kalahandi
Nuapada Block: Khariyar GP: Dabri Village: Dabri District:
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
H H
M H
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER A water havrestig structure at Dabri village in Nuapada district serves the needs of 27 families residing in the area.
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
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Nuapada district
Khariyar
Nuapada district
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My seeds are able to sustain the crop even in a dry spell without the need for heavy irrigation that the typical paddy requires,” Tula Ram
farmer at Nuapada
HE Dabri village in the Khariar block is not too far from the district headquarters in Nuapada. The postmonsoon runoff caused siltation and soil erosion, with little impact on improving groundwater levels. To resolve this crisis a water harvesting structure was created, which presently serves a number of purposes. Not only does the structure contribute towards recharging the ground water, it also serves the needs of 27 families who use it for irrigation purposes during the mid-monsoon dry spell. Livestock also benefit from this additional water in the village. The water also allows a second crop cycle. The Mukhiya Narendra Kumar Herna is widely credited with being the driving force behind the construction of the structure in his village. “The structure ensures a consistent supply of water till the month of June, which helps the community here in many ways. As the edges of the structure are retrofitted with guard walls it does not allow the silt to move forward, giving us water that is of better quality than before,” he states.
The structure ensures a consistent supply of water till the month of June, which helps the community here in many ways. As the edges of the structure are retrofitted with guard walls it does not allow the silt to move forward, giving us water that is of better quality than before,” Narendra Kumar Herna Mukhiya
Nuapada district
Knowing that water is available when we need it, gives us the confidence to grow other crops, including vegetables,” Gokul Hans
farmer at Nuapada
I think I have benefited the most in the area – having converted barren land into farmland through convergence,” Biharilal Majhi farmer at Nuapada
Under the ICRG programme, farmers like Gokul Hans can reap the benefits of climate resilient structures like the farm pond and ring well. The farm pond is a community asset, which is why he can use it despite it not being on his land. The ring well specifically serves those farmers with miniscule land holdings. Both structures serve as sources of irrigation, supplying water to the fields in the absence of monsoons. “Knowing that water is available when we need it, gives us the confidence to grow other crops, including vegetables. Until a few years ago, this was not possible,” he explains. Sushila Hans is a widow living in the Dabri village and owns a small, oneacre patch of land. Through the ICRG programme, she was helped secure the necessary funds under MGNREGA and assisted in the construction of a ring well on her land. “Timely irrigation of crops has been a problem here since the last couple of years and this ring well allows me to water my land without any hindrances. Things are getting better,” she acknowledges. “I think I have benefited the most in the area – having converted barren land into farmland through convergence,” states Biharilal Majhi, a farmer. The construction of a farm pond recharged the ground water and made his arid land suitable for cultivation. Through the state Horticulture Department, he received resources for a mango plantation that he is now nursing on his land.
Timely irrigation of crops has been a problem here since the last couple of years and this ring well allows me to water my land without any hindrances. Things are getting better,” Sushila Hans
farmer at Nuapabad
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 1429 95% ST&SC
WHS + LBCD + Canal + Stone Bunding Total Cost: Rs. 15.55 Lakh Mandays Generated: 8851
WHS: Water Harvesting Structure LBCD: Loose Boulder Check Dam
Another example of convergence is beneficiary and paddy farmer Tula Ram. Owning a half acre patch of land, Tula Ram for three years saw almost no cultivation due to drought – his total harvest was 75 kg. Upon invitation by the ICRG programme, Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics supplied Tula Ram with the seeds of a drought resilient variety of paddy. “My seeds are able to sustain the crop even in a dry spell without the need for heavy irrigation that the typical paddy requires,” explains Tula Ram. This year, his total harvest was an impressive 1,250 kg from the same fields that yielded only 75 kg three years ago.
The farm pond costructed on Biharilal’s land has been intrumental in making his earlier barren land suitable for cultivation in the present day.
Nuapada district
Total HHs 366
MGNREGA WORKS
Balangir Block: Gudvella GP: Biramunda Village: Biramunda District:
Balangir district
Gudvella
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M M
H M
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER The water harvesting tank in Balangir caters to families that farm the surrounding 50 acres of land
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
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The diversion canal, built to improve the efficacy of the harvesting tank became a source of income for those working on its construction
Balangir district
T the Biramunda village of Balangir district, a water harvesting tank provides water to approximately 45 families that live in the surrounding 50 acres. Today, the families are able to have at least one harvest in the kharif season on the land that, not too long ago was unsuitable for agriculture. To make the water harvesting tank more efficient, a diversion canal is being built. Once the structure is completed, it will channel the water directly into the tank without any wastage. 700 meters in length, the canal will not only improve the functioning of the water harvesting tank, but by working as labourers in its construction, villagers are able to supplement their income with a daily wage under MGNREGA. Gram Rozgar Sevak Lochan Behra, Community Facilitator Bhagvat Nahak and Junior Engineer Yudhishtir Dehury have been the backbone of the implementation of the climate resilient structures across Biramunda. Their job requires them to oversee details of each individual CRW and facilitate grassroots-level workings of the local government on behalf of the ICRG programme.
Balangir district
(From L-R) Gram Rozgar Sevak Lochan Behra, Community Facilitator Bhagvat Nahak and Junior Engineer Yudhishtir Dehury have been the backbone of the implementation of the climate resilient structures across Biramunda and to oversee details of each individual CRW and facilitate grassroots-level workings of the local government on behalf of the ICRG programme.
Block Development Officer Surya Kumar Nayak has been instrumental in the development of the Biramunda village, which comes under his jurisdiction in the Gudvela block. Officer Nayak has been the administrative authority for approving all the CRWs as per the ICRG programme recommendations that have been implemented under MGNREGA. As a matter of fact, it is the block administration that has proposed construction of field channels at the tail-end of the water harvesting tank, so that the barren land there is also converted and made suitable for agriculture.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC MGNREGA WORKS DETAILS WHS + Land Population 770 Development + Canal + Fisheries + Plantation Total Cost: 34% ST&SC Rs. 6.44 Lakh Mandays Total HHs 211 Generated: 6034 WHS: Water Harvesting Structure
Block Development Officer Surya Kumar Nayak has been instrumental in the development of the Biramunda village, which comes under his jurisdiction in the Gudvella block. Officer Nayak has been the administrative authority for approving all the CRWs as per the ICRG programme recommendations that have been implemented under MGNREGA. As a matter of fact, it is the block administration that has proposed construction of field channels at the tailend of the water harvesting tank, so that the barren land there is also converted and made suitable for agriculture.
Kalahandi Block: Bhawanipatna GP: Chahagaon Village: Ghantabahali District:
Bhawanipatna
Kalahandi district
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
1921-2050
H H
H L
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Flooding is a common problem in Kalahandi, hence a check dam has been constructed to mitigate the effects of the flash floods
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
POVERTY
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Rudra Thapa’s fields were barren land, but benefited from wasteland conversion using ICRG recommended practices. He now manages mango plantations.
Kalahandi district
Engineer K. Sunil Kumar, Mukhiya Abhimanyu Beshra and Gram Rozgar Sevak Bibudha Saha work tirelessly to ensure that the local community in Kalahandi is aware of climate change and its effects
N the Bhawanipatna block of Kalahandi district, flooding is a common problem in the monsoons when overflowing streams would ruin crops while eroding soil and transporting silt. These flash floods affected both stream banks that ultimately led to the need for a check dam to manage the disastrous outcome of the monsoons. The check dam allows the cultivation of an additional crop (rabi) on one side of the stream, whilst the other side of the stream has been converted to cultivable land from a wasteland. The dam also collects water that enhances the irrigation potential in the region. ICRG Engineer K. Sunil Kumar, Mukhiya Abhimanyu Beshra and Gram Rozgar Sevak Bibudha Saha have worked tirelessly in the area to ensure that the local community is aware about climate change and its effects, whilst also ensuring that mobilisation of resources takes place to benefit those in dire need of climate resilient works. Most of the community in the Bhawanipatna block has benefited from wasteland conversion. Binod Bag now has watermelon plantations after a land development initiative levelled his fields and made them suitable for farming. Similarly, Rudra Thapa’s fields were also barren lands that underwent wasteland conversion, due to which he now manages a mango plantation that is inter- cropped with watermelons.
Kalahandi district
The contribution of the Government Officers is to be commended. Block Development Officer Prita Kumar oversees all development-related work in Bhawanipatna and keeps a close watch on CRWs that are implemented in her area to assist the local populace. Assistant Executive Engineer Nihar Ranjan Majhi and Additional Programme Officer (MGNREGA) Monalisa Lenka were instrumental in designing the check dam with support from Parvati Patnaik who works at the Kalahandi District Rural Development Agency as a coordinator with MGNREGA.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 603
Government officers like Parvati Patnaik, Nihar Ranjan Majhi and Monalisa Lenka (Top to Bottom) have been instrumental in the development and construction of the check dam at Bhawanipatna.
41% ST&SC Total HHs 234
MGNREGA WORKS Check Dam + Canal Development + Plantation Total Cost: Rs. 19.00 Lakh Mandays Generated: 5190
Mayurbhanj Block: Samakhunta GP: Gundihudi Village: Dudhiasole District:
Mayurbhanj district
Samakhunta
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
M H
H L
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER A check-dam with guard walls on both sides turned around the situation of the Kanchi stream at Dudhiasole village - that caused siltation.
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
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Mangal Singh
farmer at Mayurbhanj
Mayurbhanj district
I personally have been growing just one crop in the year, with uncertainty about the results as the monsoon would not be as planned. Today, the situation has changed as I am able to farm throughout the year due to the availability of water,”
HE Budhabalanga river is an important river that flows through the district of Mayurbhanj to empty into the Bay of Bengal. In the district’s Dudhiasole village, in the Shamakhunta block, a stream named Kanchi flows prior to joining the river in Simlipal. Unfortunately for the 44 families that lived in the area, the Kanchi stream was a fast-flowing water body that caused siltation and coupled with the unpredictability of monsoon patterns, irrigation was suffering. A check dam with guard walls on both sides was constructed to mitigate this problem. The dam can provide year-round irrigation facilities to not just the 44 families living in Dudhiasole village, but it is built to sustain 24.2 hectares of land in the region and allows farmers to cultivate two cycles of rabi and kharif crops. “I personally have been growing just one crop in the year, with uncertainty about the results as the monsoon would not be as planned. Today, the situation has changed as I am able to farm throughout the year due to the availability of water,” says Mangal Singh who cultivates paddy. Water from the check dam is the main source of irrigation, which has allowed him to successfully earn a livelihood round the yea. Convergence is an important aspect of the ICRG programme and it is well executed in the Shamakhunta block, with the Odisha Agro Industries Corporation providing farmers with the necessary equipment for lift irrigation – including pumps, 500 feet of piping and transformers at highly subsidised and affordable costs. Soma Barik is a direct beneficiary of this convergence in Dudhiasole. With water availability becoming certain, farmers like Soma Barik have become confident to diversify their crops and even cultivate in-between seasons. Soma Barik has been growing a variety of crops that include almonds, paddy, ground nuts, wheat, mustard, black grams and an assortment of vegetables.
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS
55% ST&SC Total HHs 1046
Soma Barik is a direct beneficiary of convergence in Dudhiasole village. He has received seeds, along with the necessary equipment for lift irrigation at highly subsidised rates.
Villagers at Dudhiasole in Mayurbhanj await a presentation on climate change by their peers
Check Dam + Lift Irrigation Point Total cost: Rs. 12.00 lakh Mandays Generated: 1574
“Convergence has played an important role here and has helped improve the livelihood of the farmers here,” says Ananta Charan Sahoo, the district coordinator for the ICRG programme in Mayurbhanj. Community Facilitator for the Shamakhunta block Ashish Parida also believes the same, adding, “It is one thing to have MGNREGA and implement the climate resilient structures, but to directly provide small farmers the tools to improve their produce and to give them the confidence to experiment in their fields is what will have a longer term impact.”
Mayurbhanj district
Population 1046
MGNREGA WORKS
Keonjhar Block: Saharpada GP: Badbil Village: Badbil District:
Keonjhar district
Saharpa
da
BLOCK RANKING EXPOSURE Drought Flood
1984-2014
2021-2050
L M
L L
VULNERABILITIES PARAMETER Women in the Badbil village of Keonjhar district lead the charge against climate change
Net irrigated area Groundwater availability Forest cover
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Keonjhar district
Bhubaneshwar Naik and his wife Meenakhi Naik are cultivating green peas and tomatoes in addition to potatoes on his land that has undergone treatment as recommended by the ICRG programme through MGNREGA to make it suitable for agriculture.
HE Badbil village of Keonjhar district has witnessed massive changes with its wastelands being transformed into productive land that is fit for farming. Through convergence, eight hectares of the land that surrounds the village has been treated by the ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency) and MGNREGA. The land also features two solar panels and two borewells (procured through convergence with the ITDA) that are for community use. As part of the land treatment, field bundings and gully plugs have been built as per ICRG programme recommendations under MGNREGA to harvest rain water (which will recharge the ground water) and control soil erosion. Women in the region lead the charge against climate change. Conscientiously, they have worked on presentations that explain the effects of climate change that the region has experienced from 1974 – with detailed records of rainfall, temperatures, and other necessary information that is indicative of the changing climate.
Keonjhar district
The entire village of Badbil is quite well aware about climate change and even give presentations to visitors
I am managing a banana plantation on my land, which was not possible earlier as the area was not fit for agriculture. ITDA provides me with seeds that allow me to sustain the plantation,� Mohan Kumar Naik Farmer at village Badbil
WORK DETAILS OF CRWS DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS Population 755
67% ST & SC Via convergence, Badbil village has received two solar panels and two borewells that the community collectively uses.
Total HHs 177
MGNREGA WORKS Field Bunding + Cross Dam + Gully Control Structure + Farm Pond + Plantation Total cost: Rs. 42.00 Lakh Mandays Generated: 7014
Keonjhar district
The ITDA has extensively supported the community in Badbil facilitated by effective convergence under the ICRG programme. Known for its potato plantations, 45 farmers in the village have directly benefitted from seeds supplied by the ITDA. Farmers like Bhubaneshwar Naik and his wife Meenakhi Naik have even gone a step further by cultivating green peas and tomatoes in addition to potatoes. His land has also undergone treatment as recommended by the ICRG programme through MGNREGA to make it suitable for agriculture. Farmers like Mohan Kumar Naik also testify to the benefits of convergence. “I am managing a banana plantation on my land, which was not possible earlier as the area was not fit for agriculture. Through the support of the ICRG programme, my land has been through MGNREGA and ITDA has provided me with seeds that allow me to sustain the plantation,� he explains.