Water , Climate Change
& Local Governance
Voices
From
Below:
Satyajit Singh

“Our approach here was to bring out the voices
of the poor that have so far been unheard of in
this crisis, generate local data & perspective, &
bring to the fore diverse local voices to be heard
by policymakers & development partners.”

Who are we & what did we do?
Sayla
Kumaon
Chandbali
Kosi River
Ladakh
Shivpuri
Dhar
Nuapada
UCSB students + WaterAid India + Delhi
University + Regionally-based NGOs
Collecting community & NGO input on
climate change impacts on livelihood &
governance
Providing policy recommendations for
local and regional governments
Abhiyan, Aga Khan Development
Network, Barh Mukti Andolan, Central
Himalayan Rural Action Group, Centre for
Advance Research & Development,
Pragati Jubak Sangha, Prahit Samaj Sevi
Sansthan, Pramath, Regional Centre for
Development Cooperation, Swami
Vivekanand Youth Movement
Bundelkhand

01
Can we know better? Can we do better?

Positionality
Participative & Immersive
research throw up ‘aha’
moments through field
research. Focus on co-
production – asking local
partners to frame the questions
of inquiry, on issues & concerns
at the local level & use of study
Praxis
(i) a better understanding of marginality,
vulnerability, precarity & exploitation,
(ii) help formulate collective action, social
& institutional transformation; &
(iii) policy engagement to design
adaptive climate policies that mitigate
risks & also proactively address existing
social & institutional vulnerabilities
Positionality & Praxis

Key PRA Tools
Community Mapping
Visualizing the village
geography and connecting
with life and livelihood
Focus Group
Discussions
Engaging in conversations
about community members’
experiences
Policy Development
Developing solutions to the
highlighted problems alongside
community members
Transect
Sharing village exp
W
erie
an
lc
k
e
with community members

Life
Mapping change of
quality of life - health,
nature & drivers of
vulnerability
Livelihood
Impact & Community
adaptations – natural
resources & economy
Institutions
Voice, choice &
empowerment for local
capacity; synergies between
climate & ‘development’
Document changes across different agro-climatic zones & different uses of water

02
Understanding intersections of water
with forests, land & economy
Acknowledge the impacts of climate
change on vulnerable groups

Sayala, Surendranagar – Gujarat
Agriculture, Livelihoods & Culture
Climate change’s effects
exacerbate existing inequalities &
vulnerabilities of poorer
communities in Gujarat.
“From last two years,
rainfall is good but the
timings are not right so it
is hurting more than
helping.”
Dhajala village

Chandbali - Odisha

Decreasing rainfall
↓
Decreasing surface water
↓
Increased reliance on
groundwater
↓
Increased fluoride exposure
Climate
Change
Vulnerability
Disability
+
Malnutrition
↓
Inability to work
↓
Greater poverty &
worsened effects
Nuapada: Background and Life
Fluorosis

Livelihood
Effects on
Vulnerability
Rationing water
↓
Decreased local food
supply & health issues
↓
Greater costs for buying
food & medical expenses
↓
Increased poverty
Greater time for women
collecting less water
↓
Less time for domestic
needs /child and elderly
care
↓
Family backlash
↓
Increased women’s
marginalization
Less money & more disability
↓
Inability to migrate or marry
into new village
↓
Cycle of drinking unhealthy
water
↓
Continued problems
More time coping with
challenges and fluorosis
pain
↓
Less time to pursue
solutions & less
successful solutions

Nalchha, Dhar – Madhya Pradesh
Women in agriculture – Migration
of men as agriculture becomes
unproductive
Rainfall during monsoon months
has shifted from 3-4 months to 2-
3 months. There has been a shift
from traditional crops to cash
crops.
Due to the unpredicted rains, the
farming cycle has changed &
farmers have incurred losses due
to Soybeans crop failure.

Sahariya tribes, Shivpuri, MP
Neemdada, Madhya Pradesh migrate
to Agra, Dholpur, Etawa to dig
potatoes & cut wheat
Kotka, Madhya Pradesh migrate to
● Magroni, Phagun, & Chait to cut
wheat
● Gujarat, Rajasthan
● Bamhori, Stone Quarry
Even wheat, gram, millets,
mustard & soybean are
unsustainable
Impact on education, health &
basic services for children

03
Augment Capacity, appreciate the
diversity of problems & solutions,
build synergies for social protection

Uttarakhand – Springshed Management
Building local capacity for
Spring recharge program

04
Strengthen Local Governance

Converging hydraulic & local institutions
Upstreaming demand & convergence with wider developmental goals
State
Capacity,
Institutions,
Governance
& Policy
Convergence
Social
inequalities
-Gender,
Caste,
Tribe
Vulnerabilit
ies –
varieties &
depth
Migration
Agriculture
&
Livelihoods
Health,
Hygiene &
Sanitation
Climate
Change &
Disasters
RR

Thanks!
I too have many questions!