Vulnerability assessment for watersheds in Lalitpur and Jhansi districts of Bundelkhand

Student name: Ms Aishwarya Mishra
Guide: Dr Sukanya Das
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr V.C. Goyal

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Abstract: Vulnerability is the capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of natural disasters. (Madhuri, 2014). Climatic variability and Disasters have a considerable impact on the lives of people and in rural areas, the impact is harsher on the lives of people. Hence assessing the degree to which the lives of the people are affected by climate change disasters is important in order to come up with solutions to assist those who are victims of natural calamities.

The study seeks to assess the different types of vulnerabilities faced by communities in Patrahi Lakheri and Sajnam Watershed of Jhansi and Lalitpur districts of Bundelkhand region. Drought adds to the distraught conditions of the poor and vulnerable people in Bundelkhand, and subsequently Patrahi Lakheri and Sajnam watershed in Jhansi and Lalitpur districts. Agriculture being the major source of livelihood in both the regions has a direct negative impact on the people. Therefore, in order to identify the variability in vulnerability of affected households Livelihood Vulnerability Index - IPCC framework is used keeping in account of Sustainable Livelihoods Framework for assessing the adaptive capacity. The study also uses various PRA tools such as FGD’s, Key informant Interview, Seasonal Calendar, to collect data on qualitative aspects of the study. The data collected by primary and secondary sources was categorized into 3 major contributing factors- exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.

The LVI aims to identify sources and forms of vulnerability that are specific to the context in order to suggest context-specific adaptive and resilience measures. The study was conducted in the 4 blocks of Patrahi Lakheri and 5 blocks of Sajnam Watershed. Sajnam Watershed was found to be the less vulnerable because of better irrigation facilities and better soil and water quality whilst Patrahi Lakheri was found to be moderately vulnerable because of high climate variability, more sensitivity and less adaptive strategy. The study also revealed that better access to resources or adaptive measures does not necessarily mean that households are adopting resilience measures because of indifferent attitudes bat the grassroots.