Integrated watershed management: tool to address socioeconomic and biophysical vulnerabilities to build resilience in Datia
Student name: Ms Kavya Arora
Guide: Ms Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: Development Alternatives, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Anurita Bhatnagar
Abstract: Bundelkhand in the central part of India is a hotspot of the country for a variety of reasons. It is one
of the most severely affected by climate change due to its geographic location, topography, economic
and technological backwardness. The region has a major reliance on rain fed agriculture as the main
source of livelihood and lacks other livelihood opportunities in its rural parts. Climate trends in the
region have been highly variable and three out of five years since 2011 have witnessed deficit
rainfall. The Government designs and implements various management and conservation programs
for such regions to reduce the vulnerability of the people. Integrated Watershed Management
Program is one such developmental program that it jointly handled by the Center and State
Governments to manage the soil, water and land resources in a watershed area by involving the local
communities so even their livelihoods are benefitted. The program is structured as per the Common
Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects, 2008 given by the Ministry of Rural Development.
It involves construction of water harvesting and conservation structures in the watershed area along
with capacity building initiatives amongst the community. Impact analysis of such programs is
conducted by the respective implementing agencies like Development Alternatives. This study focuses
on the qualitative impacts of IWMP in Datia, Madhya Pradesh. The biological, climatic, social and
economic vulnerabilities of the region are identified using Focused Group Discussions and it is then
analyzed how IWMP interventions are conducive in mitigating them. The study also builds context as
to how Integrated Watershed Management builds resilience against climate change and facilitates
maintenance of the health of the watershed as a combined geological and social entity.
Key words: Integrated Watershed Management, Climate Change, Vulnerabilities, Resilience,
Community
