Folks: Please share this information about an exciting contest #SelfieWithMahanadi for the youths of Mahanadi. The winners will get fantastic prizes during #2ndOdishaRiverConferen
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Saturday, February 24, 2018
ACT NOW: Write to Indian FM to make budgetary allocation for climate resilient farming - Climate Scorecard
INDIA: Failure of
Budget in addressing impacts of Climate Change on farmers
Indian farmers, the backbone of India’s economy, are going
through serious crises. Low income, high
level of distress and related suicides of the farmers are a daily news in the
country. The Government of India has now
come up with latest statistics that shows that a much worse future awaits the
farmers who feed the nation and are guardians of ensuring food security.
The Economic Survey for 2017-2018, a report that the Govt.
of India brings out before presenting the annual Budget in the Parliament, has said
that climate change will induce a decrease in incomes of farmers of the country
by as much as 25 percent in some parts of the country. It says, “climate change could reduce annual
agricultural incomes in the range of 15% to 18% on average, and up to 20% to
25% for unirrigated areas.” This is no good news for the farmers who are
already suffering from low income and distress and for whom the government has
been planning a strategy that would double their income by 2022[1]. The farm income, which stands at an average
of roughly 78000 INR (approx 1219 USD), will reduce by upto 25 percent.
There is also huge income inequality among farmers in
India. Statistics point out that the
small & medium size land holding farmers, who form about 85 per cent of the
total farmers, earn only 9 percent of the total income of farmers in the
country. The rest earn almost 91 percent[2]. If India really wants to build farmers’
resilience against climate change then it has to focus a lot more on the small
farmers who are in most vulnerable conditions at the moment.
Climate Scorecard Rank - * (One star)
However, the Union Budget that followed (the Economic
Survey), did not mention anything about how to make the farmers ‘climate
resilient’. The Government has announced
certain schemes for farm development, but they do not go quite well with the
findings of the Economic Survey with regard to climate induced vulnerabilities
that the farmers will face. There are a
few schemes that the government has announced to help farmers grow their income
but they fall too short to make them climate resilient. Climate Scorecard therefore gives this action of Govt. of India only one Star!
Take Action –
With this scenario in the background, we request you to send
messages to the Indian Finance Minister asking him to amend the budgetary
proposals immediately and make fresh and appropriate budgetary allocation to
increase irrigation coverage to cover the small farmers. Such schemes can
include irrigation plans that are based around small and medium systems
including tanks, other water harvesting structures, lift irrigation, check
dams, etc; support the rain-fed farmers with a strong crop insurance scheme
that takes care of not only the complete cost of farming but also ensures a
profit above that so that the farmers affected by climate change do not fall
into the trap of perennial poverty.
Please
address your letters/emails/tweets to:
Shri Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister (FM)
23092810,23092510
134/North Block, New Delhi
Twitter handle: @finminindia
Or
Shri Simanchala Dash
PS to FM
23092810,23092501,
23093868, 23094399
136-A/North Block, New
Delhi
Email: smn.dash@nic.in
For further details, contact:
Ranjan K Panda
Country Manager for
India, Climate Scorecard Project
Convenor, Combat
Climate Change Network, India
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
---
ABOUT CLIMATE
SCORECARD
Climate Scorecard is a global initiative to ensure that the
Paris Agreement meets its goal of preventing the earth’s atmosphere from
exceeding the 2 degree Celsius global warming tipping point. Recent scientific
reports, e.g. by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United
Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) warn that country emission reduction
pledges, made to the Paris Agreement, are insufficient to prevent this from
happening. Therefor Climate Scorecard is supporting a global campaign aimed at
persuading leading greenhouse gas emitting countries to take further steps to
reduce their emissions so that the Paris Agreement does not fail. This campaign,
carried out through social media and in collaboration with local partner
organizations, will provide citizens with monthly News Briefs and Action Alert
messages about what their countries are or are not doing to further their
commitment to the Paris Agreement. Climate Scorecard is an open source
initiative managed through a partnership of two non-profit organizations-The
Global Citizens Initiative ( www.theglobalcitizensinitiative.org)
and EarthAction ( www.earthaction.org )
Learn More: www.climatecorecard.org
Friday, February 23, 2018
Traditional Water Harvesting Structures can fight water insecurity and climate change!
The world is now searching for solutions to water crisis that is being aggravated by climate change. Here in this part of Odisha, the people have given some of the best solutions rainwater conservation for centuries. Apathy of the government over the last several decades has however weakened such marvels called the Traditional Water Harvesting Structures (TWHS). This news in the New Indian Express rightly highlights the plight of these structures that are found in different sizes and at various geographical locations. We have, through our constant efforts, proven that revival of the TWHS can play a significant role in fighting water scarcity as well as building climate resilient villages. Time we all tune our attention towards these indigenous systems!
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Combat Climate Change Network, India
Mob: +91 9437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Combat Climate Change Network, India
Mob: +91 9437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Unsustainable Cities: Can we afford to neglect our villagers?
Something to be seen more often in the coming days. As I
have always been telling, urbanisation at the moment is happening at the cost
of the rural areas, their livelihoods and natural resources. There are many
conflicts happening already across the nation, unless we work towards bringing
equitable development these will grow and get difficult to resolve!
Ranjan Panda
Combat Climate Change Network, India
+91-9437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
'Leave us alone': India's villagers rebel against urbanisation
Gujarat, one of the fastest urbanising states in India, seems to be doing so against the wishes of its people
As you move west from the crowded old neighbourhoods of inner-city Ahmedabad, the roads broaden, buildings rise taller and BMWs line the streets. Old-timers here remember watching these wealthy, modern neighbourhoods engulf the countryside – the lush fields of wheat and corn that are now gone.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/12/india-villagers-rebel-urbanisation-gujarat
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
Applications invited for SANDEE Summer School on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Dear Friends,
The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is a research network at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), which provides support to South Asian researchers and institutions interested in the connections between development, natural resource use, and the environment. SANDEE is organizing a three-week training course on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from 30 April–18 May 2018. The main objective of the Summer School is to provide economists with the basic skills necessary to teach environmental and natural resource economics and to undertake research in this area. The course is meant for practicing South Asian economists interested in upgrading their knowledge on the linkages between economic development, poverty, and the environment. The workshop also seeks to enable participants to develop research proposals for later submission to SANDEE.
Please email your application to Neesha Pradhan at neeshap@sandeeonline.org by 22 February 2018. For any additional queries, please contactneeshap@sandeeonline.org.
More information pertaining to the call is included below and also available at the following URL: http://www.icimod.org/?q=30192
Please do consider sharing your call in your networks.
Best,
Utsav
Utsav
======================
Call for Applications: SANDEE Summer School on Environmental and Resource Economics
30 April–18 May 2018
Application Deadline: 22 February 2018
The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is organizing a three-week training course on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from 30 April–18 May 2018. The main objective of the Summer School is to provide economists with the basic skills necessary to teach environmental and natural resource economics and to undertake research in this area. The course is meant for practicing South Asian economists interested in upgrading their knowledge on the linkages between economic development, poverty, and the environment. The workshop also seeks to enable participants to develop research proposals for later submission to SANDEE.
What can you expect from the Summer School?
The course will cover economic issues underlying sustainable development, externalities and market failure, policy instruments, non-market valuation, poverty-environment interactions, and natural resource use and pollution management. Participants will be exposed to theoretical issues and economic tools and methodologies for analyzing environmental problems in developing countries.
Who will teach the course?
The course will be taught by:
· Sir Partha Dasgupta, Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus, Cambridge University
· AK Enamul Haque, Professor, East-West University
· Randall Bluffstone, Professor, Portland State University
· Maximillian Auffhammer, Professor, University of California, Berkley
· Mani Nepal, Programme Coordinator SANDEE and Lead Economist, ICIMOD
Additional guest speakers will be invited depending on the need and availability.
Organization
Mani Nepal (Programme Coordinator SANDEE and Lead Economist, ICIMOD) is the course director and Neesha Pradhan (Programme Associate SANDEE) will administer the course.
Who should attend the course?
The ideal participant has a Masters/PhD in economics and a good understanding of microeconomics, calculus, and basic econometrics. Junior and mid-career faculty and researchers, especially women are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to university teachers and researchers who have submitted a research proposal to SANDEE on issues related to environment and resource economics. Those who have already had training in environmental and resource economics through other programmes or universities or are likely to go overseas for higher education within the next year, are not eligible.
What are you expected to do during the course?
This is a residential teaching workshop. Therefore, participants are expected to read material before each day of lectures, and participate in individual and group assignments and discussions. Working days on occasion will extend from 9 am to 9 pm or beyond because of assignments. Participants are required to present an empirical paper and a research concept note during the course. Last year’s Summer School agenda is available here.
Funding
SANDEE will provide a scholarship of $3,500 per participant in terms of course materials, international travel, meals, and stay during the Summer School. All participants are responsible for their local travel, travel insurance, visa fee, and other personal expenses.
Application process
Interested and eligible candidates from South Asian countries should write to the SANDEE secretariat with the following information (not exceeding five pages):
• A one-page cover letter indicating how such a course will be useful in your teaching and research activities, the applicant’s exposure to basic mathematics (e.g., calculus, linear algebra) and computing skills (e.g., spread sheet, statistical software), and the name of the person nominating him/her (if any).
• A three page research concept note (a precursor of a research proposal) on issues related to environmental and resource economics. The concept note should include a discussion of the research problem and its policy relevance, a clear research question(s), a short literature review that discusses at least three key peer reviewed journal articles related to the proposed analytical framework, empirical methods (data requirement, collection, and analysis) and expected outcomes.
• A brief CV (no more than one page) indicating professional responsibilities/activities, (please include current job and institutional details), educational qualifications, (highest degree/institution), age, and two most important research publications, if any.
Please email your application to Neesha Pradhan at neeshap@sandeeonline.org by 22 February 2018.
We request you to pass this information to interested colleagues. We are also seeking nominations from colleagues who have been part of SANDEE activities. Approximately 24 participants will be invited to the workshop.
=====
Disclaimer: This information has been forwarded by "Combat Climate Change Network, India" for information of potential applicants. We are not part of this programme.
To be part of the Combat Climate Change Network, India, please write to us at: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan K Panda
Convenor
Tweet @ranjanpanda
Tweet @MahanadiRiver
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Hirakud Dam completes 61 years of existence, dying faster than thought!
Today, Asia’s longest earthen dam and Mahanadi River’s
largest dam, enters into 62 years of age.
And it’s seriously ailing. The
Dam, that’s fighting a battle for its own life is also the epicentre of
conflict between two major riparian states.
When this dam was built, immediately after India attained
independence, it was considered a modern temple by the then PM of India
Jawaharlal Nehru. People who were submerged and were thrown out of their homes
and villages could never get properly compensated. It is said, more than 8000
families are yet to get any compensation even though the Dam celebrates 61
years of existence.
The dam has certainly created the rice bowl of Odisha with
the command area irrigation, but has destroyed sustainable farming practices
and traditional irrigation. It has increased dependence of farmers on poisonous
pesticides and invited industries that keep sucking its water without doing
anything to recharge the river and replenish the water they draw. The same
farmers, who once prospered with Hirakud water, are now fighting a battle for
survival as industries snatch away their share of water.
The displaced people were virtually thrown inside the
forested areas and were mostly left to themselves to develop their own farm
lands and rebuild their livelihoods. Most of them are yet to get the benefit of
assured irrigation even though their ancestral lands have been used for
irrigating others' fields, to supply water to industries and urban areas.
The dam, that was originally built to control floods in
coastal Odisha, has now spread flood menace to western Odisha as well. It
miserably failed in power generation targets too. There have been disastrous
environmental impacts of the dam, starting from climate change to
desertification. However, there is hardly any mechanism in our systems that
study the dams' multiple impacts thoroughly. That's the reason, our planners
keep pushing for more dams.
The Hirakud dam is old and ailing. Its designed life span is
100 years but several problems, including siltation and cracks, is surely going
to end majority of its functions much before that. Chhattisgarh is now blocking
more water than before and soon will deprive the dam of water that is needs to
stay alive with its multiplicity of functions.
Time the government and people debate these issues and plan
a strategy of decommissioning of the dam in a way that does not affect the
irrigation and water supply to people at least. Rest of the functions can be
done away with!
Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)
Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper
Alliance)
Mobile: +91 9437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Tweet @ranjanpanda
Tweet @MahanadiRiver
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