Climate Adaptive Planning With Panchayats

Conserving our natural resources and protecting the environment is a global concern. There is no doubt that all our industrial and agricultural activities have a considerable amount of effect on the climate. If the present situation continues, both the current as well as the future generations will get adversely affected by climate change. This has, therefore, emerged as a big challenge but at the same time it is also an opportunity for promoting efficient use of natural resources and climate adaptive planning in order to move towards a low carbon emission world.

Role of Panchayats in Climate Adaptive Planning

It is well known that the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is the main driver in the development of rural areas in India as it acts as a single window for implementation of all developmental schemes. The panchayats (village councils) who are important for ensuring good governance at the local level are given the responsibility for preparing a development plan for each financial year in consultation and active participation of the Gram Sabha (general body meeting of the village). PRIs are the main planning and executive agency for all rural development projects. Therefore, panchayats can play an effective role in preparing environment and climate sensitive micro – plans or better known as ‘climate adaptive plans’.

Climate change aspects are essential elements to be incorporated into the micro-planning process. Through participatory climate adaptive planning, panchayats can address the problems of the most vulnerable sections of the society who are directly or indirectly affected by climate change.

Development Alternatives’ Initiative to Promote Climate Adaptive Planning

The overall objective of promoting village level climate adaptive planning along with the PRI’s is to enhance the capacities of the panchayats and community members to promote participatory local governance in order to ensure effective management and conservation of the environment keeping the effects of climate change in mind.

The first step towards initiating climate adaptive planning with the PRI’s in Madhya Pradesh by Development Alternatives led to the realisation that not only was there a need to create awareness but also build capacities of the PRI’s to make climate adaptive plans. Considering the above challenge, intensive engagement with different community stakeholders, PRI’s and government officials in the Datia district of Madhya Pradesh was undertaken. The stakeholders were as follows: the district planning officers, PRI members, women, SHG members, watershed committee members and farmers. A core group of PRI members, SHG members, women and farmers was also formed at the village level, which was responsible to identify and mainstream local issues related to climate change.

Simultaneously, different schemes of the government which comprise of a considerable amount of environmental management and conservation such as MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Programme) etc. were identified for implementation.

Benefits of Climate Adaptive Planning

Participatory climate adaptive planning practices will entirely redefine micro-planning at the village level. It has the potential to successfully integrate climate change uncertainties, vulnerabilities and methods of adaptation and mitigation into the village level micro plans. These practices will not only make rural masses aware about climate change but will also make them responsible towards planning in advance to prevent the negative effects of climate change. Above all the local decision makers and stakeholders will learn the process of integrating climate change concerns into developmental bottom up planning.  q

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