UNDP Sub-Regional Seminar on UNDP Sub-Regional Seminar on Drought Mitigation 28-29th August, Drought Mitigation 28-29th August, 2001 -Tehran2001 -Tehran

MANAGEMENT OF DROUGHT IN INDIAMANAGEMENT OF DROUGHT IN INDIA

byby Swami S.K.Swami S.K.

DirectorDirector

Natural Disaster Management DivisionNatural Disaster Management Division

Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India

e-mail: skswami@krishi.delhi.nic.ine-mail: skswami@krishi.delhi.nic.in

web site: www.ndmindia.nic.inweb site: www.ndmindia.nic.in

Country ProfileCountry Profile

Population : 1027.0 MillionPopulation : 1027.0 Million Rural Population: About 72%Rural Population: About 72% Population growth (1991-2001) : 21.34 %Population growth (1991-2001) : 21.34 % Area : 328.7 million hectaresArea : 328.7 million hectares Net Area Sown : 142.2 million hectaresNet Area Sown : 142.2 million hectares Net Irrigated Area : 55.10 million hectaresNet Irrigated Area : 55.10 million hectares States/UTs : 28 States (provinces) and 7 States/UTs : 28 States (provinces) and 7

Union Union Territories Territories

Country’s Country’s VulnerabilityVulnerability to to

DroughtDrought

33 per cent area receives rainfall less 33 per cent area receives rainfall less than 750mm -chronically drought than 750mm -chronically drought proneprone

35 per cent area receive rainfall 35 per cent area receive rainfall between750-1125 mm- drought prone between750-1125 mm- drought prone

Total 68 % area of the country prone to Total 68 % area of the country prone to drought in varying degrees drought in varying degrees

Rainfall distributionRainfall distribution

India receives its annual rainfall in India receives its annual rainfall in four spells:four spells:• Pre-Monsoon(March-May)----10.4 %Pre-Monsoon(March-May)----10.4 %• SouthWest Monsoon(Jun-Sept)--73.3%SouthWest Monsoon(Jun-Sept)--73.3%• NorthEast Monsoon(Oct-Dec)- 13.3%NorthEast Monsoon(Oct-Dec)- 13.3%• Winter Rains (January-Feb.)-- 3.0 %Winter Rains (January-Feb.)-- 3.0 %

Definition of DroughtDefinition of Drought

Many definitions of drought availableMany definitions of drought available ““actual moisture supply at a given actual moisture supply at a given

place consistently falls short of the place consistently falls short of the climatically expected moisture supply”climatically expected moisture supply”

“ “ a period of dry weather of sufficient a period of dry weather of sufficient length and severity to cause at least length and severity to cause at least partial crop failure “ partial crop failure “

Definition of DroughtDefinition of Drought

Common accepted definition is:Common accepted definition is: “ “ a temporary reduction in water a temporary reduction in water

or moisture availability or moisture availability significantly below the normal or significantly below the normal or expected level for a specified expected level for a specified period “period “

“ “ a creeping situation of scarcity a creeping situation of scarcity without recharging of resources “without recharging of resources “

Drought ClassificationDrought Classification

•MeteorologicalMeteorological --significant --significant decrease from normal precipitation decrease from normal precipitation over an areaover an area

•Hydrological droughtHydrological drought: : marked marked depletion of surface water and fall depletion of surface water and fall in water tables in water tables

•Agricultural Drought:Agricultural Drought: soil moisture soil moisture and rainfall inadequate to support and rainfall inadequate to support cropscrops

Drought Proofing Drought Proofing ProgrammesProgrammes

Drought Prone Areas ProgrammeDrought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP)-180 districts of 16 States (Rs. (DPAP)-180 districts of 16 States (Rs. 19.0 billion)19.0 billion)

Desert Development ProgrammeDesert Development Programme (DDP) -40 districts of 7 States (Rs. 8.5 (DDP) -40 districts of 7 States (Rs. 8.5 billion)billion)

Watershed approach : Watershed approach : a geo-a geo-hydrological approach for in situ soil and hydrological approach for in situ soil and water conservation (Rs. 22.6 billion)water conservation (Rs. 22.6 billion)

Drought ManagementDrought Management

Critical parameters:Critical parameters: Availability of Drinking waterAvailability of Drinking water Sustenance of Economic activitySustenance of Economic activity Availability of Food-reasonable priceAvailability of Food-reasonable price Health and Nutrition-vulnerable Health and Nutrition-vulnerable

sectionssections Conservation of LivestockConservation of Livestock

Drought Management-Drought Management-IndiaIndia

Employment Generation ProgrammesEmployment Generation Programmes• Food For Work Programme (FFWP)Food For Work Programme (FFWP)• Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)

(Rs. 16.0 billion)(Rs. 16.0 billion)• Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) (Rs. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) (Rs.

16.5 billion) *16.5 billion) *• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

(PMGSY) (Rs. 25.0 billion)(PMGSY) (Rs. 25.0 billion)• Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

(SGSY) (Rs. 5.0 billion) *(SGSY) (Rs. 5.0 billion) *

Drought Management- Drought Management- IndiaIndia

Social Security ProgrammeSocial Security Programme• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)• National Old Age Programme National Old Age Programme

(NOAP)(NOAP)• Annapurna Scheme (Rs. 3.0 billion)Annapurna Scheme (Rs. 3.0 billion)• Integrated Child Development Integrated Child Development

Scheme (ICDS)Scheme (ICDS)• Mid Day Meal - School childrenMid Day Meal - School children

Extent of damage-DroughtExtent of damage-Drought

Year States Population Cropped area Year States Population Cropped area affected Human Cattle affected Human Cattle affected affected

(in million) (in (in million) (in million ha.)million ha.)

96-9796-97 4 29.3 --4 29.3 -- 0.5 0.5 97-9897-98 33 9.8 3.1 9.8 3.1 6.8 6.8 98-9998-99 33 25.6 32..6 3.4 25.6 32..6 3.4 99-0099-00 1111 37.1 34.6 13.4 37.1 34.6 13.4 00-0100-01 88 146.3 69.3 21.1 146.3 69.3 21.1

Drought ManagementDrought Management-Good Practices-Good Practices

In place contingency action planIn place contingency action plan Monitoring of Rainfall and likely Monitoring of Rainfall and likely

drought scenario from the beginning drought scenario from the beginning by Natural Disaster Management by Natural Disaster Management DivisionDivision

Timely declaration of drought and Timely declaration of drought and initiation of drought relief measures initiation of drought relief measures

Effective coordination between Effective coordination between Centre and States-Central TeamsCentre and States-Central Teams

Drought ManagementDrought Management-Good Practices-Good Practices Monitoring by Group of Ministers and Monitoring by Group of Ministers and

the Prime Minister at political levelthe Prime Minister at political level Constant Monitoring by Group of Constant Monitoring by Group of

Secretaries under Cabinet Secretary Secretaries under Cabinet Secretary National Crop Forecasting Centre National Crop Forecasting Centre

(NCFC) and Crop Weather Watch (NCFC) and Crop Weather Watch GroupGroup

Warning and forecasting by India Met Warning and forecasting by India Met Department (IMD)Department (IMD)

Drought ManagementDrought Management-Good Practices-Good Practices 1978 exploratory bore wells handed over 1978 exploratory bore wells handed over

by CGWB for augmenting water supplyby CGWB for augmenting water supply Free transportation of drinking water by Free transportation of drinking water by

Railways-19009 wagons and Fodder -386 Railways-19009 wagons and Fodder -386 wagonswagons

Guidelines relaxed under Accelerated Guidelines relaxed under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP)(ARWSP)

At least one source of drinking water At least one source of drinking water earmarked in each habitatearmarked in each habitat

Drought ManagementDrought Management-Good Practices-Good Practices

2.2 million MT Foodgrains free of cost 2.2 million MT Foodgrains free of cost for Food for Work Programmefor Food for Work Programme

440 million additional man-days 440 million additional man-days generated for drought mitigationgenerated for drought mitigation

Advance release of funds under Advance release of funds under drought mitigation related schemesdrought mitigation related schemes

Expansion of social security schemesExpansion of social security schemes

Drought ManagementDrought Management-Good Practices-Good Practices

Special care of vulnerable sections Special care of vulnerable sections like children, pregnant and lactating like children, pregnant and lactating mothers, old and infirmmothers, old and infirm

Opening of cattle camps and Opening of cattle camps and subsidised foddersubsidised fodder

Association of NGOs and UN Association of NGOs and UN AgenciesAgencies

Use of Information Technology- web Use of Information Technology- web sites e-mail for communicationsites e-mail for communication

Management system Management system Institutional mechanismInstitutional mechanism

Natural Disaster’s management Natural Disaster’s management responsibility of State Governmentsresponsibility of State Governments

Union Government supplements the Union Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by efforts of the State Governments by providing financial and logistic supportproviding financial and logistic support

Set up at the National LevelSet up at the National Level• Department of Agriculture & Cooperation Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

(DAC) - Nodal Department(DAC) - Nodal Department

Management system Management system Institutional mechanismInstitutional mechanism

– National Crisis Management Committee National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary(NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary

– Crisis Management Group under Central Crisis Management Group under Central Relief Commissioner (CRC) in the DACRelief Commissioner (CRC) in the DAC

– Krishi Control Room- to monitor the Krishi Control Room- to monitor the situation regularlysituation regularly

– Constitution of Ministerial-level Body for Constitution of Ministerial-level Body for expeditious decision makingexpeditious decision making

Financial arrangementsFinancial arrangements

Ready availability of funds with the Ready availability of funds with the State Governments in the form of State Governments in the form of Calamity Relief Fund(CRF)Calamity Relief Fund(CRF)

State wise allocation in CRF based State wise allocation in CRF based on the recommendations of the on the recommendations of the Finance Commissions-Rs. 21 .0 Finance Commissions-Rs. 21 .0 billion for 2001-02billion for 2001-02

CRF sharing between Central and CRF sharing between Central and State Government in the ratio of 3:1State Government in the ratio of 3:1

Financial arrangementsFinancial arrangements

Additional assistance provided in the Additional assistance provided in the wake of disaster of severe nature wake of disaster of severe nature from National Calamity Contingency from National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF)-released Rs. 20.0 billionFund (NCCF)-released Rs. 20.0 billion

Funds are also available from many Funds are also available from many on-going Plan Schemes of the on-going Plan Schemes of the Central and State Governments Central and State Governments

Community ParticipationCommunity Participation

Community participation is key to Community participation is key to effectiveness of Governments effortseffectiveness of Governments efforts

Gram Sabha/Panchayat recommend Gram Sabha/Panchayat recommend relief workrelief work

Districts & Block level committees Districts & Block level committees involved in sanctioning and monitoring involved in sanctioning and monitoring of relief worksof relief works

NGOs play a significant role training and NGOs play a significant role training and motivationmotivation

External Assistance-PolicyExternal Assistance-Policy

No formal appeal is issued on behalf of No formal appeal is issued on behalf of the Government, directly or through the Government, directly or through any other agency, for assistanceany other agency, for assistance

Relief offered on voluntary basis Relief offered on voluntary basis accepted and acknowledged as a sign accepted and acknowledged as a sign of international solidarity of international solidarity

Areas of assistance are Nutrition, Areas of assistance are Nutrition, Health, Community capacity, Water Health, Community capacity, Water harvesting etc.harvesting etc.

Drought a Management Drought a Management IssueIssue

Country experience is that-Country experience is that- Drought can be preventedDrought can be prevented Drought can be mitigatedDrought can be mitigated Hardships can be minimisedHardships can be minimised Sufferings can be reducedSufferings can be reduced

If we at all levels work togetherIf we at all levels work together

Drought is not a Disaster butDrought is not a Disaster but

a Management Issuea Management Issue

NAMASKARNAMASKAR

THANK YOUTHANK YOU