Abstract
Climate change is a global phenomenon and has varying impacts on each one of us. Significant climate shifts have already been observed one over the past century. In rural areas of India, over 700 million are directly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forests, fisheries, and natural resources such as water, fodder, and biodiversity for their livelihoods. Today uncertainties associated with climate variability poses great risks to the economic development all over the world. Drought a climatic aberration, one of the primary reasons for widespread poverty and environmental degradation has significant, adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts on the livelihoods of the people. In Indian context, vulnerability to drought is manifested as threat to food security, meeting the nutritional needs of the population, environmental conservation, and acceleration of the development process. Several districts across the country are consistently facing drought situations. Western Odisha has experienced hardships as the most backward region in the state of Odisha in all domains. One of the major reasons behind the backwardness of western Odisha is due to severe natural calamities like drought, Flood, Heat wave. Because of uncertainty of climate change most of the time drought situation occurs in that region. Prolonged droughts reduce food production and water availability and at their worst lead to significant human suffering and loss of life. Because of Climate change farmers suicides have been reported from across the state, but a large percentage (70% as of Nov 2015) occurred in the Western Odisha. Balangir district falling under the KBK region. It is one of the most backward districts in western Odisha. It faces 18 times drought situation from 1993 to 2015. Because of Drought many blocks in Balangir district faces water scarcity issues. Ground water level is decreasing due to excessive use for irrigation especially in rain fed Balangir districts. 70% of population belongs to the agriculture economy. Due to Drought situation in every year the production of agriculture gradually decreasing over the year. Because of this many people migrate from Balangir to other districts. In this context, the focus area is limited natural resources. Water is one of the basic natural resources which is limited. It is the key driver of social and economic development and is essential in maintaining the integrity of the natural environment. Hence in this region I will be more focusing on integrated water management through Climate Resilient planning. This region is very vulnerable in terms of Socio-economic development and because of climate change and change in precipitation pattern people are facing water scarcity problem. So, the research will be focus on district level strategy to improve the socio-economic condition of people by dealing with the backwardness through the concept of Climate resilient development. It is also focusing on agricultural water demand so that in dry spell time how much water needed we can know. In this study the approach is to develop a conceptual model which can help to fulfil the water demand of agricultural sector and it also help to reduce the water stress for present and future during climatic concern. The expected outcome of this research will be a strategic climate resilient plan which deals with the adaptation strategy to overcome the vulnerability of climate change and the socio-economic development of that area.
