Households in 32 blocks of Meghalaya earn less than Rs. 5,000 per month, according to a recent study by the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC).
This staggering statistic highlights the vulnerability of rural communities in Meghalaya to climate change.
The study, which conducted an integrated climate vulnerability assessment of Meghalaya at the block level, identified five key drivers contributing to high vulnerability in several blocks.
These five are – Anganwadi Centres, households with Kisan Credit Cards, household income, forest area per thousand rural population and percentage of net irrigated area.
The study revealed significant disparities across various blocks in Meghalaya, including limited access to Anganwadi centers, Kisan Credit Cards, and forest areas. Many blocks have fewer credit cards than the state average, with some blocks having 145 fewer centers than others.
The Kisan Credit Card coverage is also abysmally low, with most blocks having less than 2 per cent of households with credit cards, except for one block with 16 per cent coverage. Furthermore, the forest area per 1,000 rural inhabitants varies considerably, with 28 blocks having less than 10 square km.
The study’s findings emphasised the importance of local-scale analyses in identifying critical disparities and key drivers of vulnerability.
According to the MCCC, enhancing financial inclusion by expanding access to credit facilities, improving rural infrastructure through investments in public services and irrigation systems, and strengthening institutional support with targeted community-based programs can help build resilience and improve the overall well-being of rural communities.
The study highlights the effectiveness of a common framework in assessing climate vulnerability at the block level in Meghalaya, revealing that 25 out of 39 blocks are highly or very highly vulnerable.
Limited financial access, inadequate infrastructure, and scarce natural resources are some of the key drivers of vulnerability.
To mitigate vulnerability, the study recommends targeted investments in financial services, rural infrastructure, and institutional support.
The MCCC acknowledges that its study is limited by the availability and latest secondary data for certain indicators.
Therefore, according to it, future research should incorporate primary data and participatory methods for even more robust, dynamic vulnerability assessments.
Cross-state collaborations across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) would also be beneficial in developing unified regional adaptation strategies.
The research, titled “Integrated climate vulnerability assessment of Meghalaya at block level,” has been published in Discover Sustainability, a journal published by the Europe-based Springer Nature Group.
