Shillong, Aug 14: The Meghalaya Climate Change Centre (MCCC) has sought for a clarification to be published by Highland Post regarding the paper’s headline highlighting the very low incomes of a large proportion of the state’s population.
The matter refers to a report published on July 20, which was based on a press release from the MCCC. The centre wanted to highlight the climate vulnerability of Meghalaya at the block level.
The MCCC identified five key drivers of climate vulnerability, with low incomes being one of these. The report stated, in 32 blocks, over 70 per cent of the population earns below Rs 5,000 per month, “underscoring pronounced sensitivity”.
HP led with this angle, noting the shockingly low income level. However, the MCCC today explained that its study did not arrive at the income statistic itself but that this was based on the Socio-Economic and Caste Census of 2011. This data refers to the percentage of monthly income of the highest earning household member below Rs 5,000.
The MCCC recommended other studies by different agencies for a more accurate understanding of present-day socio-economic conditions, including household incomes level.
The other drivers identified by the MCCC are the number of anganwadi centres, penetration of Kisan Credit Cards and forest cover. Meghalaya does poorly on the first two of these, with considerable variation in the third. Inadequate irrigation of crops was another vulnerable area identified.
Also Read: https://highlandpost.com/meghalaya-households-live-on-less-than-rs-5000-a-month-study/
