Download Case Study From Jinda

Climate Change and its impact on women of Naupal village, Orissa
Jinda sandbhor and Priyabrata Satapathy
28th
On
October 1999 villagers of Naupal village of 32 thatched huts with 168 people, under
Kusupur Gram Panchyat of Balituda Block of Jagatsingpur district slept with the fear of Cyclone.
This village is situated near to the sea face and villagers had experiences of cyclonic storms.
However for this time super cyclone was going to struck at coast with wind speed of 250
Km/hour. The cyclonic stage remains active for two days with water surge of 26 feet entered
nearly 20 km inland. Nualpal villagers faced impact of cyclone for three days. All the houses
were damaged and trees were fallen. Due to sea water intrusion whole agriculture was
destroyed. However there was absence of single death from village replied Manirani Panda. She
explained that there was total damage of houses and farms but people were alive. This was due
to presence of Mangrove belt around village which reduced impact of cyclone. Manirani thinks
that her village mangroves forest should be saved. Bhajatiya village next to the Naupal village
observed 100 death during super cyclone as this village was not surrounded by mangrove
forest.
Sushma Patra explained post cyclone situation that, there was absence of food, water and
medical help for three days. We starved for almost three days, our houses were collapsed most
of us were injured and tired. Small children, old ager and pregnant women condition was very
bad. We collected some rice from damaged fields cook it with available water and survived.
Sushma thinks that women had suffered lot due to this cyclone. She says when there was
cyclonic situation women do not want to leave house as there all belonging were over there.
Women were unable to climb tees and move in flooded water as most of them don’t know
swimming. Janaki Mandi said that after super cyclone there was spreading of Dihearia, cholera,
and other epidemic diseases in region. Most of the women get diseased as they were weak and
less disease resistance capacity. Janaki says that at the time of any natural calamity pregnant
and women having small children suffer lot, most of the time dies due to vulnerable situations.
Sushma says Super cyclone changed our lives in many ways. Naupal was facing problem of
Marine flood water intrusion into village during high tides. This phenomenon observed as salty
flood in region. It resulted into damage to agriculture and increase in salinity of land. The lands
become non productive for coming 4to 5 years. However flood in river Debi, which is tributary
of river Mahanadi in delta region brings fresh water reduces salinity of region. Salty flood water
intrusion in village was happening averagely once in ten years. After 1999 cyclone frequency of
salty flood has been increased and frequency of fresh water flood reduced due to construction
of flood control embankment on Debi river. Since 1999 there are six times that salty flood
occurred in village region. Increased salinity in region is reducing agricultural production.
Geetnajali panda says that some families who left village, because of less productivity of
agriculture. In search of employment families have to migrate to other villages for 10 to 30 days
during harvesting period. Most of the men went to urban region in search of work and women
have to take care of house in this situation.
Women from this region are mainly concerned related in increased underground water salinity
in village area and fresh water bodies get saline due to increase in frequency of salty flood in
village. Anjali Khand from village says we came in this region from West Bengal during 1960s;
we cleared forest and started to cultivate the land. In early days there was underground water
salinity, but every house was having water tank (Pokahri) with fresh water. Due to increase in
salinity of tank water women are forced to walk eight kilometer to bring water for drinking
purpose. In summer season more than three times women bring water from next village. They
replied that as the year’s passes the distance to bring water will be increased due to salty flood
water is spreading to inner areas. In spite of all responsibilities of household work women have
to spend nearly eight hours to bring drinking water in summer season. Women opinioned that
this phenomenon of salty flood in village is due to increased sea level and climatic change. Due
to increase in salinity of village water bodies the fish production is reduced. These water bodies
are meant for fresh water fish cultivation which is major source of daily food. Due to increased
in salinity fishery and agriculture which are major occupation of this village are under threat.
To mitigate the impact of Salty water flood and fresh water flood on houses women suggested
easy way. They said that build your house at higher areas. To give height to the base of house
dug one tank, make higher base level for construction of house. The tank can be used for
sanitation and fishery. In Naupal village every house is constructed on DIho (elevated area)
through construction of tank. All the houses in village are thatched with muddy walls. Women
replied that we construct houses in a way that roof of house will touch land at both sides with
small heights of side wall. These types of houses remain undamaged during high wind speed.
Through these two techniques we survive in this village during natural calamities. Anjali Khanda
said that to mitigate the impact of salty flood in village region there is need to increase the
region of mangrove forest which is depleting day by day.
Pushpalata Kahnda thinks that to fight with natural calamities and challenges of salty flood due
to climatic changes there is need to eradicate poverty firstly. According to local field worker of
Regional Center for Development Corporation (RCDC) most of the deaths during 1999 super
cyclone was from Below poverty line families. Their houses were made by mud walls which
collapsed on insiders resulting into more deaths. Being poor most are unable to survive in post
disaster situation as they are having fewer resources for better survival. Pushpa further says
that we want good houses to struggle with bad climatic situation.
There are two Self Help Groups in village. There is saving of more than 50 rupees monthly by
women. However they are unable to start any small income generating activity through which
they can support their house. Women are interested to take some training to start small
business in village. Women think that as agriculture and fishery is degrading there is need to do
some non farming income generating activity for supporting livelihood of household.
In last month there was news from district administration during night time that there will is
formation of Tsunami in Bay of Bengal and will struck coast at 2.30 am. District administration
instructed all villages to move at higher and safer places. Women from Naupal village feared
lot all villagers gathered in Shelter home outside village which is only structure in village which
is having concrete roof. However there was no Tsunami. Women from village get feared they
started to collect important things and wrap it in big cloth. They take this load on head and
rapidly walk toward shelter home. Women mobility was less than men because of clothing,
physical fitness, head load and children. This was mock drill by district administration for
preparing villagers for saving themselves from natural calamity. Women replied that district
administration informed that we should take dry fruits, torch light, shoes and important
document with us when we are moving at safer places. Some argued that from where all these
things should be collected as there is problem in meeting daily needs. They said that during
flood, cyclone and Tsunami like calamities most sufferers are women
Janaki thinks that right information at right time related to natural calamity should be reached
at village level. There is need to educate people about life saving techniques related to natural
calamities. The women mobility gets restricted due to various reasons. Women health is
relative to children health. In present patriarchal society there is physical, Social and mental
subjugation of women at all levels. There is need of different and special assistance to prepare
women to face and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Naupal village.
Women shared that our village is facing nearly all types of natural calamities such as flood,
drought, cyclone and heat waves. However we did not think to leave this village. We want to
adopt ourselves in a way that we can survive more sustainably in our own village. The climate
change phenomenon is going to increase frequency and intensity of natural calamities in our
region. we are in process to strengthen ourselves can government and present social order
understand our role and participation to save our planet. Regional Center for Development
Corporation (RCDC) is working in Naupal village through Parivartan Project for increasing
resilance and reducing risk of Coastal communities to climate change.
Odisha State Climate Change Action plan
Odisha home to the poorest masses of country country is vulnerable to the vagaries of climate
change. According to annual report of State revenue commissioner from 1999 every year state
is facing natural calamities in form of flood, drought, heat wave and cyclone. Odisha state
Government came out with Odisha Climate Change action plan 2010- 2015. This action plan
was discussed with different stakeholders. Emphasis of action plan is mainly on Agriculture,
Costs and disasters, energy, forestry, health, industries, mining, transport, urban planning and
water resources. These sectors are identified as a major sector to mitigate climate change
effects on state.
In this action plan there is absence of any space for women as such. There is absence of
mentioning women issues related to climate change and how it is impacting women as whole.
In Health, coast and disaster, forestry and agriculture sectors there is absence of any
mentioning related to women participation. However women are the integral part of these
sectors. In budget part of plan is distributed into sectors, there is absence of gender budgeting.
This plan mainly talks about infrastructural changes and development. It does not talk much
more about building people’s institution and empowering women to face challenges of Climate
Change.