Disaster Risk Management Through a “Watershed Plus” Approach in the Western Orissa Rural Livelihoods Project (WORLP): Orissa, India

Abstract

The Western Orissa Rural Livelihoods Project is a DFID-UK funded project and is implemented by Orissa’s Agriculture Department through the Orissa Watershed Development Mission. WORLP has been implemented in the four districts of western Orissa since 2000, namely Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargarh. These four project districts are among the poorest in India, with 70 % of their population of four million living below the poverty line. On average, the drought in the state happens once in every 3–5 years. Rainfall in the WORLP districts is mostly erratic and punctuated generally by long dry spells. These districts suffer from frequent drought-like conditions resulting in crop failures. The small and marginal farmers, land-less and very poor households are most vulnerable to these conditions. WORLP followed a watershed plus approach to promote sustainable livelihoods. It operates on a watershed platform. Participatory planning with the community analysed the constraints and opportunities faced by vulnerable groups and identified the livelihood needs of the poorest. The community was organised into different grassroots organisations so as to build their social capitals. Investment priorities were identified through such planning to improve the productivity of land and water and improve drinking water and sanitation. For the poorest groups, provisioning of credits through revolving and grant funds and promotion of on-farm and non-farm micro-enterprise activities diversified the livelihood portfolios. Furthermore, the capacity of government organisations, local government, NGOs and community to work together in addressing poverty was strengthened. Widespread Natural Resources Management (NRM) interventions, augmented agricultural activities, and the evolution of sensitised farming communities indicated a strong resilience against natural disasters like drought. A recent study reveals that 86 % of the marginal and small farmers in the watershed area are able to cope with natural disasters.