A Residential Workshop On Building Robust Solutions To Tackle Climate Change : Uttarakhand

BACKGROUND

Climate change is a lived reality that cannot be ignored any further. While the rich indulge in over-consumption of resources, the poor disproportionately face the brunt of climate change. The top 1% of the world are responsible for 15% of carbon emissions, nearly twice as much as the world's poorest 50%, who are responsible for just 7% of emissions, according to a report by Oxfam.

For informal women workers, existing social norms implore them to fetch water for their families. However, accessing clean water is an everyday struggle, as water sources are drying in many parts of our country due to rising temperatures. Floods, cyclones and cloud bursts have become commonplace in states of Bihar, West Bengal and Uttarakhand. These extreme weather events restrict women’s mobility, hampering their trade and income.

For home-based women workers, their home acts as a space to live and work simultaneously. As heat stress increases, it becomes difficult for them to continue with their work smoothly. Since a majority of home-based workers get paid at a piece-rate, soaring temperatures impact their productivity, and they are unable to achieve the desired output. Similarly, agricultural and construction workers are increasingly facing health-related problems such as heat strokes and exhaustion, owing to global warming. Women across trade groups are additionally responsible for care work including raising children and undertaking household chores, which creates a ‘double burden’ for them.

In the state of Uttarakhand, women frequently face challenges related to human-wildlife conflict, water scarcity and destruction of crops due to changing climatic conditions. Recognising these issues, SEWA Uttarakhand has been consistently working in the direction of understanding the? effects of climate change for informal women workers. The team regularly amplifies the voices of women workers by organizing ‘Jungle Bachao’ (Save Forest) campaigns and leading climate-related advocacy efforts.

A signature campaign was also organised, mobilizing 8,500 women to sign a memorandum directed toward the CM of Uttarakhand, requesting him to activate MGNREGA. The memorandum was eventually submitted to the CM, mentioning the urgency for providing alternate livelihood options to women, establishing marketing platforms for their produce, and the afforestation of indigenous vegetation in the forest land.

Continuing with their endeavours, it was decided that a two-day residential workshop on building sustainable climate solutions should be conducted. The team reached out to Kalyan and Anita Paul, from the Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, which has been working since 1992 towards sustainable development. Women community leaders from Uttarakhand were invited and registered their participation wholeheartedly in the workshop.

DEVELOPING INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS

This workshop focused on developing collaborative ways to combat climate change.? Rejuvenating natural water sources and afforestation of indigenous flora emerged as possible solutions. An interaction was facilitated, with the community women of “gadhera bachaao samiti” (save the natural source of water committee) in Ranikhet. SEWA members understood the process of naula rejuvenation, and planned to implement the same in their own districts.

Everyone present at the workshop acknowledged that regulations to prevent forest fires should be tightened and afforestation has to be promoted. Five gram panchayats were identified, where the issue of rejuvenation and maintenance of naulas would be taken up.

In the end, it was agreed that there needs to be greater advocacy with the forest department and the state, on strengthening Van Panchayats. Under the Van Panchayat system, villagers can elect a council of five to nine members with a sarpanch at the head. This council ensures that forest resources are protected at all costs. Measures like these can establish decentralized forms of governance, thereby entrusting local communities with the power to protect their own resources.

Understanding issues through a climate justice lens is important so that informal women workers can protect themselves from the adverse effects of climate change. There is a need to create alternative livelihoods for these women and train them with market-linked skills. This can go a long way in reducing the burden caused by climate change.

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