PRESENTATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION in the northeast India context

Causes of Environmental Degradation Farming system Deforestation

Causes of environmental degradation Poverty

Causes of environmental degradation Urbanization

Causes of environmental degradation Population growth

Impact of environmental degradation Landslide & soil erosion

Impact of environmental degradation mudslide

Impact of environmental degradation Flood

Impact of environmental degradation Migration

Impact of environmental degradation Drought

Impact of environmental degradation Earthquake

NEICORD response on Environmental degradation The first program implemented was on Disaster mitigation in partnership with Tear fund UK in the year 1993

NEICORD response on Environmental degradation Recently in Chirang District, Assam

How was the area before … This Chirang district is a flood prone district of Assam and 6.57 % of the population lives in flood prone areas. It is situated on the foothill of Bhutan. This area normally receives high density of rainfall during summer season every year causing untold suffering to the people by way of flood and massive erosions on both the side of the river flowing through this district and ninety percent of the heavy downpour occurs in the months of June – September. There are as many as five important rivers namelyChampabati, Aie, Nangalbanga, Khanamakra, Manas and numerous tributaries flowing through this district. The source of these rivers and tributaries is Bhutan Hills. All these rivers drain into the Brahmaputra River.

Flood has been the main issue for these villages as every year the people of this area faces the onslaught of recurrent floods. Most of the major rivers in this area starts from the Bhutan Hills and joins the River Brahmaputra down stream.

The reason of selecting these villages is they are very vulnerable as they are all situated very near to the rivers which cause damage every year to lives, livestock’s and possessions by way of flood and massive erosion on both side of the river. They are also economically very backward and moreover not much government intervention and outside help could be observed in these villages also.

Capacity Building & Training 1.Training on Disaster Management and PADR for the DMCs (Disaster Management Committee 2. Awareness on Disaster Management Act for the DMCs

Capacity Building & Training Training on Disaster management and warning, rescue, evacuation, first – aid, shelter management and relief management for the task force volunteers.

Capacity Building & Training Mock drill exercises as part of preparedness on warning, rescue and evacuation

Preparedness & Mitigation… 1.High Raised Tube wells for safe drinking water (34 no). 2.Boats for rapid evacuation (4 boats). 3.Afforestation (by planting bamboo on sides of river) as risk reduction measures.

4. Escape Routes as risk reduction measure (2 escape routes). 5.Stone Bunding as protection guard against flood waters. 6.Megaphones as part of early warning system.

7. Flood Shelter as risk reduction measure to withstand the onslaught of flood. Flood Shelter Drinking water facility Sanitation facility

ADVOCACY … Advocated with Peoples’ Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction with the District Authorities (ADC) and the Block. The PADR analysis report and the peoples’ plan was submitted to the ADC for further discussion and suggestion and uptake into the district plan. Women involved in discussion for preparing the Peoples’ Plan Men discussing for the Peoples’ Plan by using their PADR maps

ADVOCACY … The Contingency Plans of the targeted villages have been completed and submitted to the SDC of the Revenue Circle Office at the Block Level as a support for preparing the district Disaster Management Plan. Discussing & preparing the contingency plan Presenting the plan within the community and adding value to the plan

What is the Picture now … In the last 4 ½ years of the intervention ……. The project could see the awareness and education level of the community increasing particularly about their risks and in preparedness. The boldness has increased to approach and link with other government institutes. The project could learn the importance of community mobilization. Also learn about linking the community with the government to access their rights and privileges. Knowledge through risk assessment led to mitigation plans by the community. Understanding about linkage led to tapping of scheme by the community. NEICORD as an organization improved on the thematic understanding of DRR.

Why we are involved? The Supreme Court held in 1989 that Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to life must be interpreted to include the “right to live in a healthy environment with minimum disturbance of ecological balance,” and “without avoidable hazard to [the people] and to their cattle, house and agricultural land, and undue affection of air, water, and environment”. Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. NIV Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' (NIV)(NIV)

Thank you!