Addressing Present Vulnerabilities and Planning Future Resilience for Vulnerable Communities across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh

From year 2021 onwards PHIA is implementing a programme called Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth (ICRG) – Infrastructure for Climate Resilient Growth (ICRG) is a technical assistance (TA) programme, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD), Government of India (GOI). The programme also contributes to the UK’s climate commitment under the International Climate Fund (ICF). ICRG aims to improve the abilities of poor and vulnerable people to cope with climate change impacts by integrating climate information services and risk management into India’s social protection framework. PHIA is implementing the ICRG programme in three states covering 788 villages in 142 Gram Panchayats across ten districts, three in Bihar, five in Jharkhand and two districts in Madhya Pradesh.  

 In last two years of intervention, ICRG programme demonstrated ways to strengthen the quality and productivity of natural resource management (NRM) infrastructure built under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to support resilient infrastructure designing and building through ground water recharge, micro-irrigation, soil and water conservation and plantation. To deepen the engagement on climate compatibility and climate proofing MGNREGS assets to climate risk management, we are engaging in community driven processes particularly focusing on vulnerable sections of society such as women, schedule caste, schedule tribes and other backward communities to ensure their participation and representation in government led planning, designing and approval processes. This engagement ensures community voices in village level plannings of government programmes and schemes and enhances their access to rights, entitlements, and participation in crucial stages of government plans.  Apart from that, linking communities with government’s flagship social protection programmes and livelihood opportunities to sustain their income and enhance resilience in adverse conditions.