Towards Drought Free India

Southasiadisasters.net issue no. 146, June 2016: One of the highest challenges to implementation of SFDRR in Asia is drought. Drought continues to impact on lives and livelihoods. India was reeling under an intense drought situation a month ago which has affected close to 330 million people from 10 states. Bad monsoons and weak policies around water security have further compounded the problem and precipitated a crisis. Rising temperatures and acute water shortages are adversely affecting human health as well as the economy which is primarily reliant on agriculture. This issue of Southasiadisasters.net is titled 'Towards Drought Free India'. Droughts are complex, slow on set disasters which have great implications for society and the economy. With close to 60% of the population involved in agriculture and allied activities, droughts in India can be particularly debilitating. They disrupt rural livelihoods and lead to an increase in distress migration. This issue's contents includes: (i) Drought in Gujarat: Need for Adaptation Measures; (ii) Drought to Jalyukta Maharashtra; (iii) National Disaster Management Plan Celebrated at AIDMI; (iv) Drought In Uttar Pradesh: Role of Job Cards; (v) Integrated Approach Plan for Drought in Jharkhand; (vi) Diversification of Land use Against Drought in Madhya Pradesh; (vii) Drought in Gujarat: Using MGNREGA; (viii) Drought in Andhra: Making DPAP Work; and (ix) Impacts of Water Scarcity and the Drought Situation in Bihar. Some of the best thinkers, researchers, experts, and activists, including Mihir R. Bhatt with AIDMI Team; Ankita Padhalni, Disha Dwivedi, Meet J. Gadhvi, Nancy Bhengra, Niranjana Hingane, Vira Chudasama, and Yuvraj Singh Rajput, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Theme: Drought, National Disaster Management Plan, Disaster Risk Reduction.