poverty eradication holds key to address challenge of climate change

7/23/2019 Poverty Eradication Holds Key to Address Challenge of Climate Change

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/poverty-eradication-holds-key-to-address-challenge-of-climate-change 1/4

Poverty Eradication holds key to address Challenge of Climate Change! 2015

1 Manoj Rawat | [email protected]

Manoj Rawat

Head, Agribusiness Group

RBL Bank, Mumbai

[email protected]

The views expressed in this article are purely personal.

Poverty Eradication holds key to address Challenge of Climate Change!

The Challenge of Climate Change is no different than the Challenge of PovertyEradication. Unless we recognize Poverty Eradication comes top on priority and formsan integral part of Climate Change Solution, we may be ignoring the core problem itself !

We now need some Genuine & Passionate Efforts for Eradication of Poverty of Millions ofpeople, as it’s the only actions that holds key to address the Challenge of Climate Change and ina sustainable manner.

Besides Global dialogues, summits & policy announcement, there is an immediate need to agreeon the need for making for more Sincere & Genuine efforts by all Stakeholders ( includingpolitical class) to agree that poverty eradication holds the Key to this in reality and on ground.It's a massive task that involves millions of small farmers, wage earners, artisans, deprivedwomen and hungry populace.





“A hungry man can’t see the right or wrong. He onlysees the Food.”

Hungry Stomachs & Thirsty Throats cannot be preachedabout Climate Change.

It’s important Build Economic integration, Social capital and Resilience in Rural India toaddress Climate Change, Drought, Natural Disasters and above all sustainable measures forPoverty Eradication.

The achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is at the centre of

sustainable development. Sustainable rural development is vital to the economic, social andenvironmental viability of nations and in particular for India. Sustainable Development withAgriculture at the centre of it is essential for poverty eradication since global poverty isoverwhelmingly rural and therefore the Rural remain critical for success of sustainable RuralDevelopment.

1. Foremost is to Develop Healthy & Dynamic Agricultural Sector for hungereradication : There the first and foremost need is for developing a healthy and dynamic agricultural

sector for India’s Development. A healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an

important foundation of rural development, generating strong linkages to other

economic sectors. This is critical to implement comprehensive strategy for Povertyeradication to deal with climate change, drought, desertification and natural disaster.

Let’s not forget by 2030 we will have largest number of stomachs to feed, with same land

mass and water resources.

2. Creation of Employment opportunities in Rural Areas : Close economic integration of rural areas with neighbouring urban areas and the

creation of rural off-farm employment can help narrow rural-urban disparities, expand

opportunities and encourage the retention of skilled youth force, in rural areas. There is

considerable potential for rural job creation not only in farming, agro processing and

rural industry but also in building rural infrastructure, in the sustainable management

of natural resources, waste and residues. Promote non-agricultural industries such as

mining, service industries, construction and commerce, in a sustainable manner, as a

source of employment and income for rural populations. The need to promote labour-

intensive activities in addition to capital-intensive programs will help sustainable

recovery of rural economy.





3. Resilient Plan for Sustainable Development of Rural India

Rural communities in developing countries are still faced with challenges related to

access to basic services, economic opportunities and a sort of disregard in planning

related to rural-urban divide. There is need for promoting pro-poor planning andbudgeting at the national and local levels. There is need to manage create an

implementable framework for the various risks rural people face, including price,

weather, climate, water shortages, land degradation and natural disasters, including by

providing aid and promoting the development of agricultural insurance markets. A

need to expand access to markets for rural producers, associations and firms will help

the farmers and rural artisans realize the rightful price for produce.

4. Investment in Rural Infrastructure is more than critical

Investments in environmental protection, rural infrastructure and in rural health and

education are critical to sustainable rural development and can enhance national well-being. Beyond meeting basic needs, investments must be linked to the potential to raise

productivity and income. The vulnerabilities of the rural poor to the economic and

financial crisis and to climate change and water shortage must be addressed.

5. Protect & Ensure Sustainable management of natural resources

To protect and ensure sustainable management of natural resources its critical to

address the challenges of sustainable development. There is need to harmonize modern

technologies with traditional and indigenous knowledge for sustainable rural

development besides promoting sustainable forest management. There need to build

resilience of rural communities to cope with and recover from natural disasters. It is

important to encourage the use of land resources in a sustainable manner to prevent

land degradation that is caused by unsustainable exploitation of land resources,

promote environmentally friendly practices and promote safe and environmentally

sound waste management practices in Rural India. To improve access to reliable and

affordable energy services, renewable may be given a major push with incentives to

adopt it.

6. Investment in Strengthening the human capacities of rural people

Besides investing in minimum & essential infrastructure and services for rural

communities, it’s important to direct more public and private investments in

infrastructure in rural areas, including roads, and transport systems, storage and market

facilities, irrigation systems, affordable housing, water supply and sanitation services,

electrification and information and communications networks. It’s important to enable

rural health-care facilities, ensure access to safe drinking water and creat adequate

sanitation facilities. It cannot be achieved unless strong focus on women empowerment

& gender equality to make this happen in sustained manner. Skill building may not be





enough to retain youth in Rural areas unless the minimum infrastructure and income

generation opportunities are created.

The urgent need is to focussing on build economic integration, creating Social capital anddeveloping resilience in Rural India to address Climate Change, Drought , Natural Disasters

and above all sustainable measures for Poverty Eradication.

With millions of deprived & poor, the task is massive and will need real action on theGround beyond sporadic interventions.

As Pearl Buck said “A hungry man can’t see the right or wrong. He only sees the Food."

We do need address a poor person's daily struggle for his/her basic survival to make thisprocess far more inclusive and our plans for mitigating climate change working in reality.

Manoj Rawat | Indiahttp://www.manojrawat.com

[email protected]

http://www.manojrawat.com/

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.manojrawat.com/

poverty eradication holds key to address challenge of climate change

Documents