Here we start to share views and experience of analyzing poverty in 10 river basins: the Andes, Indo-Gangetic, Limpopo, Karkheh, Mekong, Niger, Nile, Sao Francisco, Volta and Yellow River.
This research is being undertaken by the Basin Focal Projects of the CPWF. For more information, please go to http://cpwfbfp.pbworks.com/. Other views and experiences are welcome
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Hi Simon
ReplyDeleteI am posting what I sent through email few days ago for others to see.
I am not sure I agree with the Type 1 categorization. Or, perhaps it is not clear to me. Let me explain what I think.
As you mentioned in the details, water scarcity is not necessarily correlated with poverty. Punjab and Haryana in IGB are water scarce, but have the lowest % of rural poor. It is the lack of access that causes poverty like in eastern IGB, and over-use that causes water scarcity as in western IGB. Water scarcity has been increasing in Punjab and Haryana, but rural poverty has been decreasing. With increasing water scarcity, people adapt. And opportunities in the non-farm sector open up. So, it is not exactly correct to say poverty tends to increase with increasing water scarcity. Also in all areas of India, domestic water supply (for drinking and sanitation) get the first priority. So, .. deprived of water for basic needs as a result of increasing water scarcity will be no issue for poverty in water scarce areas such as Punjab and Haryana in the IGB.
Increased access to water has increased productivity and reduced poverty in the western IGB. And, that is a cause for water scarcity there. I doubt that water scarcities could increase rural poverty. In these areas we can talk of the most vulnerable rural people in terms of decreasing water availability. we can categorize that group as water-poor in these areas. But, again, I doubt that even these vulnerable people will be poor due to decreasing water availability, because non-farm economy in these areas are changing fast.
More on other types later.