1. Climate Change and its Impact on
Coastal areas
Experiences of Kalvi Kendra and Community
people
S.Chinnappan
Kalvi Kendra

2. About KalviKendra
 Kalvi Kendra, “the NGO” was born on the bed of a man-
made Disaster - a communal violence on Dalits that took
place in 30 years ago in Villupuram. A Dalit colony had been
set on fire, 12 Dalits had been murdered.
 This incident was the foundation for establishment of Kalvi
Kendra with objective of promoting a world of fraternity and
equality for deprived sections torn by hatred and enimity
 Kalvi Kendra started working on Disaster Risk
Reduction as a follow up of Tsunami Rehabilitation
work from 2005 onwards.

3. About Area- General Information
 Coastal area of Villupuram District, Tamilnadu, adjoining
Pondicherry, Union Territory of India
 It is 30 km coastal line with population more than 3.5
Lakh.
 In the region, the poorest communities are fishing
community and dalits living on coast line
 They become more vulnerable as they are living in flood
plains- only available place to live and suitable for their
occupation (fishing and agriculture)

4.  In coastal regions, lack of infrastructure such as No
early warning system and Hazard resistant houses.
 Lack of saving, credit linkages, insurance leading to
limited capacity to recover from disaster.

5. Coastal Zone and Climate Change
 Kalvi Kendra did a Risk Assessment in 2007 in 30 coastal villages.

6.  Apart from Hazard, vulnerability and Capacity Assessment,
community also reflected some changes in climatic
conditions/patterns over the years.
 Densely populated coastal area are facing the following problems:
 Increased risk of Sea Level rise- damage of houses and properties
 Sea erosion has accelerated – 3 coastal villages submerged
in sea in last two years. (Thanthirayan Kuppam, CM
Chawadi, Nadu Kuppam)
 Sea level increasing leading to intrusion of “Salt water” into ground
water and badly affecting the drinking water. Saline water lead to
hundreds of acres of land become alcaine.

7.  Sea erosion

8.  It has also lead to loss of wetlands/mangrove bio
shields.
 Accelerated evaporation reduced the effectiveness of
water reservoirs and water bodies
 Over a period of time, as per local community, fish
catch has reduced, . They have to go FAR AWAY in sea
to catch fish.
 Low agriculture and fishing leading to forced Migration
especially among Dalits.
 Rainfall is Unpredictable in Coastal region. Past years
have seen unusual floods.

9.  As per villages, earlier (3 decades back) Cyclone
used to come and go without causing much damage.
Now, their speed is high, and they cause disruption .
 Change in season, rise in temperature, has started
affecting Tourism in Pondicherry
 Being in Costal/high risk area, Adaptation is more
difficult than others who are living in plain.

10. Finally....
 Ms. Malini Mehra (Political Scientist) and founder of
Centre for Social Marketing cautions-
if the earth Global surface temperature goes up by 2
degrees, Chennai and Mumbai could be submerged
into sea

11. Efforts to reduce risk....

12. Risk reduction Measures by people
 Initiated and being supported a movement called
“Save the Earth Movement”
- It’s a peoples movement at the grass root level to
protect the environment and save the earth by doing little
things what they can do at their level. This movement
focusing on the following activities

13. 1. Environment building
To make everyone in the community to aware of the global
warming and to understand the climate change adaptation
through seminars, meetings, workshops, cultural programs,
hand outs, pamphlets, posters, etc.,

14. 2. Energy Conservation
- Saving of electricity
- Familiarizing CFL bulbs
- Using solar energy

15. Efforts continue....
3. Environment Protection
 Supporting Organic farming
 Reducing usage of plastics
 Rain water harvesting
 Tree plantation
 Usage of smokeless choolas
 Running CCA Mart (Selling CFL lamps, saplings, organic manure,
insurance products, eco friendly and recycling materials > 20
microns)
 Collecting and dumping of e-garbages

16. 4. Lobby and Advocacy
 Grass root advocacy with PRI and District Administration

17.  Integrating the DRR concept with the on going development
activities
 Evolving modules for SHG training programs
 Evolving curriculum for School Children
 School safety and Insurance for Children
 Training modules for Farmers
 Mock drill and exercises to the Rescue teams
 Training in swimming, First Aid, safety measures.
 Publishing of IEC materials

18. Pilot Program - CMDRR
 Kalvi Kendra has been involved in implementing a CMDRR
program on a pilot basis in 10 flood-prone villages located on the
bank of the river Thenpennai, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu,
adopting the following strategies
 Strengthening the Elected PRI leaders to be proactive to CMDRR
program
 A Consortium of PRI leaders has been formed and oriented in
Preparing and implementing Contingency and Development plan
for their community
 Create infrastructure facilities (prevention walls, rescue centres,
hazard free shelters)
 Creating DRR Reserve fund
 Involving in Lobby and Advocacy with the District Administration
to mobilize the local resources for DRR program

19. Human Safety - CMDRR
 Formation of DRRMC (Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Committee) at the village level which constitutes the members of
elected leaders, Village Administrative Officer, Head Master /
Teacher, representatives of youth, women and men, elders, etc.,
 Participatory Risk Assessment (Hazard, Vulnerability and
Capacity)
 Planning the DRR activities
 Reviewing & Monitoring the DRR activities

20. Human Safety – CMDRR continued…….
 Formation of Rescue team
 Insuring the lives and properties

21. Infrastructure Development - CMDRR
 Infrastructure Development (Construction of Rescue
centres, retention / prevention walls, hazard resistance
shelters, safe drinking water)

22. Agriculture Development - CMDRR
 Raising bunds on the river side
 Insuring the crops and cattles
 Nursery Raising
 Flood resistant crops
 Conducting veterinary crops
 Organic farming
 Tree plantation

23. Livelihood Promotion - CMDRR
 Promotion of Savings and thrift
 Credit linkages
 Supporting Income Generation Activates
 Entrepreneur Development

24. Information and Awareness - CMDRR
 Organizing Cultural programs
 Training and orientation on DRR to various groups in the
community
 Integrating DRR education to the school going children in the
evening coaching centres
 Promoting CRPs (Community Resource Persons)
 Establishing Public Announcement System

25. Thanks You!!! 