UPCCCE-Uttar Pradesh Climate Change and Clean Environment

Panchayatiraj

ABOUT

The Gram Sabha is conceived as the basis of the Panchayat Raj System to execute functions and powers linked to local governance in the 73rd Amendment, which acknowledges and reemphasizes the village as a unit of administration and political decision-making. A list of issues to be placed under the jurisdiction of Panchayats was also given. Land improvement, land consolidation, soil conservation, water management, social forestry, minor forest produce, non-conventional energy sources, sanitation, and asset maintenance are among the 29 subjects mentioned in the Eleventh Schedule related to the environment and sustainability. Governments worldwide are working to make the villages more climate-resilient, focusing on the villages as the production unit to produce more food and other agricultural products sustainably while improving resistance to extreme weather events occurring to climate change.

Major Extreme Weather Events Occurred in Uttar Pradesh Villages

Climate change has resulted in the increase in frequency of extreme weather events worldwide. Villages are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, owing to ineffective early warning systems and weather predictions. Extreme weather events have negatively impacted both human life, agricultural produce and village infrastructure making the villages unsustainable cultivation and human habitation. The temperature rise due to global warming has also led to numerous viral and bacterial infectious illnesses, further resulting in the loss of life and property.

Extreme weather events recorded in U.P includes:

Rainfall
Drought
Thunderstorms
heat waves
Cold waves
Temperature extremes

Climate-resilient Villages

In collaboration with various stakeholders, governments across the world are working to strengthen panchayat raj to create climate-resilient villages. The Government of India has adopted the concept of climate resilient village to provide stability to farm productivity and household incomes, as well as resilience through livelihood diversification in the face of extreme climatic events such as droughts, cyclones, floods, hailstorms, heat waves, frost, and seawater inundation. Development of climate-resilient village mandates establishment of a host of enabling mechanisms to mobilise and empower communities in the decision-making process to manage and recover from climate risks.

A climate-resilient village comprises the following practices at the panchayat level: human capital development through various seminars and programmes

Agro-advisories, improved agricultural management
Conservation of natural resources, and livestock production
Integrated farming
Adapting to weather anomalies and severe occurrences
Food safety in the home and village
Sustainable development
Climate change mitigation.

Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA):

With a strong emphasis on local government, the MGNREGA makes choices on the type and location of employment. Each worksite selection is made in open assemblies of the Gram Sabha and endorsed by the Gram Panchayat. The majority of the projects are connected to water conservation, drought resistance, and land development, all of which have a direct impact on lowering vulnerability to climate change. In numerous MGNREGA impact studies across India, the influence of grassroot planning, implementation, and use is apparent in terms of improved groundwater recharge, greater forest covering, and increased land productivity.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY):

People in rural India are reliant on unclean cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, and dung-cakes, which has resulted in indoor pollution and a variety of respiratory diseases. PMUY was launched to provide LPG connections with the goal of providing clean-looking fuel, particularly to BPL households, and promoting the cleanliness and purity of the environment.

Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin):

SBM-G was launched to improve living in rural areas and encourage communities and Panchayati Raj organizations to provide sustainable sanitation facilities through public awareness and health education. SBM-G also focused on promoting inexpensive and appropriate technology for environmentally safe and long-term hygiene. SBM-G also concentrated on developing community-managed environmental hygiene practises for full hygiene in rural regions, emphasizing solid and liquid waste management.

Kususm Yojana:

The government has launched the Kusum Solar Pump Distribution Scheme, under which solar energy power pumps would be given to farmers. The primary goal of the government in implementing the Kusum plan is to power 30 million diesel-powered pumps in the country with solar energy by 2022, therefore reducing the use of fuel and electricity and increasing the usage of solar energy. Solar panels may be encouraged to safeguard the source of electricity. Farmers will utilise energy for irrigation and sell the remaining electricity to the grid to make money under the Kusum plan.

Sector-wise funds allocated to Gram Panchayats of Uttar Pradesh

S.No.	Sector Name	GP Count	Total Works Approved	Cost of Approved Works (in Cr.)	Total Works Initiated	Cost of Initiated Works (in Cr.)
1.	Agriculture	3263	4607	162.45	303	10.86
2.	Land improvement	6767	12420	339.68	779	32.04
3.	Water Conservation	5515	11726	194.40	1178	30.54
4.	Animal husbandry	2395	4326	94.30	430	13.44
5.	Fisheries	798	1129	71.47	81	1.96
6.	Social forestry and farm forestry	8034	9454	117.83	362	6.36
7.	Minor forest produce	144	172	24.35	10	0.16
8.	Small-scale industries	226	564	25.73	70	3.15
9.	Khadi	58	95	2.33	5	0.19
10.	Rural housing	10425	27555	991.46	3295	164.51
11.	Drinking water	57542	452274	8,582.60	74238	1,371.71
12.	Fuel and fodder	91	109	10.71	12	0.19
13.	Roads	48758	727197	13,985.17	36504	1,116.79
14.	Rural electrification	24327	56073	899.72	3650	95.98
15.	Non-conventional energy sources	163	310	27.28	33	0.97
16.	Poverty allevation programme	146	177	2.32	20	0.81
17.	Education	38067	154916	3,465.29	15766	512.53
18.	Technical training and vocational education	153	259	5.02	35	1.43
19.	Adult and non-formal education	877	2057	62.06	249	7.83
20.	Libraries	292	342	3.60	33	0.36
21.	Cultural activities	4011	12736	177.15	1160	39.23
22.	Markets and fairs	605	1112	28.94	123	3.66
23.	Family welfare	1021	1382	39.94	151	6.55
24.	Women and child development	3431	5299	96.10	340	15.21
25.	Social welfare	7898	27406	629.46	2353	133.81
26.	Welfare of the weaker sections	146	315	17.67	20	0.88
27.	Public distribution system	1520	3857	54.63	436	17.99
28.	Maintenance of community system	24616	89287	2,723.55	10022	407.18
29.	Tribal Welfare	37	39	0.43	16	0.12
30.	Administrative & Technical Support	56094	298844	6,521.52	64782	1,241.87
31.	GP Office Infrastructure	6833	13516	434.99	1993	106.37
32.	Health	9139	19579	446.30	2013	67.14
33.	Sanitation	57090	587921	12,569.84	63156	1,676.86
Total Count			2527055	52,808.29	283618	7,088.68