Prioritising development planning in the Indian semi-arid Deccan using sustainable livelihood security index approach

Abstract

This paper presents the status of sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI) of Karnataka, the most drought prone state in the Southern part of India. Computation of ecological security index, economic efficiency index and social equity index, and finally SLSI were carried out at the district level for the entire state, using empirical data. The selected indicators were first normalised, and then using estimated weights, indices were computed. The results indicate that the state has a very low SLSI with only 27.6% of total geographical area (TGA) and 21.7% of population being placed in the ‘sustainable’ and ‘highly sustainable’ categories (covering 10 districts) while only 34% of the TGA covering six districts falls in the ‘moderately sustainable’ category. The remaining area, confined mostly to the northern parts of the state, comprising 14 districts (51.8% of the state’s TGA) is categorised as ‘less sustainable’ and ‘very less sustainable’ exposing 44.4% (27.14 million) of state’s population to the perils of uncertain rainfall, high soil erosion rates, high social inequality and poor resource use efficiency. There is an urgent need to reorient development programmes and prioritise development investments in these vulnerable districts so that they are provided resources and opportunities to improve their ecological (more forest cover and less soil erosion), economic (higher agricultural productivity) and social (improved health and education facilities and rural infrastructure) status and achieve sustainable levels of livelihood.

Keywords:

• ecological security
• economic efficiency
• Karnataka
• social equity
• semi-arid
• sustainable livelihood security index

Acknowledgements

We express gratitude to the authors of various government reports which have been generously used in the preparing this paper and to the Director, CSWCRTI for providing necessary facilities.

Notes

1. In 2007, two new districts namely, Ramanagara and Chikballapur were formed by the bifurcation of Bengaluru (Rural) and Kolar Districts, respectively. Further in 2009, Yadgir district was carved out of Gulbarga district and officially declared as the 30th district of Karnataka state.