M’laya households’ monthly income less than Rs 5000

Twenty-five out of 39 Community and Rural Development Blocks of Meghalaya remains highly “vulnerable” with household monthly income less than Rs 5000, a report revealed.
According to a recent research titled “Integrated climate vulnerability assessment of Meghalaya at Block level”, conducted by the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre to assess climate vulnerability, revealed 25 out of 39 Blocks “fall under high or very high vulnerability.”
The assessment has been published as a research article in Discover Sustainability, a journal by the Europe-based Springer Nature Group.
The study identified five key drivers – Anganwadi Centres, households with Kisan Credit Cards, household income, forest area per thousand rural population and percentage of net irrigated area – contributing to high vulnerability in several blocks.
The 10 ‘very high’ climate vulnerable blocks are Ranikor, Mawthadraishan, Mairang, Mawryngkneng, Mawkynrew, Amlarem, Thadlaskein, Laskein and Saipung. At the other end of the spectrum, Betasing and Zikzak in South West Garo Hills and Mylliem in East Khasi Hills are in the ‘very low’ category of climate vulnerability.
The report also revealed significant disparities across various blocks in Meghalaya, including limited access to Anganwadi centers, Kisan Credit Cards, and forest areas.
Due to insufficient financial access, inadequate public infrastructure, and scarce natural resources, the study revealed, over 70 percent of households in 32 blocks earn below Rs. 5000 per mont, underscoring “pronounced sensitivity.”
The researchers found that Anganwadi Centres per 1000 hectare is few and far between in the state.
“More than 50 percent of the blocks have significantly fewer Anganwadi centres than the state average, with discrepancies as high as 145 centres between certain blocks,” the report revealed.
Nearly all households in these Blocks report less than 2 percent Kisan Credit Cards coverage, except for one block with 16 per cent coverage. While forest area varies considerably, with 28 blocks recording less than 10 km² per 1000 rural inhabitants,” it stated.
“With overall irrigation coverage of only 14.45 percent and 29 blocks below 20 percent inadequate irrigation is a significant vulnerability driver,” the study revealed.
On the other hand, the researchers recommended the policymakers to prioritise interventions that improve adaptive capacities.
“We recommend targeted investments in financial services and rural infrastructure, as well as enhanced institutional support to mitigate vulnerability,” the report said.
Moreover, they also recommended that households should get access to credit facilities, especially by increasing the penetration of Kisan credit cards.
“Improving rural infrastructure through investment in public services like Anganwadi centres, road networks and irrigation systems to bolster adaptive capacity,” the report said and suggested for the need of strengthening institutional support by developing targeted community-based programmes that address the specific drivers of vulnerability at the Block level.