Community Insights on Climate Change and Water Transitions from a Field Lens

Water is the most valued, but at present the most vulnerable resource of mankind. But with anthropogenic propelled climate crisis, larger footprints are being led on the water deposits of the planet. This has led to faster depletion of the resource causing risks to human existence and their overall sustenance. However, those at the receiving end are the local communities which have emerged as the most vulnerable ones. The present paper takes into account their insights on climate change, the climate change induced water transition and how it has led to a change in their practices affecting the water economy of the research area. The entire research investigation has been carried out in Nabarangpur district of Odisha keeping its fragile resource status under consideration. A total of four blocks and eight villages have been covered for the research enquiry using both exploratory and descriptive designs for data collection and analysis. The incongruity between demand and supply through a need assessment of the resource testifies the growing stress of water in the studied region. The paper also brings into focus the dependency ratio of the respondents on the limited sources of water and the change of practices as a result of the miseries that follow.