Marcella D’Souza, director, WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS): Interviewed

Q. From your field observations, how are rural communities’ attitudes toward the climate crisis evolving, and what is driving this shift?

For a long time, climate and rainfall in rural India were viewed as matters of fate, something beyond human influence or planning. Over the last 33 years, in the villages where we work closely, this perception has shifted significantly. When communities gain access to weather data, local forecasts and practical advisories that directly affect their crops, water availability and incomes, they start recognising clear links between climate patterns and their day-to-day decisions.

Farmers learn to adjust sowing windows, select appropriate crop varieties and manage soil and water more carefully. As these changes translate into better yields and improved water security, confidence grows and climate stops being an abstract idea. It becomes something they can plan for and respond to. However, large parts of rural India still remain unaware of the scale of the climate challenge. Many communities are only now experiencing its impacts, without yet having the knowledge, information or tools to adapt effectively.

Q. How do water security and ecosystem restoration align with India’s broader climate and development goals?

Water security lies at the centre of India’s climate and development priorities. Without reliable water, food security weakens, rural livelihoods decline and even urban sustainability becomes fragile, especially since much of urban India depends on water sourced from rural landscapes. Restoring degraded ecosystems, reviving soils and recharging groundwater directly contribute to both climate adaptation and long-term economic stability. These actions align with national goals around sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and inclusive growth.

From a climate perspective, healthy ecosystems buffer droughts, floods and extreme rainfall. From a development lens, they support productivity without exhausting natural resources. Water security and ecosystem restoration, therefore, are not separate objectives, they are deeply interconnected foundations for India’s future.

Q. Could you share an example of a grassroots or women-led initiative that has strengthened local governance of natural resources?

One of the most powerful examples comes from the women-led initiatives in villages like Bhojdari and Mhaswandi in Maharashtra’s drought-prone regions. In Bhojdari, women took responsibility for monitoring local water systems, participating in collective decision-making on par with men. In Mhaswandi, women’s self-help groups grew into trusted community institutions. Through their collective savings, they even started a gas cylinder agency, reducing dependence on firewood and protecting nearby forests.

Perhaps the most striking example of responsible stewardship was when women collectively chose to close a newly drilled borewell at a school after realising it was depleting nearby farmers’ wells. Instead, they worked together to coordinate shared water access, safeguarding the aquifer. These actions demonstrate how empowered women can lead ethical, farsighted and community-rooted governance of natural resources.

Q. What potential do you see in technologies like geospatial tools and advisory apps to bridge information gaps for farmers?

These technologies hold enormous potential, provided they are translated into simple, actionable insights that farmers can easily relate to. Farmers don’t need complex dashboards. They need clear information that helps them understand how rainfall trends, soil degradation, or water levels affect their crops.

When farmers are shown easy-to-read maps or visuals, they quickly grasp why certain problems occur and what changes in land or water use can improve outcomes. Weather advisories based on IMD data and local weather stations help them plan sowing, irrigation and crop choices more confidently.

As smartphone penetration grows, digital apps can further bridge information gaps. But technology works best when combined with human engagement, field teams, community meetings and local champions who build trust and explain information. When used this way, digital tools reduce risk, improve productivity and democratise scientific knowledge for rural communities.

Q. What policy gaps still need attention to mainstream climate-resilient development within rural planning?

A major policy gap is the use of standardised, one-size-fits-all solutions across a country with immense ecological diversity. India’s rainfall, soil, land use, and water systems vary widely, yet planning frameworks often remain uniform. Climate-resilient development must shift from a scheme-based approach to an outcome-based one, focused on whether ecosystems are healthy, water is managed sustainably and land remains productive.

Another gap lies in institutional silos. Departments handling water, forests, agriculture, and rural development often work independently, while nature itself is interconnected. Policies must encourage genuine convergence across sectors. We also need stronger recognition of community-led stewardship models, where villagers monitor groundwater, rainfall, and land use themselves. These approaches are already effective on the ground but have yet to be fully integrated into planning.

Finally, strategies must be tailored to local conditions. Drought-prone rain shadow regions cannot be treated the same as the Indo-Gangetic plains. Localised planning is essential for climate-resilient development.

Q. Among the communities WOTR has worked with, is there a transformation story that best illustrates the journey from vulnerability to resilience?

The transformation of Kalamkarwadi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, is a powerful example of long-term resilience building. Once a drought-prone village in a harsh rain shadow zone, Kalamkarwadi has gradually rebuilt its ecological and economic systems through integrated land and water management.

Satellite studies now show extensive tree cover, and livelihoods have shifted towards sustainable options like dairy farming, fodder cultivation, and hardy food crops such as jowar and bajra.

One of the most striking changes is the village-wide adoption of biogas, with every household now operating a biogas plant. This has eliminated the burden of fuelwood collection for women, reduced input costs by providing organic slurry for farming, and improved household energy security.

Kalamkarwadi’s journey illustrates that resilience is not a single project, it is a continuous process built on scientific inputs, community ownership, and a long-term commitment to protecting natural resources.