Vimal Khawas | Jawaharlal Nehru University (original) (raw)

Papers by Vimal Khawas

Research paper thumbnail of Some aspects of urban water management in Darjeeling, Himalaya

Understanding Urbanisation in Northeast India, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Historical drought and its trend in South Asia: Spatial and temporal analysis 2000-2020

APN Science Bulletin, 12(1), 2022

Every year, South Asian countries suffer from declining agricultural outputs due to climate extre... more Every year, South Asian countries suffer from declining agricultural outputs due to climate extremes such as floods and droughts. Recurrent droughts have depressed rural economies and enhanced widespread hunger and human migration to South Asian cities (Miyan, 2015). Due to climatic changes, the region is projected to experience rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events in the long term (Trenberth et al., 2014). Accurate

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Research paper thumbnail of Depleting Water Resources and Agriculture in Darjeeling Hills: Exploring the Critical Nexus

Journal of Indian Water Works Association, 2022

Water remains the most important input for agriculture to have a positive yield in the end. In In... more Water remains the most important input for agriculture to have a positive yield in the end. In India agriculture is solely dependent on the annual monsoon and the groundwater, crops are prepared and planted keeping in mind the arrival of the monsoon. At present India is home to 17 percent of the world's population but it has just 4 percent of the world's total freshwater. India's agriculture sector accounts for 18.1 percent of the total economy and it gives employment opportunities to 58 percent of the total employed workforce. Several studies have found depletion of water resources could reduce 20 percent of Indian agricultural produce by 2025, directly affecting the food security of India. Things are not much different in the hilly region of the country. In many hilly areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Almora etc. water for drinking and agricultural activities is collected mainly from shallow wells and springs. However, discharge from these sources has decreased dramatically over the years primarily due to erratic rainfall, climate change and several other allied issues. Against this backdrop, this paper tries to analyse the nexus between water resource depletion and food security. It further attempts to understand how agriculture in the region has been affected over the years under dwindling water resources in the hilly region of the country.

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Research paper thumbnail of India-China Cross-border Trade Options: Via Nathu-La and Possible Resumption of Historic Jelep-La Route

Rising Asia Journal, ISSN 2583-1038, 2023

This article argues for an urgent need for greater India-China cooperation through increased conn... more This article argues for an urgent need for greater India-China cooperation through increased connectivity to tap the trade potential of the strategic location of Nathu-La at the Indo-China border. It also advocates the resumption of border trade through the Jelep-La route, located sixty-five miles from Kalimpong in West Bengal. Border trade can act as a confidence-building measure, paving the way for conflict management through economic integration. Despite the low trade volume, border trade can bridge the differences between the two hostile neighbors, and improve their bilateral ties. The study describes the patterns of trade between India and China during the last two decades, with a focus on border trade through Nathu-La in Sikkim. It argues that such trade is essential for India and China, the fastest-growing economies with a combined 38 percent of global population, and home to the largest number of young people for whose future security and prosperity the two countries cannot afford to have border disputes.

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Research paper thumbnail of The Need for a Sustainable Political Solution to the Century-Old Gorkha Aspirations

Policy Brief, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UPPER TISTA BASIN, SIKKIM HIMALAYA

Policy Paper, 2021

The primary aim of this paper is to understand the Sikkim Himalaya in the context of the changing... more The primary aim of this paper is to understand the Sikkim Himalaya in the context of the changing environment and socio-economic dynamics in recent times, focusing particularly on hydropower projects. The study is based largely on a review of available secondary literature on the relevant issues. However, it is also supplemented by primary data extracted from various offices of the Government of Sikkim, offices of the Government of India, civil society organizations, focus group discussions with the affected people, discussions with senior officials of the state and central governments and hydropower development projects. The paper is primarily informed by a human security framework.

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Research paper thumbnail of Benefit Sharing Mechanism of the Hydro-Power Projects: A case study of Upper Tista Basin, Eastern Himalaya

The Deccan Geographer, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Seismic resistance of vernacular constructions in the Himalayas: experiences from the 2011 Sikkim Himalayan earthquake

Hill Geographer, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Traditional knowledge system in disaster risk reduction: Exploration, acknowledgement and proposition

Jàmbá - Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2019

The last 60 years have witnessed advanced technological innovation for disaster risk reduction (D... more The last 60 years have witnessed advanced technological innovation for disaster risk reduction (DRR) with the invention of high-resolution satellite imagery, digital cartography and modern engineering building techniques to high-yielding agricultural production. However, none have been highly satisfying in lessening the impact of disasters. The significant factor for the limited success of modern scientific society is that it views the world from a temporal perspective where humans are believed to be an active agent in modifying every natural possibility into opportunity. The very composite environmental system is simplified whilst extracting resources, resulting in resource depletion and environmental degradation, consequently opening the door for disaster. Technocratic science must recognise the need for a relational or holistic approach rather than believing in reductionist approaches alone whilst dealing with natural calamities. In this context, the knowledge of traditional societies is important to fill up the existing gaps created by the modern society. Traditional knowledge has different sets of ingredients to foster the development of the relational or holistic approach as it involves, interacts and interconnects humans, non-humans (animals and plants) and nature together, setting a perfect balance for sustainable development and DRR. It has vast undocumented observational data of changing natural phenomena, and in today’s scenario of climate change and uncertainty, it can create a path for reliable adaptation measures from climate- induced disasters. Thus, a holistic approach is needed for comprehensive DRR measures where both scientific and traditional knowledge systems can work together. The main purpose of this article was to explore the effective ingredients of traditional knowledge in DRR and how this age-old wisdom can be offered a hand to its integration into and collaboration with scientific research and management for DRR. To fulfil the objectives, a theoretical desk study approach was followed by identifying relevant studies, highlighting traditional knowledge in DRR from empirical and grey literatures, archive materials, biblical stories and so on. This research highlights some of the good practices of traditional knowledge in DRR and the possible path of collaboration of two knowledge systems in DRR.
Keywords: traditional knowledge; indigenous knowledge; scientific knowledge; disaster risk management; disaster risk reduction.

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Research paper thumbnail of Dynamics of Water Development in the Upper Tista Basin: Apprehensions and Implications for Bangladesh

BAPA-BEN, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Financing a national minimum social security

Social Change , 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Autonomous Development Council as spatial planning unit in India: A case study of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC)

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Research paper thumbnail of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and Socio-economic development in Darjeeling Hills

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Research paper thumbnail of WATER FOR POWER: DEBATING NEW TRENDS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA

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Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Challenges and Issues of Human Security in Eastern Nepal

The paper presents a general discussion on the various natural and human induced environmental in... more The paper presents a general discussion on the various natural and human induced environmental insecurities that often challenges human security in Nepal in general an Eastern Nepal in particular. Though small in size, Nepal is a country with geological, topographical and climate diversities that makes the country favourable to several natural challenges. These challenges range from earthquake to various type of geomorphic processes such as mass wasting and floods. The increase in population and the changes in its distribution also meant that the country is now faced with a new set of natural disaster risks. The UNDP lists earthquake, floods, flashfloods, landslides and drought as the major natural challenges for the country as a whole. While discussing these environmental challenges, a critical appreciation of the literature in the context of the region has been attempted and their present relevance also examined.

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Research paper thumbnail of Gender Budgeting, Impact of Policies and Programmes on Women of Agricultural Households in Gujarat

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by members of the Human Development Resou... more The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by members of the Human Development Resource Centre (HDRC) team of K.Seeta Prabhu, Head, Kalyani Menon-Sen, then Gender Advisor, Alka Narang, National Programme Officer and Meenakshi Kathel, Research ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Pathways for Climate Resilient Livelihoods: The Case of a Large Cardamom Farming in the Dzongu Valley of the Tista River Basin, Sikkim Himalaya

Sikkim is primarily a rural and agricultural economy, where over 60 % of its population is direct... more Sikkim is primarily a rural and agricultural economy, where over 60 % of its population is directly engaged in agriculture. Principal food crops cultured in the region include maize, paddy, barley, millet, wheat, buck wheat, beans etc. Important cash crops are cardamom, ginger, potato, soybean, fruit crops and vegetables etc. Large cardamom is raised on commercial basis and is exported both within and outside the country. In fact, Sikkim has the largest area and the highest production of large cardamom in India. It is a foreign exchange earner crop of Sikkim. The state has limited industrial potential due to its geologic and geomorphic constraints. Large cardamom farming has been suffering from decline in production and gradual drying and subsequent death of the plant in the last 1–1.5 decades.
There has been a steady decline in the yield of large cardamom over the years. One of the important factors of declining yield is ascribed to old age of cardamom bushes. A section of the policy makers and farmers also believe that monoculture of cardamom plants in the same fields for generations, is perhaps, an added cause of declining productivity of the cardamom. However, a further more important and serious factor in this regard has been the destruction of cardamom orchards by viral diseases in recent years. There are increasing warnings from the scientists, policy makers and people on field that change in temperature and rainfall pattern in the region over last many years could be the potential factors of the disease spreading viruses and subsequent destruction and declining productivity of large cardamom plantations across Sikkim.

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Research paper thumbnail of Conservation and Management of Water Resource in the Sikkim Himalaya

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Research paper thumbnail of Joint forest management in India with special reference to Darjeeling Himalaya

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Research paper thumbnail of Nepalis in India

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Research paper thumbnail of Some aspects of urban water management in Darjeeling, Himalaya

Understanding Urbanisation in Northeast India, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Historical drought and its trend in South Asia: Spatial and temporal analysis 2000-2020

APN Science Bulletin, 12(1), 2022

Every year, South Asian countries suffer from declining agricultural outputs due to climate extre... more Every year, South Asian countries suffer from declining agricultural outputs due to climate extremes such as floods and droughts. Recurrent droughts have depressed rural economies and enhanced widespread hunger and human migration to South Asian cities (Miyan, 2015). Due to climatic changes, the region is projected to experience rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events in the long term (Trenberth et al., 2014). Accurate

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Research paper thumbnail of Depleting Water Resources and Agriculture in Darjeeling Hills: Exploring the Critical Nexus

Journal of Indian Water Works Association, 2022

Water remains the most important input for agriculture to have a positive yield in the end. In In... more Water remains the most important input for agriculture to have a positive yield in the end. In India agriculture is solely dependent on the annual monsoon and the groundwater, crops are prepared and planted keeping in mind the arrival of the monsoon. At present India is home to 17 percent of the world's population but it has just 4 percent of the world's total freshwater. India's agriculture sector accounts for 18.1 percent of the total economy and it gives employment opportunities to 58 percent of the total employed workforce. Several studies have found depletion of water resources could reduce 20 percent of Indian agricultural produce by 2025, directly affecting the food security of India. Things are not much different in the hilly region of the country. In many hilly areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Almora etc. water for drinking and agricultural activities is collected mainly from shallow wells and springs. However, discharge from these sources has decreased dramatically over the years primarily due to erratic rainfall, climate change and several other allied issues. Against this backdrop, this paper tries to analyse the nexus between water resource depletion and food security. It further attempts to understand how agriculture in the region has been affected over the years under dwindling water resources in the hilly region of the country.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of India-China Cross-border Trade Options: Via Nathu-La and Possible Resumption of Historic Jelep-La Route

Rising Asia Journal, ISSN 2583-1038, 2023

This article argues for an urgent need for greater India-China cooperation through increased conn... more This article argues for an urgent need for greater India-China cooperation through increased connectivity to tap the trade potential of the strategic location of Nathu-La at the Indo-China border. It also advocates the resumption of border trade through the Jelep-La route, located sixty-five miles from Kalimpong in West Bengal. Border trade can act as a confidence-building measure, paving the way for conflict management through economic integration. Despite the low trade volume, border trade can bridge the differences between the two hostile neighbors, and improve their bilateral ties. The study describes the patterns of trade between India and China during the last two decades, with a focus on border trade through Nathu-La in Sikkim. It argues that such trade is essential for India and China, the fastest-growing economies with a combined 38 percent of global population, and home to the largest number of young people for whose future security and prosperity the two countries cannot afford to have border disputes.

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Research paper thumbnail of The Need for a Sustainable Political Solution to the Century-Old Gorkha Aspirations

Policy Brief, 2021

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Research paper thumbnail of ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UPPER TISTA BASIN, SIKKIM HIMALAYA

Policy Paper, 2021

The primary aim of this paper is to understand the Sikkim Himalaya in the context of the changing... more The primary aim of this paper is to understand the Sikkim Himalaya in the context of the changing environment and socio-economic dynamics in recent times, focusing particularly on hydropower projects. The study is based largely on a review of available secondary literature on the relevant issues. However, it is also supplemented by primary data extracted from various offices of the Government of Sikkim, offices of the Government of India, civil society organizations, focus group discussions with the affected people, discussions with senior officials of the state and central governments and hydropower development projects. The paper is primarily informed by a human security framework.

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Research paper thumbnail of Benefit Sharing Mechanism of the Hydro-Power Projects: A case study of Upper Tista Basin, Eastern Himalaya

The Deccan Geographer, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Seismic resistance of vernacular constructions in the Himalayas: experiences from the 2011 Sikkim Himalayan earthquake

Hill Geographer, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Traditional knowledge system in disaster risk reduction: Exploration, acknowledgement and proposition

Jàmbá - Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2019

The last 60 years have witnessed advanced technological innovation for disaster risk reduction (D... more The last 60 years have witnessed advanced technological innovation for disaster risk reduction (DRR) with the invention of high-resolution satellite imagery, digital cartography and modern engineering building techniques to high-yielding agricultural production. However, none have been highly satisfying in lessening the impact of disasters. The significant factor for the limited success of modern scientific society is that it views the world from a temporal perspective where humans are believed to be an active agent in modifying every natural possibility into opportunity. The very composite environmental system is simplified whilst extracting resources, resulting in resource depletion and environmental degradation, consequently opening the door for disaster. Technocratic science must recognise the need for a relational or holistic approach rather than believing in reductionist approaches alone whilst dealing with natural calamities. In this context, the knowledge of traditional societies is important to fill up the existing gaps created by the modern society. Traditional knowledge has different sets of ingredients to foster the development of the relational or holistic approach as it involves, interacts and interconnects humans, non-humans (animals and plants) and nature together, setting a perfect balance for sustainable development and DRR. It has vast undocumented observational data of changing natural phenomena, and in today’s scenario of climate change and uncertainty, it can create a path for reliable adaptation measures from climate- induced disasters. Thus, a holistic approach is needed for comprehensive DRR measures where both scientific and traditional knowledge systems can work together. The main purpose of this article was to explore the effective ingredients of traditional knowledge in DRR and how this age-old wisdom can be offered a hand to its integration into and collaboration with scientific research and management for DRR. To fulfil the objectives, a theoretical desk study approach was followed by identifying relevant studies, highlighting traditional knowledge in DRR from empirical and grey literatures, archive materials, biblical stories and so on. This research highlights some of the good practices of traditional knowledge in DRR and the possible path of collaboration of two knowledge systems in DRR.
Keywords: traditional knowledge; indigenous knowledge; scientific knowledge; disaster risk management; disaster risk reduction.

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Research paper thumbnail of Dynamics of Water Development in the Upper Tista Basin: Apprehensions and Implications for Bangladesh

BAPA-BEN, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2017

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Research paper thumbnail of Financing a national minimum social security

Social Change , 2007

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Research paper thumbnail of Autonomous Development Council as spatial planning unit in India: A case study of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC)

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) and Socio-economic development in Darjeeling Hills

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of WATER FOR POWER: DEBATING NEW TRENDS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Challenges and Issues of Human Security in Eastern Nepal

The paper presents a general discussion on the various natural and human induced environmental in... more The paper presents a general discussion on the various natural and human induced environmental insecurities that often challenges human security in Nepal in general an Eastern Nepal in particular. Though small in size, Nepal is a country with geological, topographical and climate diversities that makes the country favourable to several natural challenges. These challenges range from earthquake to various type of geomorphic processes such as mass wasting and floods. The increase in population and the changes in its distribution also meant that the country is now faced with a new set of natural disaster risks. The UNDP lists earthquake, floods, flashfloods, landslides and drought as the major natural challenges for the country as a whole. While discussing these environmental challenges, a critical appreciation of the literature in the context of the region has been attempted and their present relevance also examined.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Gender Budgeting, Impact of Policies and Programmes on Women of Agricultural Households in Gujarat

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by members of the Human Development Resou... more The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by members of the Human Development Resource Centre (HDRC) team of K.Seeta Prabhu, Head, Kalyani Menon-Sen, then Gender Advisor, Alka Narang, National Programme Officer and Meenakshi Kathel, Research ...

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Pathways for Climate Resilient Livelihoods: The Case of a Large Cardamom Farming in the Dzongu Valley of the Tista River Basin, Sikkim Himalaya

Sikkim is primarily a rural and agricultural economy, where over 60 % of its population is direct... more Sikkim is primarily a rural and agricultural economy, where over 60 % of its population is directly engaged in agriculture. Principal food crops cultured in the region include maize, paddy, barley, millet, wheat, buck wheat, beans etc. Important cash crops are cardamom, ginger, potato, soybean, fruit crops and vegetables etc. Large cardamom is raised on commercial basis and is exported both within and outside the country. In fact, Sikkim has the largest area and the highest production of large cardamom in India. It is a foreign exchange earner crop of Sikkim. The state has limited industrial potential due to its geologic and geomorphic constraints. Large cardamom farming has been suffering from decline in production and gradual drying and subsequent death of the plant in the last 1–1.5 decades.
There has been a steady decline in the yield of large cardamom over the years. One of the important factors of declining yield is ascribed to old age of cardamom bushes. A section of the policy makers and farmers also believe that monoculture of cardamom plants in the same fields for generations, is perhaps, an added cause of declining productivity of the cardamom. However, a further more important and serious factor in this regard has been the destruction of cardamom orchards by viral diseases in recent years. There are increasing warnings from the scientists, policy makers and people on field that change in temperature and rainfall pattern in the region over last many years could be the potential factors of the disease spreading viruses and subsequent destruction and declining productivity of large cardamom plantations across Sikkim.

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Research paper thumbnail of Conservation and Management of Water Resource in the Sikkim Himalaya

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Research paper thumbnail of Joint forest management in India with special reference to Darjeeling Himalaya

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Research paper thumbnail of Nepalis in India

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Research paper thumbnail of Teesta Disaster: A Human-made Catastrophe and the Lessons Learnt

Rising Asia, 2024

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Research paper thumbnail of Not brewing right

Down to Earth, 2015

Tea in the Darjeeling hills is losing its flavour. TEA from the Darjeeling hills are among the mo... more Tea in the Darjeeling hills is losing its flavour. TEA from the Darjeeling hills are among the most celebrated varieties in the country.

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Research paper thumbnail of Demographic Shift in Bengal Duars and National Security Concerns

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Research paper thumbnail of Recalling the Forgotten Way (Jelepla -Lhasa)

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Research paper thumbnail of Relevance of Autonomy (Gorkhaland)

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Research paper thumbnail of Trans-boundary Water Management in the Tista Basin: Some Issues and Concerns

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Research paper thumbnail of Dynamics of Hydropower Development and Regional Environmental Security in the Teesta Basin

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Research paper thumbnail of Protecting what is ours

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Research paper thumbnail of Nepali Vs Nepalese

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Research paper thumbnail of Not Brewing Right

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Research paper thumbnail of Weeping Tista (Teesta)

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