A Pragmatic Approach to Study Vulnerability Using Livelihood Vulnerability Index: A Case Study from Cold Desert of Nubra Valley, Ladakh (Himalaya)

Abstract

Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) is being proposed to assess the degree of vulnerability and adaptability against the impacts of natural disasters in the Nubra valley. The index comprises households variables of all the three dimensions of vulnerability such as Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive Capacity. Exposure is described by 'Natural disaster', 'Its impact', and 'Flood warning'. Sensitivity is defined by 'Water', 'Housing', 'Health' and 'Finance', and Adaptive Capacity by 'Socio-demographic profile', 'Livelihood strategies', 'Food', and 'Social networks'. The study is based on the primary data and information collected from 300 sample households in the three blocks such as Turtuk, Diskit, and Panamik in the Nubra valley (Union Territory of Ladakh), India. Data were aggregated using a composite index and disparity vulnerabilities were compared. The result reveals that Panamik block was higher exposed (0.402) to the impacts of natural disasters and higher sensitivity (0.333) of water, housing, health, and finance due to the less adaptive capacity 0.298) of socio-demographic profile, livelihood strategies, food, social network in respect to other blocks. The LVI of Turtuk 0.889, Diskit 0.836, and Panamik 0.904 or LVI-IPCC was 0.004, -0.017, and 0.035 for Tutuk, Diskit and Panamik blocks, respectively, and this suggests that overall vulnerability was higher to Panamik households, and least vulnerability to Diskit households. This pragmatic LVI approach may be used to monitor vulnerability under different stress situations. The result obtained by LVI may have implications for improving adaptation or coping strategies to the region.