AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY OF COASTAL HOUSEHOLDS AND DECISION MAKING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

The marine fishery, being a common property resource, is prone to externalities due to climate change thus affecting sustainability of fish stock and further impacts livelihood of fishers. In this context, a baseline study was undertaken to assess the socio-economic vulnerability to climate change of coastal communities at household level in Thoothukudi district encompassing 24 fishing villages with a sample size of 1741 coastal households. Secondary data sourced census villages (n=17) in the district were also considered for a comparative approach. The criteria and indicators were developed through literature survey, expert consultation and statistically validated through Weighted Sum Model (WSM) and Multi-criteria approach (AHP). As a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, Cumulative Vulnerability Index (CVI) was estimated using primary datasets through established institutional mechanisms at household, village and taluk level.Based on CVI values, 9 fishing villages were identified as highly vulnerable and the results revealed that exposure and sensitivity components were found to be the significant contributors to the cumulative vulnerability in the district. The Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index (SeVI) based on sensitivity and adaptive capacity for fishing and census villages were estimated and the observation indicate that 63% of the fishing villages were socioeconomically highly vulnerable; suggesting that improving their socioeconomic status would have a significantly higher impact on vulnerability reduction. A two-dimensional decision matrix was developed to identify the socio-economic vulnerable villages in each taluk based on their level of sensitivity and adaptive capacity. To aid in planning the appropriate location-specific interventions and programmes, the socioeconomic vulnerable indicators were designated as 'drivers' (indicators with significantly high indices and to be intervened in priority) and 'buffers' (indicators with low and moderate indices).