An enquiry into rehabilitation as a climate change adaptation policy: the case of the Western Ghats of Kerala, India

The Western Ghats have been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Besides, it is classified as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots by Conservation International. The Western Ghats of Kerala have experienced devastating landslides and floods in recent years, which are triggered by climate change. This alarming situation calls for policymakers to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation policy at the local level. However, no study has yet thoroughly investigated this critical issue. Therefore, this study explores the prospects and trade-offs of climate rehabilitation policies for families living in the highly landslide- and flood-prone areas of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India. We have undertaken a mixed methodology comprising four focus group discussions followed by empirical analyses. Towards this, a semi-structured questionnaire is framed to gather relevant information based on the outcomes. The data are analyzed using robust logistic regression models. The findings indicate that most agricultural worker families support the rehabilitation policy, given their lower opportunity costs due to the absence of farmland ownership. On the other hand, agricultural families face considerable trade-offs regarding rehabilitation. Most agricultural families prefer to rehabilitate within a short distance from the current residence or construct a retaining wall as they fear rehabilitation to distant places will gravely affect their livelihood. This research highlights the potential for implementing a rehabilitation policy for marginalized communities heavily exposed to climate risks. Additionally, constructing retaining walls should also be a primary focus of the Government.