| Moti 
            Marsal, Surendra Nagar District, Gujarat
 
 The village spread over 200 hectares supports a population of 600. 
            Groundwater being saline, there was a major drinking water problem 
            in this village. To solve the water crisis the villagers undertook 
            water harvesting with the help of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.
 
 'Gram Vikas Mandal' (Village development council) mobilised the 
              community to construct a sub-surface dyke (underground checkdam). 
              At the household level rooftop water harvesting systems were adopted. 
              Women of this village have also taken initiative for solving the 
              problem of drinking water through Mahila Vikas Mandal and installed 
              the rooftop rainwater harvesting systems.  Investment of Rs 30,000,00 has started yielding returns. Now, villagers 
              have drinking water. More over agricultural outputs have improved. 
              Muludana, a villager says, "In 2000 when rain was good, stored 
              water lasted for around six months after rainy season". Vashram 
              Bhai , a member of Gram Vikas Mandal says, "After the completion 
              of first check dam we have done irrigation in about 100 bighas and 
              around 20 wells were recharged."  |