The severe drought situation in Gujarat due to monsoon failure last year has indicated the undeniable difference between villages in terms of the intensity of the crisis. Villages where water harvesting has been adopted are much less affected than those villages where no such initiatives were undertaken.
N M Sadguru Water and Development Foundation (SWDF), a Dahod-based organisation has been working in the field of natural resource management, particularly, water resources development for nearly three decades in the tribal regions of Western India. The organisation, during the present crisis has done a comparative analysis and come up with absorbing conclusions and suggestions.

The project areas of SWDF are comparatively better placed in terms of availability of water, foodgrain, fuel and fodder. Thanks to a participatory and technologically feasible watershed programme, a large number of wells continue to be recharged due to the check dams that have been constructed. Several lift irrigation setups were functional during the rabi season of 1999-2000. Almost all their check dams had enough water till March 2000.

Harnath Jagawat, director of SWDF, says that the migration rate in the
villages during the pre-intervention period (the period prior to the watershed development activities undertaken by SWDF) was 70 percent. As a result of the
watershed projects the migration rate has reduced to 10 per cent in these
villages. In some project villages, the rate of migration at the present moment has gone up to 30 per cent, which is less compared to the pre-intervention period. The migration pattern has also undergone transformation. Previously, the entire household use to migrate for eight months. Now it has been observed that only the male members of the family migrate and that too for half the earlier duration.

Psychologically the villagers are not apprehensive in the drought situation. Due to the conversion of the dry land to irrigated land and possession of large number of trees, livelihood security of the villagers has been significantly enhanced.

In order to combat the present water crisis in Gujarat, Jagawat proposes
certain measures, which according to him, would be effective in minimising the catastrophe.

a) All water sources—big, medium and small ought to be harnessed at the earliest and utmost priority and prominence should be attached to water related programmes.
b) Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater sources
c) Participatory and technically appropriate watershed development programmes should be implemented on a wider scale. Jagawat has emphasised that in order to thwart the incidence of drought the  watershed programme has to be intensive, interactive and integrating all components of livelihood security, which may expand and sustain the natural resource base.
d) Proposing big dams as an appropriate technology to suffice water requirements Jagawat says "Proper rehabilitation of the project-affected-people has to be managed most humanly an appropriately.

According to Jagawat, the Gujarat state’s claim to be progressive is nullified if the villagers are devoid of the basic amenities, especially water. He is of the opinion that the people of Gujarat are enterprising and socially conscoius. By adopting a supportive and facilitative role in the state government will be able to address the present day water crises.

Annasaheb Hazare has once again  provided inspiration and guidance on watershed development works to implementing agencies and the village communities. A recent example of his prevailing enthusiasm was his visit to Saurashtra in November 1999, organised by Development Support Centre (DSC), Ahmedabad in collaboration with Vruksh Prem Seva Trust-Upleta, Development Support Centre-Dhari and Shree Kundla Taluka Gram Seva Mandal-Savarkundla. The foremost reason for undertaking this visit was to provide encouragement and knowledge to watershed communities, programme implementation agencies (PIAs) and government organisations.

His field visits culminated with a state level meet of watershed PIAs in Khadasli. Shree Kundla Taluka Gram Seva Mandal hosted this workshop. Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) had sponsored the workshop.

Annasaheb visited Boria, Belda, Rampar, Chhatadia, Hirava, Rabarika, Dedakadi and Bhokrava villages. He interacted with the villagers, user groups, watershed committees and self-help groups. At Hirava, a workshop was also organised for the watershed committee members from ten villages to share their experiences with Annasaheb. Gram Sabhas were organised, which enabled Annasaheb to share his experiences of the exemplary initiative at Ralegan Siddhi.

While sharing his experiences, Annasaheb mentioned that the most striking feature was the increasing and encouraging trend in contribution by villagers towards costs of water harvesting systems. According to him, this trend is an indicator of the seriousness being attached to the problem and the confidence shown in cohesively solving them without depending on the government. He was impressed by the level of responsibilities shouldered by farmers in planning, developing and managing water harvesting structures. He equally appreciated the work done on public land through contour bunds.

While discussing with the village committees, he stressed the importance of leadership in the sustenance of the watershed programme. He considered watershed programme as a tool that would lead to overall development and social cohesion within the village community. According to him, the success of any collective endeavor is based on moral values and equal opportunity. He emphasised the involvement of women in the development processes, such equitable and sustainable development would only be possible if all the members of society are encouraged to contribute towards the objective.

Annasaheb cautioned the villagers on two main issues. Firstly, he advised the villagers to be cautious of the technology which they would be implementing. He suggested that technical norms need to be followed but the choice of the technology has to be in conjunction with the site conditions. Secondly, he cautioned them by creating awareness about the social evils like alcoholism, smoking which can easily destroy any community effort. He advised the villagers and the PIAs to have patience and perseverance while working with the communities.