	*A NEW BEGINNING*
	A rich harvest
	*IN FOCUS*
	On the right track? Groundwater or poison? Punjab, ready for desi solutions Saga of tanks
	*CAMPAIGN*
	Ways to destroy Squatters or owners? VIPs strangling Dal Restoring Bis Hazari Lakes in News
	WATER LITERACY
	For water security The facilitator Let us try this out? Water carnival
	INITIATIVE
	Sabdoo, surging ahead Pioneering work Reasserting rights Haryana documents Mission possible
	FACE TO FACE

	JAL BIRADARI
	Common sense, makes sense Unflinching faith
	NEWS FROM GUJARAT
	Jal bachao yatra Checking salt ingress Water accounting
	NEWS FROM CHENNAI
	Legally armed Cultivating temple tanks Syndicate residency’s endeavour Optimising benefits
	JAL YODHAS
	P K Senapati Surinder Bansal Shree Padree Anil Rana M N Mitra
	CSE'S LATEST DESIGNS

	TECHNOLOGY
	Fog collectors Techno tit bits
	FUNDING AGENCY
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	WATER WISDOM
	NEWS FROM ABROAD
	South Africa: Water apartheid Kenya: Drought busting Japan: Water wizards Turks & Caicos Islands: A unique system Nepal: Spouts return
	WATER IN NEWS
	REDERS SPACE
	CSE'S LAKENET
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Vol. 4

No. 6

December 2002-January 2003

An inspiring journey....

Meet Popat Pawar, an enterprising sarpanch of Hivre Bazar, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. As he takes you through a journey of struggles and tireless efforts that transformed his village from a ‘punishment village’ to the one that got Maharashtra its first National Productivity Award for the best watershed work.

Gabian structure at Hivre Bazar

Q: How did the transformation begin?
A: It all started in 1989, when the youth stood up for a change. About 22 liquor shops, excessive gambling and fights has ruined the respect, society, ecology and economy of the village. The drought of 1972 marked the beginning of a disaster and they wanted to end this phase. And, when they asked me to stand for sarpanch, I could not refuse.

Q: Was it a smooth ride throughout?
A: It was not a easy journey. But we never gave up. After forming the yuva mandali, we focused on improving the educational standards. The village school was locked for two months till the state assigned us good teachers. Our first success however, was also closely followed by our first failure. We did plantation work, which was ruined by some villagers. Henceforth, we decided to do works only on demand. Our entire focus shifted to building the moral base of Hivre Bazar in accordance with the path shown by Anna Hazare.

Q: What was the impact?
A: Once the attitude of the people changed everything started falling in place. Thanks to their diligence, in 1994 under the joint forest management program, afforestation works were taken up, successfully. Today, the village boasts of a thick forest cover, maintained by the villagers themselves. In 1995, under Adarsh Gaon Yojana, watershed works were taken. About 52 earthen bunds, two percolation tanks, 33 loose stone buds and nine checkdams were built. With increased water availability villagers have diversified without encouraging unsustained water use practices. Even the state has acknowledged our efforts by funding a training centre for the sarpanches.

Q: Why is state funding preferred for village works?
A: It is our money and we want to use it for the purpose it has been allocated.

Q: Are you confident that the work will continue even when you are not there?
A: For the past one year, all decisions are been taken by the people, themselves.
I am not even consulted, just updated.
(For details: Popat Pawar, Tel: 0241-68719, 68407)