Vol. 3	No. 5	October  2001

People show the way

When western and central Indian states, namely Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were reeling under impact of the third year of consecutive drought in 2001, N M Sadguru Water and Development Foundation (NMSWDF), a Dahod-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), was preparing to launch its well thought drought relief programme. Their integrated approach was effectively implemented with community involvement.

The negative impact of drought in the region was aggravated in the summer of 2001, as in 2000, it virtually drizzled during the monsoon in the affected areas. A minimal quantity of surface water could be captured in the waterbodies. Due to low intensity of rainfall, the water problem that normally emerges from March onwards in the following year, surfaced as early as October in the same year. The foundation immediately organised an in-house meeting along with local organisations to review the status and form strategies efforts for long-term drought relief measures. Several steps were worked out, starting from assessment of the existing need, proposed activities, integrating community participation, ways of implementing the programme and its monitoring, frequent reviews and documentation.

The foundation strongly believes that for sustainable impact, land, water and forest resources should be simultaneously developed. Adoption of this approach was the reason why the NMSWDF's project villages had sufficient food and fodder during the lean period from the last production. They also had sufficient savings to purchase it from the market. Secondly, the plantation owned by the beneficiaries also helped them to generate capital. So a similar approach was proposed for drought relief.

The drought relief work was undertaken in 785 villages in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Targets under each head were decided after extensive discussions between NMSWDF and its partners in this venture. (see table 1: Physical achievements)

A total of 3,340 wells were deepened in collaboration with organisations namely, ANANDI, PROGRESS, Prakruti Foundation, Pryas and Utthan. Out of the total wells deepened in the area 72 per cent of them are pucca, with a longer life span.

Just 15 days prior to initiating the deepening activity a study was conducted to get an overview of the existing water table status. Alarmingly, it was found that 64 per cent of the wells had less than 0.3 meters(m) of water. (see table 2: Status of 3,340 wells)

The impact of wells deepened was dramatic. A total of 4.12 lakh people and 1.37 lakh livestock have benefited. Apart from initiating the well deepening activity, new wells were also constructed as a part of the drought relief work. Wells were constructed on river beds few check dams for greater accessibility. The wells have impacted upon lives of 250 families and 5,000 livestock.

Similar benefits have resulted due to the other activities included in the drought relief work. Apart from making water available to people these activities also generated employment, which prevented people from being forced to migrate to other places.

The total expenditure incurred in the drought relief programme was Rs 109 lakh. This was inclusive of the contribution by the community and individual farmers in accordance with type of work. In the individual programmes like well deepening, well recharging, the farmers contributed substantially in cash and kind. The beneficiaries gave a total of ten per cent of the total cost and they removed the entire debris from the wells. The contribution by the farmers in the soil conservation work was thirty per cent of the total cost, in kind.

Thus, NMSWDF in a short duration was not only able to gather support from organisations, cooperatives and federations but also involved them in the implementation process. The broad-based approach adopted by the organisation collectively addressed the survival concerns of the villagers. They have indeed proved that the strength to transform situations lies with people.

For further information:
Harnath Jagawat
N M Sadguru Water and
Development Foundation
P O Box - 71,
Dahod 398151, Gujarat
Tel: 0091-2673-38601/2
Email: nmsadguru@yahoo.com