Rajasthan: the stop over

Three years of continuous drought (1997-2000) has broken the backbone of the rural economy of Rajasthan. Almost 77 per cent of the total population (which stood at 44 million according to the 1991 census), lives in the villages and for them water for drinking and irrigation has become a luxury. Women regularly walk for almost two to three kilometers for drinking water. Dried handpumps are the first signs for residents to leave the village.

With a heavy heart, a few weeks back Satto Bai purposely left her two cows almost six kilometers away. To die slowly searching for the elusive drop of water. "What could I do? I cannot provide them with drinking water because there is no community tank here for animals. It is increasingly becoming difficult for us to get water for the family. This is against my religion and conscience but I have no way out," she says. The drought has dealt a severe blow to Satto Bai’s seven-member
family, which resides in Khajura, a tiny hamlet in Sapotra block in Karoli district.

Like her, many families in Jaipur, Dausa and Sawai Madhopur are torn between their hearts and reality. The girdavari report (revenue survey) received from all 32 districts of the state indicates that 30,585 villages (of 37,889 total villages) are scarcity-hit. Inadequate rainfall in the past three years has dried up majority of the water sources in the state. This has resulted in a critical situation due to excessive exploitation of groundwater. The state normally receives 533 mm rainfall between June and September but in 2000 just 380 mm was recorded. In 2000, the rainfall was 29 per cent below normal, while in 1999 there was a deficit of 16 per cent.

"The catchment area of the pond is around 12 sq km. We have a very strong gram sabha where each member participates (240 families) wholeheartedly. The reservoir itself is around one and a half sq km. The pond never dried up after we built it. At least 250 wells have been recharged," says K Saini.

"My well motor used to run for ten minutes and now it runs for one and half hours even during this drought period. The irrigated area has increased by 1,500 bigha," says Ramji Lal.

In upstream villages like Kolana and Dapaon there is total drought because no water conservation work has been done. The people from the neighbouring villages tried to break the bandh but the collector of Dausa was convinced with the structure’ s capabilties and did not allow damage to the bandh. The total cost of making the bandh was Rs 3.50 lakh in which the villagers paid Rs 1.80 lakh.

Today even during the drought there is farming. In fact there is reverse migration. Agriculture labourers from Uttar Pradesh have come and camped in this village for growing vegetables, water melons and other fruits. Now with water coming being available in plenty, the per bigha price of agricultural land has touched Rs 3,000 much to the envy of the neighbouring villages. Villagers are also saving the jungle and anyone cutting trees is fined Rs 500. Khair and neem saplings have been planted in plenty.

"Jaipur was like our second home because every year due to water scarcity and unemployment we had to stay there for work for a considerable period of time. Jobs were scarce but on good seasons we would get odd jobs. If Jaipur could not give us two square meals, we would trudge ahead to other states in search of work. But today, there is no need to move away from home and family. My farm gives me enough to sustain my family and also sell some outside. I also have some cattle and that takes care of milk requirements. After this tank was built, it has never dried up and is our nurturer," says Jagdish Narayan Meena.

Today other than the two tanks there are small ponds and many checkdams. "The impact in this village as far as agriculture goes was seen after seven years whereas the milk market developed after 5 years only," says Gujjar. "After the tank filled up with water, we started keeping animals," says Jaganath, gram sabha adhyaksh. The production of milk has increased and as a sign of improving biomass availability, people have started keeping cows instead of goats. The village also sustains five colonies of agriculturists from other states along with its own 100 families and 6,000 cattle.

Neighbouring Neemi is Ghata village and the scene is diametrically the opposite. There is an acute crisis of water, which has resulted in rampant migration. Agriculture has been totally devastated, villagers are desperate for single drop of water and fodder. At 200 feet there is no water. Farmers have spent thousands of rupees for reboring but to no avail. This year only one-fourth of the agricultural land has been sown. Most of the crop has failed due to lack of water. The landscape is deserted. People have taken to rearing of goats, another sign of the trying times.

Neemi: An oasis in the desert

However, after the paani yatra this year from Neemi and the success of the village, people have understood the value of water conservation. "We saw Neemi making the Ghatabara bandh and asked our villagers to make a similar structure. No one listened to me and today they are going to Neemi to see and learn from them. At least it is better to be late than never. Our village has acute water problem and unless we make water harvesting structures, there is no way," says Prabhat Gujjar, a resident of the village.

Adds Jaggan Gujjar," The amount of money we spent deepening the wells could have been better utilised if we spent it in building other structures. The groundwater level would have increased automatically. Our crops would have survived."