In
the early 1990's, the Indian Government sought assistance from the German
government in tackling water table degradation. The Indo - German Bilateral
Project was formed, on the understanding that it would be carried out
in consultation with local NGO's. In this way the project is able to benefit
from grassroots organizations like ours, who have extensive regional experience,
and can communicate with the people concerned in a productive way. We
recognized that the Project would be creative in implementing the vision
we have of self-sufficiency and regeneration in the villages, and so became
the Rajasthan partners.
We
conduct baseline surveys of village areas and propose an agenda detailing
the action we recommend. Following discussions with the Bilateral Project,
funding arrangements are finalized with the Ministry of Agriculture, before
the commencement of the project.
Implementations
of the various watershed programmes began in 1994-95 in Neem Ka Thana
Tehsil, Sikar District. Initially reticent, the villagers gradually accepted
our development ideas, and participated in various training programmes,
such as compost preparation, vegetable production, local herbal plantation
and use, medicinal plants, developed agriculture, developed irrigation
techniques, tailoring, training, organizing Mahila Mandal's, village planning,
biogas etc. The villagers have gained understanding and skill in relation
to all these 'new' areas.
As necessary
complement to these activities, water conservation, took the form of land
leveling, well deepening and contour bunding. Effects have been startling
- water level in wells has risen by 15 to 20 feet; irrigated area of each
well has increased by 2 to 5 hectares; these areas are yielding double the
quantity of crops and vegetables. Ground moisture is also increasing.
With
this increase in agricultural potential there has come a diversification
in land use. Prior to the commencing of the project, no vegetables were
grown in the area, but now they are common, being both consumed and sold.
Fodder and cattle improvement programmes complement these developments,
and a vast improvement in the overall balance of agriculture has been
achieved
Training
in fields like solar energy, soap making, papad preparation, etc. was
given. These techniques and practices have been adopted successfully and
improve efficiency whilst generating income. In addition to all this,
the Mahila Mandals have become a success in the villages.
The
project ended in 1999, and since the villagers have been thoroughly grounded
in all the new developments, they have been able to continue the programmes
without our direct supervision.
After
the successful implementation of the project in RWS-Bhuranpura (Sikar
district) it is now being replicated in RWS-Jola Rajwas (Tonk district).
The
Indo-German Bilateral Project: Watershed Management web site can be found
at www.watershedindia.net