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PROJECT SAHYOG (A DROUGHT PROOFING INITIATIVE)
Introduction
The Marwar region of the Thar Desert is the most densely populated desert in the world. The region which was predominantly pastoral economy has now transformed into an area of agriculture with scant regard to the soil profile and ground water availability. This has resulted in overexploitation of ground water leading to a serious water shortage problem. The loss of pastoral land as well as agricultural output, has resulted in extreme economic backwardness attributable directly to environmental degradation arising out of lack of appropriate planning and development. This has resulted in scarcity of life supporting resources of fodder, food, fuel wood and water. The situation becomes very grim during droughts resulting in migration of people and livestock to adjoining states leaving behind women and children. The younger generation of male population migrate to cities to seek employment in distant land. The separation of male population from the rest of the family has its own adverse reminifications – medical as also psychological. It is to mitigate such adverse effects that the Trust in collaboration and financial support from Sir Rata Tata Trust launched this unique initiative of drought proofing in a selected cluster of villages in Balesar Panchayat Samiti of Shergarh Tehsil of Jodhpur district in September, 2002.
The mission was to “drought proof a cluster of selected villages by effecting interventions to include construction of groundwater recharging; construction of water sources for drinking water, providing diversified livelihood opportunities through improved agricultural practices including livestock rearing, dairy, poultry, mushroom farming as also capacity building in other areas through micro financing and self help group activities resulting in sustainable resource management through community participation.”
The project aims at creating an oasis and if successful, replicate the successful model to create a chessboard of oases in the desert which would support the adjoining areas thereby improving the carrying capacity of land resulting in drought proofing. .
Project Sahyog was initially planned as a three years project scheduled to be completed by 31st August, 2005. However, with the savings effected, the period was extended by one year without any additional financial support from Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
The quintessence of Project Sahyog is the community participation arising out of felt needs of the people: works of the community, works for the community and works by the community. Making people aware, and developing their talent and skills as also inculcating a sense of commitment and accountability are essential elements of the Project. This chapter is a resume of activities carried out.
Water Security
A total of 18 water harvesting structures having a storage capacity of 19.5 mcft have been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 94.67 lacs with 30% community participation. In addition, four anicuts have been constructed by the Irrigation Department at the behest of the Trust. These have now been completed well before onset of the monsoons. This has helped in ground water recharging, improving ground water quality, meeting increasing demand of drinking water and irrigation and the excessive runoff has been utilized resulting in control of occasional floods and soil erosion. The Rajasthan State Remote Sensing Centre after processing the satellite data received from NRSA Hyderabad has made following comments :-
* Area and intensity of vegetation has increased because of construction of these WHS.
* Secondary data also reveals that there is a substantial increase in ground water level.
To supplement safe drinking water 31 hand pumps at a total cost of Rs 8.37 lacs have been installed with 15.4% community’s participation; 6 pucca open wells at a total cost of Rs. 3.26 lacs with 1/3rd community participation and 7 tankas having total storage capacity of 2,91,000 liters have been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 3.45 lacs with 1/3rd community contribution.
To supplement drinking water for animals, 3 nadies have been desilted and 3 new Nadies in the form of water harvesting structures have been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 12.70 lacs with 32% community participation.
The Trust has collected data from open wells, tube wells and hand pumps located in the command area of anicuts constructed and observed that the ground water level has improved by an average of 22 ft. It has also been observed that water level in open wells ( berries) has remained constant despite successive failure of monsoons in 2002, 2004 & 2005. The visible benefits that have accrued to the community as a result of construction of water harvesting structures are:-
(a) Continuous availability of drinking water despite failure of monsoons.
(b) Continuous availability of water in tube wells and open wells for rabi cropping despite failure of monsoons.
(c) No migration of livestock has taken place despite drought conditions declared by the State.
Economic Security – Agriculture
A large segment of the population are land holders. The agricultural output has not been lucrative. One of the objectives of the Project has been to enhance the agricultural output through introduction of diversified practices. Consequent to ground water recharging, alternative methods of agriculture have been introduced through introduction of horticulture with drip system of irrigation. 7 farmers have developed orchards of ber (zizyphus mauritiana ), gunda (lasoda) & lemon (citrus lemon) on plots of 0.6 hectares each. To supplement income from community lands, specially for landless people, as also from private holdings, the kumbhat (acacia senegal) trees were injected with gum producing chemical which provided an income upto Rs. 180/- per tree. Volunteers specially BPL and landless people, were trained to adopt mushroom farming during September to March which has proved a good source of additional income which could easily be generated even by women and children.
Economic Security – Animal Husbandry
The social and economic status of a family is indicated by the cattle holdings as it is the mainstay of their well being. The emphasis has been on reducing the quantity and improving the quality on one hand and reducing the mortality through proper health care and management on the other. The Project organised as many as 79 veterinary camps bringing down the mortality to zero. For breed improvement, 12 Jamnapari & 6 Sirohi breed of goats and 30 rams have been distributed to breeders. One buffalo bull of Murrah breed and one cow bull of Tharparkar breed have been given to Gram Vikas Samities.
As a result of animal health care activities undertaken, the following benefits have directly accrued to the community:-
(a) Despite drought years, the mortality rate has been practically kept at zero percent.
(b) Milk and wool production has visibly increased by 15 to 25%.
(c) The animal immunity to diseases has increased.
(d) Awareness among the breeders has improved and they have realized the value of improving the quality of their stock rather than increasing the quantity.
Environmental Security – Development of Pastures
To sustain animal wealth, development of community wasteland has been taken up. Eleven pasture development plots covering an area of 65.05 hectares of community land are being developed as demonstration plots where local variety of trees and dhaman grass is being grown. Simultaneously, the Forest Department has also taken up pasture development on a large scale, though their management and survival rate needs major improvement.
Economic Security – Non-farm Options
As alternative source of livelihood, cooperative dairy has been introduced by establishing linkages with Saras Dairy. The lead role is with women. Farm poultry has also been started with visible results and training in various technical trades to include electric house wiring, motor winding etc. has been imparted which has resulted in opening of tradesmen shops, and flour mills by the unemployed, and BPL families.
Women’s Participation
Introduction of cooperative dairy has improved participation of women in developmental activities. Constitution of Women’s SHGs has laid down the foundation for improving their economic status. Women have also visibly improved their skills in cutting and tailoring, soap and detergent making, vaseline and candle making and paper bag making. Women have been trained in tie & dye, screen printing etc to enable them to make an earning. Efforts are afoot to arrange for marketing of goods produced by them. The activities has been initiated in cooperation with Bhartiya Reshamwala Hastshilp Vastu Utpad Sahkari Samiti Ltd., Jodhpur.
Benefits Accrued
The community sees the Project as a successful model for improving their livelihood which has also motivated the adjoining villages to seek their inclusion in the Project. Eventhough, it may not be possible to exactly quantify the economic gains obtained by the beneficiaries, the following facts stand out:-
(a) Despite three drought years, in the period of four years, there has been no outward migration.
(b) Despite scanty rainfall for three years, construction of water harvesting structures has resulted in “water security” throughout the cluster. Hand pumps, berries & tube wells did not dry up.
(c) Despite three droughts, the survival of livestock has ensured sustainance of the economic status of the breeders.
(d) Non-farm interventions have proved a boon to the women, physically disadvantaged and BPL families.
(e) Development of pastures and introduction of horticulture will improve the general environment of the region. The economic gains will be visible in the next 3 to 4 years.
As a result of detailed survey carried out, it has generally been revealed that :-
(a) The average increase in total income of a household is 40%.
(b) The average increase due to agriculture is 82%.
(c) The average increase due to animal husbandry is 54%.
The impact evaluation study carried out by the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur at the behest of the Trust and supported by Sir Ratan Tata Trust, confirms the above findings.
The Trust believes that a replicable model for integrated rural development in the desert region has been evolved; fulfilling the vision of Trustees of both the Trusts. With hope and trust in our endeavours, both Sir Ratan Tata Trust and His Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust are now in a process of planning for the next phase of Project SAHYOG wherein not only consolidation and further development in the present target area will be included; the target area will be extended to the remaining 13 villages of Indawati which forms a single cultural unit.
For details please visit our website www.projectsahyog.org
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