WaterShed Development

 

 

In the Himalayan region the populace is heavily dependent upon the natural resources for their livelihoods. Consequently, conservation and sustainable productive use of the natural resources has always been a priority area for PJKS.

During the years 1993-95, PJKS conducted extensive research in the Tehri district in order to look into the reasons for the resource depletion which was also resulting in water scarcity, frequent landslides, soil erosion, lower productivity in agriculture, economic depravation, depleting forest cover and increased workload on women. The research outcomes highlighted the need for catchment area protection, revival of traditional systems of resource use and management and alternate employment generation. PJKS decided to take up integrated watershed management programme in its work area, which would respond to all these aspects.

In 1996 the organisation initiated its first watershed management programme in the Bhilangana Block of district Tehri Garhwal. Targeting a micro watershed spread over 350 hectares, this programme focused on community development – health, sanitation, awareness generation and education – in conjunction with the construction of check dams, plantations, improved irrigation mechanisms, livestock development and propagation of vegetable cultivation in the area .

The success of the programme and the fact that it was able to positively impact the lives of the rural population was a morale booster for PJKS and subsequently the organisation
increased the scope of its operations in the field of watershed management.PJKS felt that it should share its learnings and experiences related to watershed management with other voluntary organisations. It was able to do so through the then SAMBANDH network through which capacity building trainings/workshops on watershed development were organised for several NGOs

.Presently, PJKS is involved in another watershed development programme in Pauri, Thalisain, Pabo and Beerokhal blocks of Pauri District of Uttaranchal. Supported by the Government of India through the state government this programme covers 12 micro watersheds. Each watershed area comes to about 500 hectares having 5-8 villages within its purview. Programme Objectives:

§ To promote sustainable economic development of the watershed community.

§ To restore ecological balance through the conservation of natural resources and through plantations on community and panchayat lands.

§ To equip the target villages with the ability to be self reliant in the production and availability of food grains, fodder, fuelwood and water.

§ To promote the use of renewable energy.

§ To generate awareness on health and sanitation.

§ To undertake spring water recharge activities.

PJKS always works for the informed participation of the communities in the developmental programmes. It is in line with the philosophy of PJKS that this programme follows a bottom-up approach and all the programme activities are highly decentralized. Community based organisations (CBOs) have been formed at various levels and these CBOs are made responsible for programme planning, implementation and even monitoring, with PJKS being only a facilitator to the whole process. For ensuring a high degree of people’s participation, right at the outset of the programme the communities were made aware of the need for conservation and sustainable utilization of water, forests and soil. Audio visual aids, nukkad nataks (street shows) and puppet shows were used as tools for creating awareness and community mobilization. Simultaneously a baseline survey was undertaken in each of the project villages to derive important data to be used for planning the project activities and progress monitoring.

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES
§   Leadership and decision making	ðPRFs
§   Vocational Training	ðYouth and women
§   Awareness on RCH	ðWomen
§   Financial Management Training	ðSHG members
§   Dissemination Workshops	ð Vaidhyas
§   Strategic Planning	ðNGOs
§   Natural Resource Management	ðPRFs
§   Techniques of MAP cultivation	ðFarmers
§   Horticulture& Organic Farming	ðFarmers

W.omen’s self-help groups have been formed in all the villages.. The purpose behind forming these SHGs is to promote savings, and also at the same time build the capacities of the members to take up alternative income generation programmes. The SHGs also play an important role in programme planning and implementation. Consumer Groups have also been formed in every village.

At the Gram Sabha level the SHG women have been federated into Mahila Mangal Dals. Considering the fact that it is the women who are responsible for the collection of fuelwood and fodder from the forests, the women of the Mahila Mangal Dals ensure sustainable management of the forests and grasslandsFor this purpose they have formulated rules and regulations regarding the collection of fuelwood and fodder from the forests within their respective Gram Sabhas. They also attend to critical social and economic issues. In the 12 micro Watersheds different Watershed Committees (WCs) are formed. The watershed committees are registered as non-profit organisation under the Societies Registration Act and are comprised of members from the villages under each watershed. The WCs are responsible for the implementation of programme activities in their respective areas and it is the people, through the WCs, who plan the project activities and then submit a budget to PJKS for undertaking those activities The most noteworthy feature of the project is that this arrangement not only ensures that there is complete transparency in the allocation and spending of funds but also that the activities are undertaken as per the direction of the communities themselves and not imposed upon them.

In order to integrate the 12 WCs a Watershed Development Federation (WDF) has been formed. The WDF has 46 members representing the SHGs, WCs and elected members of the local panchayats. Through the WDF several training programmes have been organised for building the capacities of the WCs by providing them technical guidance. The WDF also monitors the activities of each WC.

The soil and water conservation measures taken up by PJKS are also based upon the traditional wisdom of the communities and are basically a revival of the meritorious practices which were earlier written off as outdated. Traditionally, a small tank was constructed below each spring where the runoff water from the spring would collect. These were referred to as “Chaals.” The Chaals not only served as a means of drinking water for the cattle but they were also a means of recharging the ground water. Through this project a large number of Chaals have been reconstructed and in a number of places new Chaals have also been built. A large number of spring recharge structures have also been constructed at different sources. The catchment area protection activities such as plantations have been undertaken. PJKS is also promoting the plantation of citrus species such as Sweet lemon, Kagji and Barahmasi lemon, Malta, Galgal, Kinnoo and Orange. A number of nurseries have been established for providing seedlings for plantation. In the coming years the organisation also plans to establish food-processing units.

In our discussions with the communities, an important issue that often came forth was of the dependency of the local people on the forests for fuelwood. The uncontrolled felling of trees was resulting in deforestation and ultimately contributing to soil and water erosion. Apart from advocating for sustainable management of the forests through the Mahila Mangal Dals, PJKS also promoted alternative sources of energy. The use of non-conventional energy sources such as solar cookers, solar water heaters, solar grain dryers, wind pumps and bio gas plants has been encouraged in the project area.

The hill economy is heavily dependent upon agriculture, supplemented by animal husbandry. Integrated development in real sense can only take place if agriculture and animal husbandry are also complemented and supplemented in all policies and programmes. Under this project PJKS has strived to promote improved varieties of crops and conducted training programmes for farmers. Considering the fact that chemical fertilizers ultimately bring down soil fertility, awareness is being created about the need for reverting back to organic farming.

Although, within a short span, this programme has brought about significant changes at the grassroot level, however, we feel that this is merely the foundation for future development. The most difficult task in any developmental programme is to mobilize the communities and PJKS is proud of the fact that it has succeeded in this task. Now the success of this programme much depends upon the CBOs that have been formed and how well PJKS is able to facilitate the CBOs in their functioning.