| WATERSHED PROJECTS – A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT |
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The Start - With 79.87% of its area prone to drought, Karnataka has the highest percentage of droughtprone land in India. In collaboration with the Karnataka Government, with funding from the World Bank and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), DPG’s watershed projects in Karnataka focus on reducing the impact of drought on the land and its inhabitants through natural resource management. Run by CBOs, with DPG acting as facilitator, the projects aim to improve horticulture, forestry, livestock and soil and water conservation methods and to encourage the communities themselves to take responsibility for these improvements.
Reach - Sujala Watershed Development Project in Kolar District funded by World Bank and Upparagatta Watershed Projects in Bellary district funded by NABARD reach a total of 90 Villages with a population of 35,824 and 17,844 hect. of land. |
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Governance - At the grass root level of the Sujala project area are the SHGs of which there are currently 131 with 2462 members and Area Groups (AGs) of which there are 154 with 5501 members. An Executive Committee made up of SHG, AG and Panchayat (local council) members represents each of the 31approximately 500 hect. “Micro Catchment areas”. In Bellary the NABARD project is implemented directly through a Watershed Development Committee made up of 165 members elected by the two villages which they represent. |
Cost Sharing - Whilst financing for the projects comes primarily form the World Bank and NABARD, the communities themselves are also expected to make a contribution, usually 10-20% of the full cost. Sometimes this contribution takes the form of labour. World Bank funding for the Sujala Watershed project totalled to Rs.1,81,97,700/- in 2006-07, while NABARD donated Rs.11,44,725/- to its project in the Bellary District. This funding is channeled through the Government of Karnataka to the Zilla Panchayat and the Watershed Development Department and Executive Committee in each area, which hold Registered Body status. Overseen by a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary, these Committees are held fully accountable for the distribution of funds to appropriate areas. Decisions are taken by the relevant Committee on whether to direct funding towards land treatment projects, livestock development, horticulture or forestry initiatives, training or income generation activities. As Registered Bodies, the Committees are required to keep full and accurate records of any financial transactions made, to meet Government targets and to adhere to strict Government guidelines.
Progress - Work carried out so far include both common land and individual land work such as construction of farm ponds and other water harvesting systems, planting of dry land crops like mango trees and cashew nut trees, or roadside plantations for fodder, water tank repairs, production of compost and animal health camps. It is not only the farmers and landless labourers who have benefited from these initiatives by seeing improvements in their living standards: ‘secondary beneficiaries include the NGOs, Government Departments and Wold Bank Consultants.
Perception - Members of SHGs and AGs have reacted positively about the outcome of the project:
- Having a platform from which to discuss agriculture and related issues, the opportunity to undertake training in areas like land treatment, water conservation, organics farming, livestock management, leadership and income-generation activities as well as receiving financial support in the form of low interest loans and savings.
- With responsibility for management of the projects held by the communities themselves in the form of Executive Committees and Watershed Development Committee, local people are becoming increasingly aware of their own strengths and abilities as a unit.
- They have more understanding of the importance of community work than prior to the project, and are experiencing better living conditions, have better knowledge of farming practices, financial issues and Government schemes and improved levels of confidence and motivation.
- In both the Kolar and Bellary districts, SHG, AG and EC members are committed to continuing their groups after project funding has been withdrawn.
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Eshwaramma, w/o. Venkatesh belongs to Bennapalli Micro Catchment area, Kushavathi Sub-watershed of Gudibande Taluk, Kolar District. She is living her with two daughters and husband, depending on coolie for their livelihood.
She was motivated by DPG staff to join a SHG and save money, she attended all the training programmes orgnised by the project. After seeing her active participation, the villagers selected her as the Vice President of Sujala Watershed Committee. She first took Rs.4,000/- from SHG as internal loan and started to rear two pigs. One pig gave birth to six piglets and by selling five of them, she received Rs.10,000/- as income. Become of her improved economic status, she could admit her daughter to the Teacher Training Education. |
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The group got a loan of Rs.50,000/- and out of which Eshwaramma got Rs.10,000/- With that money, she purchased 8 pigs hoping to earn. Rs.25,000/- - Rs.30,000/- income. She expressed her heartfelt thank to DPG project which helped her to support her family with this venture.
Conclusion – Though the tripartite project planning, implementation and management is worth the experience for the better implementation of a community based project, a project of this nature demands utmost co-operation from all sides with trust and mutual collaboration for the betterment of the project. |
Ningappa, s/o. Giddappa is living in Hosakeri village of Hagaribommanahalli taluk of Bellary District. He is a landless labourer and his earning was Rs.15/- per day in 2003. In 2004, when DPG started a watershed project in collaboration with NABARD, Ningappa attended all the Grama Sabha meetings organized by DPG and came to know that all work was done through / manual labourers. From that time till date, he works as labourer in all kinds of activities, especially bund. He is doing 6 pits per day and has earned Rs.2,37,945.60 so far. He expressed his gratitude to DPG and NABARD for his family now can afford two meals a day. He managed to marry off his two daughters by spending Rs.50,000/- each. He purchased two buffaloes for Rs.3,000/- each and is earning Rs.200/- daily. His sons are continuing their with education. |
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