The Government of Maharashtra introduced the concept of ‘Mother NGO’ in 2001 in order to provide support to implementing NGOs and village communities under the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP).    Based on the role played by WOTR as a capacity building agency in IGWDP, the task of the ‘Mother NGO’ was defined to support implementing agencies for community organization, training, monitoring and coordination with other agencies. 

In its capacity as a Mother NGO, WOTR provides support in watershed activities to NGOs and village communities as well as government implementing agencies in the Ahmednagar district.  The support includes training and extension in technical and social aspects of watershed development as well as monitoring of activities implemented. 

This government-funded watershed development programme (DPAP) has adopted the following aspects of WOTR’s approach:

• Greater emphasis on area treatments – Ridge-to-Valley area treatment for in situ soil moisture conservation

• Participatory Net Planning (PNP)

• Community/farmer contribution

• Participatory implementation and monitoring