Watershed Voices - 

Darewadi Watershed Project

 
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In 1996, Darewadi, a remote, drought prone village in the rain shadow region of Maharashtra, India, was a picture of despair; depleted of natural resources necessary for rural livelihood. Even drinking water was not assured. Villagers had to migrate to resource-endowed areas working seasonally at sugarcane cutting or in brick kilns of contractors. Some herded sheep, which further depleted the already fragile ecosystem. Agricultural production - even in a year of reasonably good rain - was sufficient for only 3-4 months; labour opportunities were scarce. Women had to work hard to fetch water and fuel from long distances and for their other basic needs. 

The watershed development process:

At this point, some of the villagers who had heard about the work of Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) under the Indo-German Watershed Development Programme (IGWDP), approached WOTR to undertake watershed development activities in their own village. Darewadi was on the verge of desertification and Fr. Hermann Bacher, founder of WOTR, strongly felt that if this place can be rejuvenated through watershed activities, it would be possible anywhere and would be a learning for the facilitating organisation also. The challenge was to win the confidence of the people and make them aware of the inter-relationship between the environment and the health and quality of human life – social, economical and cultural. Awareness generation was achieved through constant interaction, audio-visual aids, exposure visits to areas where people have conserved and mobilized resources for betterment of their own life. The next stage was to mobilize and capacitate the community to undertake watershed development. People agreed to contribute voluntary labour and follow the social fencing principles such as ban on free grazing and tree felling.

As part of the capacity building activities, WOTR provided support and "hand-holding" through trainings, exposure visits, farmer-to-farmer extension, experience sharing workshops and gatherings. A simple but scientific and people-oriented technology was adopted for soil conservation, arresting the rainwater runoff and harvesting water, as well as greening the hills and wasteland. A series of technical treatments (contour trenches, gully plugs, farm bunds and contour bunds, check dams, etc.) along with bio regeneration (plantation, grass seeding, etc.) were undertaken. The once degraded landscape was slowly transformed, providing adequate drinking and irrigation water with increased soil moisture for better crop production and sufficient (sometimes even surplus) fodder and fuel.

Local Institutions

The Village Watershed Committee (VWC) which is the official project holder having representation from all primary stakeholders has planned, implemented and monitored all the activities and evolved systems and procedures for management and conflict resolution. The Darewadi VWC is a registered body, having 24 members (including 7 women members) nominated by the Village Assembly (Gram Sabha). It has also worked as an NGO facilitating implementation of 2 micro-watersheds in the neighbouring villages.

There are 11 women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Darewadi and these groups have an Apex Body, the Samyukta Mahila Samitee (SMS). The women are co-partners and active contributors in the management of their watershed and the integrated development of their village. They have undertaken a number of activities for drudgery reduction and enhancement of the quality of their lives, such as soak pits, kitchen gardens, using cleaner cooking fuels, water supply system, toilet construction, etc. A number of income generation activities like dairy, nursery, fishery, etc. have also been undertaken. Most important of all, they manage their savings and credit groups with internal lending, which provides immediate loans for their basic needs. Through Micro-finance support provided by WOTR, the women's group has started a dairy.

The enhanced capacity of the villagers and their determination to take charge of their own development has also had its effect on the other government developmental agencies, which have contributed other developmental works.
  

Environmental impact is at times difficult to quantify, but perceptions of the people can substantiate this impact. The clean and filtered water in the stream, the survival and vigor of plant growth (which is recorded at over 100,000 plants), the grass on the mountains and wastelands, where earlier only black rock and cactus existed, all bear witness to the changes that have taken place.

• Work available within the village and therefore no need for migration

• Increasing water levels in the wells

• Better agricultural yields

• Shramadan has led to unity among the people

• Increased exchange with the outside world – exposures to other watersheds and visitors to Darewadi

• The first difficulty in implementing the watershed program was the mistrust and exaggerated expectations on the part of the villagers towards the NGO. This was gradually overcome through several village meetings and constant contact with the villagers and through providing a realistic explanation of the project.

• Sheep rearing was the major secondary source of income for the farmers due to recurrent drought., and hence ban on grazing was unacceptable. Through regular meetings the strategy of implementation was explained where the ban on grazing would be applicable only for treated areas and the rest would be open for grazing. Gradually as more and more area got treated, the availability of grass also increased considerably and people could cut the grass and use it for fodder. Also, simultaneously the agricultural activity increased due to increased availability of water and livestock pattern also changed bringing in more economically productive animals. This slow transformation resulted in reducing the number of sheep and increase in income both through labour and agricultural and related activities.

• Some farmers who formerly cultivated the common lands created problems in constructing structures. This was resolved once the VWC discussed and resolved the issue involving the Gram Panchayat.

• Trust in the NGO staff is fundamental and improper expectations should be rectified at the beginning of the program itself

• The quality and subsequent visible success of the watershed work are very essential – "Seeing is believing".

• The culture of the people as well as their traditions should not be taken for granted and should be handled sensitively. The disciplines of the program demand big changes in the established traditions of village life and calls for much patience on the part of the NGO.

• Direct exchange between the people of the watershed and those from other places helps create awareness, brings about a change in attitude and a sense of unity.

• The facilitating agency should be clear about the non-compromisable and try to achieve these through participatory methods.