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Gawadewadi is
another remote village in Ambegaon taluka, Pune district
located about 10 km away from Manchar on the Pune-Nashik road.
The village has a population of 2,600, with 1,243 ha of
land. Out of
this, only 878 ha are agricultural lands. Most of the families
in this village are small land holders.
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PRE-PROJECT
SCENARIO
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Agricultural
lands have been heavily eroded and the annual rainfall is only
250 mm. As a
result, the employment potential and income generation from
agriculture has been extremely poor.
Over the last 10 years, with involvement of Vanarai,
there has been significant change in the village, which has
enabled the gram panchayat to receive the prestigious Indira
Priyadarshini Vrikshmitra Award from the Government of India.
Amidst
the long stretch of barren fields a road with dense avenue
platations is the landmark for reaching Gawadewadi.
In the absence of an assured source of moisture,
Gawadewadi is known to be a drought prone village.
As the crop productivity is extremely low, most of the
villagers particularly the male members have migrated to
Mumbai, Pune and other cities in search of livelihoods.
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WAY
TO SUCCESS
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In the 80s, the
villagers initiated the watershed development programme with
inspiration from Anna Hazare at Ralegaon Siddhi.
Vanarai provided additional support.
The primary task was to motivate the villagers to
accept the policy of conservation by controlled grazing and
prevention of tree felling.
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People were motivated to
pay for their voluntary labour for building the
rivulet flowing along the village. The
villagers also decided to put in their labour for
repair of roads and school buildings and to maintain
cleanliness in the village.
They also participated in afforestation and
maintenance of community lands and pasture
development.
Women were motivated to participate in various
meetings and training programmes.
They have established their Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
This has resulted in enhanced attendance in
primary and secondary schools.
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THE
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS
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As a result of well planned watershed
development, over 33 ha of land have been brought under
orchard cultivation and part of the land is being used for
multiple cropping. With
the distribution of improved seeds of various crops, improved
soil and water management, the crop has increased
significantly in the village.
With a view to conserve
forest resources, which are already scarce, Vanarai has
promoted the installation of biogas plants and improved
chulhas in the village. Presently,
there are about 175 biogas plants and most of the houses use
smokeless wood stoves. With
a view to keep the village clean, most of the villagers have
built private latrines. Presently,
there are about 230 private latrines and 20 community latrines
constructed in the village.
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With major emphasis on dairy breed improvement and
establishment of village level dairy co-operatives,
the annual milk collection has increased from five
litres to nine litres over the last five years.
The villagers of Gawadewadi have now established a
lift irrigation scheme to pump water from a river
located eight km away from the village.
This has brought about 50 percent of their land
under irrigation.
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Village
Pond Developed by the Project
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It
has enabled them to introduce new cash crops as well.
The generation of year round employment in the village
has attracted the farmers to stay back on their farms instead
of migrating to cities in search of daily wages.
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This has helped them to improve their quality of life.
Recently a computer training centre has also been
established to improve the skills of the villagers.
Involvement of the community in constructive work has
also brought harmony among the families.
As a result, member of various local government
bodies and co-operative institutions are nominated
without any election.
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all-around improvement in the village environment and
ecosystem of Gawadewadi village
panchayat earned them the Indira Priyadarshini
Vrikshmitra Award in the year 1992.
Truly Gawadewadi is a model village.
Source :
Summarised from an article by Dr. N G Hegde, Wasteland News
(Journal)
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