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The concept of
watershed management in poverty eradication has been gaining
importance and is given priority by different development
agencies working for poverty alleviation
through
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Check
dam constructed
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sustainable development.
The successful implementation of watershed in parts of
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other parts of the
country, acts as an eye opener and helps in realizing
the importance of watershed for overall improvement in
socio-economic level of people, with adoption of
simple field level technology.
Karondi milli watershed development under Rajiv
Gandhi Watershed Mission is based on the broad
objective of
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1) Conservation
and optimum utilization of five “j” of the environment
i.e.
“jal”,
“jamin”, “jungle”, “jan”, “jeevan”.
2) Creation
of employment opportunities through strong community
organization at village level.
3) To
develop human resource through capacity building for
socio-economic upliftment.
4) To
increase the level of ground water table.
5) To
increase and qualify the agriculture cropping pattern.
6) To
enhance afforestation by creating nurseries.
7) To
promote fodder cultivation, pisci-culture, fruit tree
plantation.
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The
beginning
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In order
to implement the milli watershed development programme in
Karondi, Distt. Katni, MP survey and analysis of the area, in
relation to the geomorphological and physiographycal
characteristics, demographic pattern, soil type, climate,
drainage, land use pattern, prevailing vegetation,
hydrogeology and above all the socio-economic status of the
population was carried out.
Most of the criteria were found to be suited for
implementation and execution of the milli watershed management
system.
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Works
Undertaken
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- The
different works undertaken by the project implementing
agencies (PIA) were, Soil and land management; Contour
trenching; Contour stone bunding; Farm bunding; Gully
plugging; Cattle protection trench.
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- Water
management; Nala bunding; Boulder bunds; Check
dams; Tank/ponds
- Crop
management
- Afforestation
- Pasture/
fodder development
- Rural
energy management;
Smokeless chulha; Biogas plant; Solar energy park
- Farm
and Non farms activities; Fishery; Horticulture;
Drinking water scheme, Health
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Nala
Bunding
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- Human
resource development; self-help group/
Mahila manda; Training camps;
- Exposure
vist etc.
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Use
of Participatory Approach
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To make the
participation of people more realistic the following measures
were undertaken:
1. Gender equality and caste equality were adopted in dealing
with situations arising out of conflict.
2. Locally available technologies were put to use before
imposing any external technology. |
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Crop
yield get a boost
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3.
Regular awareness campaigns and
training camps were organized to build up
confidence and developing skill of the local people.
4. Local seasonal and crop calendar was taken
into consideration skill of the local
people.
5. Use of
participatory learning process helped in getting
feedback and free flowof information for dealing
better with the area and situation specific
problems.
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6. Recurrent visit by PIA,
helped in getting the work done smoothly and
speedily.
7.
Equitable distribution of common shared resources was done by
WSC members and village people.
8. Conflict resolution was done by considering different
views, to find out impartial solution and to arrive at a
logical conclusion.
9. Community consolidation and community action in a
participatory way was prepared for capacity building.
In community action, community energies and resource
were used for developing action plan for watershed
development, implementing these plans and maintaining the
created assets.
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Income
Generation Activities
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In order to make the programme self-sustainable and more
pragmatic, income generation activities were adopted.
Identification of skilled human resource was done and
vocational training was provided at various levels.
While selecting the activities, the project
implementing agencies mobilized the mass to give a priority to
the felt needs and aspirations and to introspect on the
rationality of their demands and the idea, experience and
indigenous technical knowledge and skill available with the
community. The
various income generation activities supported under this
programme were, candle making, agarbatti making, bamboo basket
making, papad making, mushrrom cultivation, aamchur making
etc. In different
villages helped in meeting the economic needs of people.
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Conclusion
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Community
participation is essential for getting the desired outcome of
any project, as participation of people in developmental
activities, gives an impetus to the working process and it
makes the programme a self-sustained one.
Use of commonly available resources and identifying the
key areas, where the available technology can be put to use,
provide a useful link in bridging the gap between the haves
and have-nots.
The success of watershed development program is fully
dependent on the efficiency of management and effectiveness of
people’s participation.
In fact watershed management is not merely anti-erosion
and anti-run-off approach but also a comprehensive, integrated
approach of land and water resource management.
In order to obtain maximum benefit from watershed
development programme, it is imperative that the natural
resource, soil and water, forest, greenery, common resources
and facilities be properly protected and utilized.
Then only it will help to improve and maximize
productivity. It
would ultimately be dependent on the strong community of
people who are in the area.
They have to be knit together through groups such as
mahila mandal, watershed communities, gram, sabha, youth club,
farmers group, self-help group etc.
Source
: Summarised from an article by Om Prakash Tripathi &
Bimla Sahu, Kurukshetra (Journal), Sep. 2002
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