Watershed programmes were initiated to develop 1,250 acres in Penchikalapadu Village, of Besthavaripet Mandal in Prakasam district. Before starting the activities fully, a demonstration was set up on 50 acres. During this probation phase village meetings (Grama Sabhas) and Kalajatha programmes were held to generate awareness on watershed development. Then, through participatory methods information was collected using a social map, resource map and other tools to help plan development activities. 1,250 acres of land were identified through the resource map and a physical survey of land. Self-help groups and village organisations were formed and strengthened.
NRM activities
50 hectares of land were identified on the slope and, based on the topography, the kind of structures to be built was also decided. User groups were formed. They were responsible for building the structures. This was done in the presence of all the village elders at a village meeting. They prepared and presented an action plan, including estimates and budgets. User group members were taken on exposure visits to Addakal Mandal in Mahaboobnagar district and to some places in Karnataka to see and understand how the structures are built. The farmers were required to pay 10% as their contribution. The initial constructions demonstrated all the different structures to all the farmers. The farmers were required to complete the works themselves or through identified poor from within their village.
Bunds, farm ponds, stone checks and percolation tanks were constructed, keeping all the rules and regulations in mind. The engineer from the project’s watershed development team provided support to the village organisation which measured the work and disbursed the funds to the user groups who paid the farmers their wages. Women and men were paid equal wages.
The impact of these works was:
• There was an increase in groundwater leading to an increase in the water table and higher storage capacities in borewells. Soil erosion was arrested. With water available there was a
considerable increase in yield. The villagers were also able to develop fodder.
• With the payment of equal and remunerative wages migration was restrained. There was also
an enhancement in the number of available working days.
There were problems as well:
• Farmers who were already getting good yields did not cooperate.
• They did not agree to pay higher wages for poor labourers.
• It was necessary to meet each and every farmer in the 50 hectare demonstration site to convince them about the utility of the watershed activities.
Community Based Organisations
Awareness among women increased with the formation of self-help groups and village organisations. It took nearly three months to form the village organisations, as there was an initial resistance from many people.
Self-help groups, village organisations, user groups and labour groups were formed. Training programmes and exposure visits were organised for all of them, which helped build their capacities and enabled them to implement the activities better.
Members of self-help groups and village organisations were also trained in book-keeping and effective utilisation of funds. Book-keepers were appointed to update the groups’ accounts and village organisations’ transactions.
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