Promoting self-help based watershed development (WSD) which contributes to improving living conditions and increasing income in rural areas of Maharashtra as well as contributes towards further replication beyond Maharashtra.
Narrative
1. Identified watersheds*1 and mobilized training (both theory and practical) to organize 60 watershed communities (community, farmers, women, VWC, Mahila Mandals, FPC, etc.) as to the comprehensive pedagogy developed in the TC pilot phase.
2. Identified promoters*2 (Non-Governmental Organization - NGO, Village Watershed Communities - VWC, Panlot Sevaks- PLS, Lady Social Workers - [Mahila Samaj Sevikas -MSS], Technical Engineers) to assist them in mobilizing and training of people as per the training programs developed in the TC pilot phase.
3. Developed training resources and methodologies as to the needs of the communities (e.g. modules, trainers, resource persons, training instruments, participatory net planning, women’s training, etc.)
4. Established contact with Government Departments, NABARD, etc. in order to link up with their training facilities as well as include the watersheds in the FC programme.
5. Networked among watershed communities, groups, promoters and LSW.
- Impact Assessment (M&E) Phase Project completed on 5 Feb, 2001 Implementation Phase
- Implementation Phase Project started on 4 Apr, 1996 Preparation Phase
How it Works
Every field note helps building a history of activity at the project site. Every visit should result in a field note, including visits by peers and 3rd parties. Visits can be before implementation, during implementation and during operational state.
If the field note is during the operating phase of the project, then PWX considers the note as a verification note. Verification can show if the current operating state is different from that in the 'final' report and thus draw attention and resources to resolve issues.
Soon PWX AnalytiX will track the number of projects verified and combine that with the amount of time elapsed since 'completion', to summarize monitoring efforts and the sustainability of projects.
Promoting self-help based watershed development (WSD) which contributes to improving living conditions and increasing income in rural areas of Maharashtra as well as contributes towards further replication beyond Maharashtra.
Narrative
1. Identified watersheds*1 and mobilized training (both theory and practical) to organize 60 watershed communities (community, farmers, women, VWC, Mahila Mandals, FPC, etc.) as to the comprehensive pedagogy developed in the TC pilot phase.
2. Identified promoters*2 (Non-Governmental Organization - NGO, Village Watershed Communities - VWC, Panlot Sevaks- PLS, Lady Social Workers - [Mahila Samaj Sevikas -MSS], Technical Engineers) to assist them in mobilizing and training of people as per the training programs developed in the TC pilot phase.
3. Developed training resources and methodologies as to the needs of the communities (e.g. modules, trainers, resource persons, training instruments, participatory net planning, women’s training, etc.)
4. Established contact with Government Departments, NABARD, etc. in order to link up with their training facilities as well as include the watersheds in the FC programme.
5. Networked among watershed communities, groups, promoters and LSW.
Sustainability
Creating and measuring long-term impact
One of the key purposes of the IGWDP is to progressively involve Govt. in its implementation such that facilitating and enabling changes are introduced in both the approaches and the instruments of implementation of the concerned departments of the Govt. This is with a view to ensuring sustainability of completed projects, attracting national resources into a similar effort (as well as augmenting IGWDP resources itself), and fostering public-private-civil society partnerships for large scale replication.
Sustainable goal achievement through appropriate technical cooperation procedures :
WOTR, now uses the services of VWC members as well as other farmers as training and extension faculty (VWC-to-VWC, farmer-to-farmer extension).
Experience sharing of innovations and learnings amongst the various watersheds is promoted through Fairs / Gatherings / Workshops of extended VWCs as well as villagers. The same is done for Women’s Promotion .
To facilitate sharing and networking amongst NGOs, quarterly region-wise review meetings are held.
For specialised trainings, faculty is drawn from other NGOs, Institutions, Agriculture Universities and Govt. Departments, whenever required.
WOTR also co-sponsors other NGOs to host training programs and assists them with inputs and infrastructure.
Other Issues
Unusual and unexpected issues faced during project execution
1. Due to political and interest group factionalism, the Capacity Building Phase does not always follow the expected outcome, which sometimes creates delays and setbacks. However, no project has been forwarded to NABARD unless the necessary conditions are met.
2. To prepare the Watershed Community for social fencing and Shramdan contribution requires a more unified effort from the community, which, in certain cases, becomes difficult due to the above-mentioned factionalism.
3. High turnover of NGO starr creates problems in the continuity of trainings imparted to them and repetition of training programs for the new incumbents.
4. The non-occurrence of bilateral negotiations between the GOG and GOI as well as the non-conclusion of the Separate Agreement pertaining to DM 39 million under FC (KfW-NABARD) has had a negative and slowing down impact on the Program. Several projects, which have completed Capacity Building and been forwarded to NABARD have been unable to be taken up for Full Implementation. Moreover, due to shortage of funds at the NABARD level, even on-going projects have experienced delays in receipt of funds required to keep the work going on. This also has an adverse impact on the speed of the Capacity Building program. There is a hesitation to take up new projects in the absence of certainty whether they would be able to move into FC. It also impacts the quality as well as social mobilization in projects in this phase as we are unable to give assurances to the villagers about completion of their projects.
Furthermore, lack of adequate funds in TC Phase I as well as non-conclusion of TC Phase II has adversely impacted fulfilment of targets as well as expected quality of work.
Learnings
Knowledge of project and process for sharing
Data and qualititative information regarding the impact of work, efficacy of local institutional formation and integration of women is being collected regularly. Some reflections are as follows:
• The problem of drinking water scarcity has been solved in almost all project villages and in some cases potable water supply through pipeline is undertaken with part contribution of the people towards its management and maintenance. Protective irrigation is made possible due to increase in ground water level. Well inventories collected at village level show an increase in the ground water table ranging from 75 – 150 %. Crop diversification is also observed and people are opting for vegetable and other dryland cash crops.
• Biomass regeneration in terms of grass and tree species is quite noticeable. Survival rate of the plants is 75 – 80 % and fodder availability has increased by 100 – 150 %. Some watersheds are auctioning the excess grass that is left over after meeting local needs and the money obtained is used towards the Maintenance Fund. Many of the villagers are now going in for improved cows due to the availability of water and fodder.
• Distress migration has reduced considerably in many project villages due to availability of labour. In projects in Beed district, migration in the initial phases of the project is still a problem, since many of the migrant families are indebted to or have taken advances from the labour contractors. Efforts are being made however to keep the people in the village itself.
• Women’s group formation; savings and credit and integration into the village development process has created a sense of confidence in the women and they now play an active role in the village affairs. ‘Quality of life’ enhancement projects have reduced their drudgery and income generation programs have enhanced their managerial capabilities and given them financial security.
• Linkages with govt. developmental departments have increased developmental inputs in the villages and fostered support and cooperation from local and state level govt. functionaries.
While all the above is true of all the 50 villages that have moved into NABARD/KfW FIP, the 19 projects that have not completed CBP show a completely different picture. Here the momentum of work that had been generated has had to suddenly come to a standstill due to lack of funds. This has caused various problems like loss of daily wage labour, migration, breaking of the social discipline rules, disruption of unity in the village and all the accompanying effects. In short it has caused a complete reversal of the capacity building process.
Impact
People Impacted: 11717
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 11717
Watershed projects rejuvenated the water table for 1719 households
People Getting Other Benefits: 11717
The project activities include exposure visits, trainings and experience sharing gatherings for the village communities, Village Watershed Committees (VWCs), women’s Self-Help Groups, Samyukt Mahila Samitis (Apex Body of the women’s SHGs) and Watershed Volunteers (Panlot Sevaks) involved in watershed and rural development activities.