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The Jharkhand Watershed Development Programme(JWDP) aims at
sustainable livelihood development through watershed approach. In
its first phase which ended in 2004-05, the programme as a whole
proved to be a breakthrough in promoting community participation in
an integrated community development programme. CWS and its Jharkhand
Resource Centre scaled up the programme by developing innovative
administrative systems and collaborating with SVA and its members to
influence the government. They have brought some remarkable impacts
to its beneficiaries as well as equipped with learning and
experiences.
The project has given special emphasis towards the vulnerable groups
including poor farmers, women and landless agricultural labour. As a
result priority was given to predominantly tribal Dalit, OBC,
villages with homogeneous population because they are the poorest in
the areas.
The project followed a participatory approach in promoting
sustainable production systems wherein farmers implement and
maintain conservation measures if they are perceived to be
beneficial to them. The cost of the project intervention is shared
among HIVOS, German Agro Action, ASW, communities and farmers.
JWDP followed the decentralized principles successfully and the
watershed villages developed their natural and human resources
remarkably. Construction of new wells and ponds, renovation of
defunct ponds and wells, gully plugs, renovation of check dams,
nursery raising, empowerment of women through SHGs and VBOs.
The technical strategy of the project emphasized water retention
measures rather than water disposal structures and complimentary
agronomic measures for enhancing soil fertility and productivity. A
higher priority has been given to all activities that improve ground
water recharge, ensure sustainable use of common land, provide
increased income to the poor sectors and reduce economic migration.
JWDP has encouraged the sunken method of water harvesting wherein
water is stored below the/bed surface. A number of percolation tanks
were excavated along the minor drainage lines, while check dams were
constructed along the major drainage lines.
The ridge area in all watersheds present a barren appearance even
during monsoon months. Since the topography is rolling, the area is
treated with a combination of stone bunds, checks and dugout
structures to harvest soil and runoff. To treat and develop arable
and non-arable lands and the drainage lines about 350 small gully
plugs and 50 large gully plugs were created. |
