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This project is targeting 5 villages of the Girva block located some 25 Km from Udaipur. With undulating terrain, limited agricuture land, unproductive livestock, a depleting underground water table and limited local employment opportunities, men from the village frequently migrate to Udaipur for employment. The project is increasing the availability and accessibility of water within the villages through construction of various water-harvesting structures, soil and water conservation work and plantation activities. These measures are assisting the poorest farmers by providing sufficient water for drinking, for the production of food grains and some cash crops. All the work is accompanied by a social mobilisation programme ie. developing village level groups so that people can manage the new infrastructure and gain long term sustainable benefits. As part of the project a small dam has been laid across the stream in Karget village. Monsoon rains fill up this small dam and it has overflowed once. Around 100 people from different hamlets of the village participated during its construction contributing 10% of the cost. Repairing of 10,000 feet of loose stone boundary walls is sageguarding the pasture land against open grazing. 1,000 locally grown trees have also been planted. Soil and water conservation works such as loose stone check dams (14) and loose stone gully plugs (34) have also been constructed to reduce soil erosion and increase mositure, helping trees and fodder grass to grow. This activity has also given wages to 75 families. The villagers have also formed a group for the protection of the pastureland. Loger (age 45) from Karget village described the benefit of a small dam. Our agriculture land is now protected by the dam constructed, otherwise the rain would have eroded top fertile soil of my agriculture land. Without this small dam I would not have been able to grow the monsoon crop.? One of his wells is now also full with water and his wife does not have to walk 1 to 2 km to fetch water for the family. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) meetings are regularly conducted in all target villages. At present 18 SHGs comprising 266 women, saving Rs.30-100 per month have been set up. HVVS assist the SHGs in linking with banks and in maintaining their accounts. It is intended that in the future these SHGs along with Village Development Committee (VDC) would take over the project activities. HVVS has also formed a cluster level SHG with representatives from up to 20 local SHGs. They meet once a month and discuss various issues. The project activities implemented during the last year were as planned. Due to heavy rainfall, some of the water harvesting structures were damaged. As a result, repairing of masonry check dams and construction of field bunds, gully plugs, and Loose Stone Check Dams (LSCD) were undertaken. All the construction work progressed with significant village contributions, such as materials of stone, soil, and water. Also, two trainings were conducted on water issues and gender sensitization. In addition, an exposure visit was organised to Jhadol through which the community learned about horticulture plantation. After this visit, five farmers were selected for establishment of horticulture units. The progress in water harvesting and irrigation contributed towards better production of winter and even summer crops. However the production of monsoon crops was affected due to heavy rainfall. After the construction of water harvesting structures at Karget village and Malkitoos villages, wells located in the downstream have recharged. The water level of the wells increased in comparison with previous yeas. 150 horticulture plants and 576 fodder tree were also planted. In addition, seven families were given fodder seeds in 5Ha land, an improved Kharif crop was seen in the agricultural lands and two bucks were distributed.
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Karget Watershed - Water and Livelihood Development Project Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti (HVVS), Post Sakroda, District, Udaipur AR.HVV.KAR.0207 |
