NEW  NIRAKH PARAKH

"Nirakh Parakh", is a rapid participatory evaluation technique adopted by Mission.  In consonance with mission philosophy, this methodology of participatory evaluation is undertaken in the village by the community itself thus ensuring transparency. The activities undertaken and the processes adopted are identified and assessed by the stakeholders in the presence of the entire village and facilitators.  This exercise has led to increased ownership of the community for the activities carried out, identified gaps and made review of the action plan possible and has also brought to the fore success stories.

 A detailed khasra map indicating each field (along with the name of the owner) and habitation is painted in a public space. All the activities (inputs and outputs) are marked on this map for verification and review. This multidimensional evaluation technique is uniquely positioned to be able to highlight and verify the interventions taken up following decisions of the watershed committee.

w        Validation of the claims made by the village level Watershed committees.

w      Satisfaction level of beneficiaries.

w      Identification of members of the village community who have not been benefited.

w      Identification of areas, which need interventions.

w      Preparation of action plan for the next session and identifying the process through which implementation is to be carried out.

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JAL ABHISHEK CAMPAIGN 

"A PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT FOR WATER CONSERVATION"

IN MADHYA PRADESH - INDIA

1.      A Strategy based on Community Participation

     Madhya Pradesh the Heartland State of the country is a land locked and rain fed state comprising an area of 308,000 Sq. kms in 50 districts and 313 blocks with the population of 60 million. The state lags behind in the development indices due to lack of efficient management of its natural resources.  About 73% agriculture in the state is           rain-fed and agricultural production gets severely affected in the event of untimely or erratic rains or a dry spell. Ground water has been exploited excessively that further worsened the situation. Further it has been a fact that many areas face drought conditions year after year in a row.It was, therefore, felt necessary to plan and efficiently execute a community based movement to find an abiding solution to water problem through water conservation activities with proper coordination between local community and government. A strategy was conceived wherein government would provide resources, technical assistance and guidance in coordination with concerning departments to the community’s initiatives for water conservation. The community was supposed to take upon itself the responsibility of proper management of water utilization process. There is no denying the fact that conservation of water is linked to basic requirement of community. Therefore it was felt that the strategy should be based on past experiences and an approach which would help to rope in extensive community participation. It was in this context and perspective that a state level workshop was organised on February 6-7, 2006 with the cooperation of DFID,  University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and the state government to finalize a strategy for water conservation activities. Eminent experts and technocrats of the country participated in the workshop. They put their heads together to find ways and means to ensure active participation of local community and discussed the need and different water conservation systems. On the basis of the workshop’s recommendations a movement  christened “Jal Abhishek Campaign” was launched on April 2, 2006 in all the districts of the state. It aimed at undertaking water conservation activities as a popular movement in concert with the government and community.

 The strategy of Jal Abhishek Campaign was so worked out, taking into account the shortcomings found in the previously carried out water conservation activities, as to ensure that the community become actual partner in selection and implementation of water conservation activities and assume the responsibility of maintaining the water structures built under the movement. The important components of the strategy are as follows:-

1.            To work on the concept that community should take initiative and government should facilitate.

2.            Extensive publicity in rural areas and enhancing awareness about need of water conservation and a sense of responsibility in the rural populace.

3.            To put in place a village level institutional framework for providing leadership to the rural communities and building their capacities.

4.            To evolve an institutional mechanism of government to provide cooperation and guidance to the community, which would not be of the nature of administrator or controller, but of a facilitator/animator.

5.            To plan and execute village-wise water conservation activities in the following manner by convergence of financial resources available under various government departments and contribution from local people.

·        Evaluation of already existing water conservation structures/sources and making them useful by renovation.

·        Construction of new water conservation structures (like stop dams, tanks, nullah bundings and indigenous structures such as minor dams, Bori bunding etc on priority) as per requirement of the rural community.

·        Water re-charging in the catchments area of ground water based drinking water sources.

·        Construction of water conservation structures like farm ponds, field bunds, Kuiya/Kundi (Locally constructed dug wells in the fields), well recharge, Khanti (recharging pit) etc which can be taken up by farmers in Do-It-Yourself mode.

·        Carry out plantation with community cooperation to retain moisture of soil

·        Forming groups of rural stakeholders and fixing their responsibilities for distribution, utilisation and management of water through created structures.

·        Making arrangements with community cooperation for efficient use of water.

·        Improvement of piped water schemes.

6.            Coordination with individuals and non-governmental/voluntary institutions and seeking cooperation and guidance from them.

7.            Using locally available indigenous/traditional knowledge and experience in addition to technical and scientific input in planning and implementation of water conservation activities.

8.            Coordination with banks and financial institutions for financial mobilization and  implementation of water conservation activities.

9.            Ensure participation, cooperation and guidance of public representatives in mobilization of resources.

10.       Intensive implementation of water conservation activities on priority basis in source less habitations in the context of drinking water and in the areas categorized as Grey/Dark/Overexploited categories on the basis of ground water assessment studies.

11.       Quality implementation of selected water conservation activities and introducing a system for regular monitoring and supervision and social audit.

To View the detailed document click Jal Abhishek