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A major people's movement in rural Rajasthan has revived the river Arvari and its tributaries. Water management techniques have completely changed the landscape and lives in this once-denuded region.
In rural Rajasthan, a revolutionary movement has transformed the once-denuded and deserted state, regenerating life and society. Fifteen years ago Rajendra Singh of the Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) identified water and fodder as the keys to prosperity in rural Rajasthan. He then set out to make these resources available to people throughout the year in a 'people-centred' approach, involving the villagers in discussions, planning and execution of the project. They also contributed by way of labour, service, money or material. The villagers worked out the design, location, construction and maintenance of e! ach water-conservation structure, johad (dug-out pond), check-dam or weir. As a consequence, vegetation in the hills revived. People stopped cutting down trees. Animals were not allowed to graze in demarcated areas. This was done through 'social fencing' rather than any form of physical fencing: the protected areas were 'fenced' by sprinkling sacred water and milk to define the territory. And it worked! The simple two-step approach of building water-conservation structures to hold water, and looking to the regeneration of the hills, had spectacular results. The river Arvari, which had been dry for 40 years, was revived when the villagers dug the 650th johad. Other rivers and rivulets also began to flow. This allowed year-round agriculture. Fodder and the availability of water is improving income from animal husbandry. The forests have regenerated and wildlife has returned. People no longer have to walk miles fo! r water; the time saved is used for constructive development work like education, local governance and the revival of traditional arts and crafts. All this has increased the confidence of the people who have availed of micro-credit schemes to start small enterprises. Today, the TBS model is being replicated all over Rajasthan. There are 3,500 'people-made' water conservation structures, of which 200 are in the Arvari catchment area. A parliament called the Arvari Sansad, that consists of 150 members from 70 villages, decides the agricultural practices of the farmers and cattle owners of the area. It also protects and manages the Arvari basin; crops like sugarcane and paddy that require a lot of water are banned. Water levels in wells and ponds in this region of rural Rajasthan have risen dramatically and the valley is now a lush green. People who earlier lived below the po! verty line now earn Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000 a year. For his work, Rajasthan's 'Water Man' has been awarded this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award. Contact: Tarun Bharat Sangh
34/24, Man Singh Sarovar
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Tel: 91-8737-393 178
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