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Water
Resources Conservation & Conjunctive Utilization
for Environmental Restoration in Tribal Area
of Patratu Block, Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand
(KGVK)
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Implementing Organization:
Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra, Ranchi.
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Start and End Date: May
2002–March 2007. |
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Self-Help
Mission in Jharkhand
The project aims to enable the
people in the tribal area to manage their
natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Covering 19 villages, the project strives
to promote forest and agriculture-based
micro enterprises to provide alternative
sources of employment. With the rise in
income and employment opportunities, the
migration of the tribals from the project
area has come down from the average 40
per cent to 20 per cent.
Traditionally,
a tribal has lived in harmony
with nature, using natural resources
in an equitable and sustainable
manner within his own tribal system.
However, this environment- friendly
practice is fast vanishing due
to external interventions and
increased biotic pressure. This
is a major factor contributing
to environmental degradation in
the project area of Patratu Block
in Hazaribagh district.
Agriculture, which is the main
source of livelihood for the tribals,
has been seriously affected owing
to high surface run-offs and infertile
soil.The depletion |
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Women at the vermi-composting
demonstration unit. |
of
forest cover has led to loss of forest
produce, yet another source of livelihood.
Rapid urbanization in the vicinity of
the tribal belt has also increased pressure
on the forest for timber and fuel wood,
leading to large-scale deforestation as
well as exploitation of the tribals.
The project, covering 19 villages, aims
to empower the people living in the tribal
area to manage their natural resources
in a sustainable manner. Farm-based micro
enterprises are being promoted as alternative
sources of employment.
To increase community ownership over project
interventions, institutions like Village
Development Committee, Self-Help Groups
and Special Interest Groups have been
formed and strengthened. Women are encouraged
to participate in all activities, especially
in project management.
Progress
this year
In its third year now, the project witnessed
substantial progress. There was extensive
implementation of low cost engineering
structures and more intensive community
participation, with Village Development
Committees at the apex of the chain. The
focus was on promoting cost-effective
small structures to maximize command area
with available resources and by striking
a balance between scientific planning
and community consensus. Other salient
features
were consolidation of micro enterprises,
plantation, demonstration farming and
work in the forest
areas in collaboration with the Forest
Department.
For soil and water conservation, the project
completed nine check dams and gabions,
24 ponds/irrigation tanks, 400 meters
of irrigation channels and two lift irrigation
schemes, apart from extensive trenching,
bunding, gully-plugging and land reclamation.
Coppicing, silviculture, trenching and
gully plugging was undertaken in 295 hectares
of forest land with the help of the Village
Forest Committees, as per agreement with
the Forest Department. Project activities
have created one-lakh days of direct employment.
With the rise in income and employment
opportunities, the migration from the
project area has come down by half.
Demonstration of improved varieties of
pulses, cereals and vegetables was stepped
up owing to increased availability of
water. A farmer’s average income increased
by 12 per cent due to intensive training
in improved agricultural practices, introduction
of highyielding variety of paddy, and
distribution of micro-irrigation kits.
The re-introduction of lac cultivation
in the project area, in collaboration
with the Indian Lac Research Institute,
was successful. Villagers will earn Rs
1.50 lakh from a yield of 3,000 kg of
lac. The promotion of nursery through
SHGs with a buy-back system was accomplished,
and mushroom, piggery, poultry, fishery
and food processing units were initiated
and strengthened to provide alternate
livelihood sources.
LEFT
: Villagers discuss community participation
in
project activities.
RIGHT : Making plates out of leaves
for sale. |
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Capacity
building of community institutions
through training, exposure tours,
linkages with banks and technical
institutions, and encour-aging
their gradual weaning away from
support provided by KGVK, was
actively pursued as a part of
the withdrawal strategy. Harnessing
lift irrigation schemes for safe
drinking water and household needs,
environment education activities
for teachers
and school |
children, village sanitation campaigns
and health camps for women and children,
provided a better appreciation of the
positive linkages between improved environment
and quality of life.
Facilitating and strengthening collaboration
with Government institutions, including
the Forest Department, has been an important
area of activity. Development of the forest
area within the natural boundary of the
project watershed, under the Joint Forest
Management agreement with the Forest Department,
is the first of its kind in the state.
The expertise and experience of renowned
research institutions like Indian Lac
Research Institute, Horticulture Research
Station,
Central Upland Rice Research Station and
others, are available.
The project had a slow take-off as the
process of community ownership took longer
than anticipated. The challenge lies in
overcoming this handicap and ensuring
sustained implementation. |
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