Society of Indian Institute for Rural Development || Natural Resources Management

Rural Development

Natural Resources Management

When addressing the issue of natural resource management in rural areas one of the main endeavors should be to promote sustainable agriculture. Creating a more sustainable food production system that allows for optimized usage of nature’s goods without damaging the environment has proven to be the solution for many problems faced by rural communities all over the world. Through its holistic approach towards humankind’s relation with the earth, sustainable agriculture has been showing its benefits in the environmental, social and economic sense by striving to address all these aspects in an integrated manner. Therefore IIRD’s projects related to water management, lift irrigation, vermicomposting and waste management have been carried out with the ultimate goal of building up the necessary infrastructure and raising awareness for the development of sustainable agriculture practices.

Faced with challenges like low levels of ground water and environmental degradation, lack of agricultural based livelihood opportunities for the communities and the resultant poor socio-economic status of the communities, including the women, IIRD has taken up the cause of Natural Resource Management as a very dear cause. It has believed in a participatory process that enabled the primary stakeholders to play a decisive role in developing and managing the resources that are of vital importance for them. It has performed the following deeds

Formation of community based groups
Ensuring active participation by target population and participatory approach for planning decision-making, sharing responsibilities, promotion and communication
Empowering women in land use management and production, along with the development of self-help potential
Conflict management through creation of forums and mechanisms of negotiation and the setting up of a comprehensive and permanent monitoring system to allow proper control of activities

Objectives:

To enhance alternative sustainable usage of nature’s goods by preserving the natural resources available, without damaging the environment

Program at a glance

Program	Area and Time	Supporting Agency	No of lives affected (approx)
Waste Management through Vermiculture	Kutch (Gujarat), Jhalawar, Jaipur, Alwar, Bundi, Tonk, Kota (Rajasthan) 1999- 2006	Asian Development Bank, Government of Gujarat, CAPART, Department of biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology	1300 in Rajasthan 500 in Gujarat
Water Resources Augmentation Project (WRAP)	Jhalawar, 2002- 2004	CARE, Rajasthan	All families in Sunel, town and 10 adjoining villages
Rashtriya Sam VikasPariyojna	Jhalawar, 2002- 2008	ZillaParishad, Government of Rajasthan	120 Anicuts built benefiting 50000 people
Motivation to Voluntary Resettlement Plan Assistance in Mobilizing Issue in Bisalpur Jaipur Water Supply Project- A study on Water Demand Survey	Tonk, 2005	Asian Development Bank (ADB)	200 families
ATMA	2006-2014	Deptt. Of agriculture GOR	3545
NABARD watershed project	2009-2015 Bakani,Jhalawar	NABARD ITC	2900 people 2300 ha.work area
Integrated Watershed management Development	Nayagaon, Jhalawar district, 2010 - Till date	NABARD and ITC-IIRD	5000 ha land protected from erosion. 249 families benefited directly
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme	Jhalarpatan, Pirawa and Bakani of Jhalawar District of Rajasthan State, 2010 - Till date	ZilaParishadJhalawar, Government of Rajasthan	21 villages of 7 Gram Panchayats benefits in about 4088 ha
Capacity Building Initiatives of Water User Associations (WUA)	37 Sub Projects in Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi districts, 2010-11	Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)	5000 families
Capacity building of water user association RAJMIIP	2010-2015	Deptt. of irrigation TICA &GVT	6800 people
Harit Rajasthan	2010-2014Jhalrapatan and Bakani	ZP Jhalawar	2500 plantation
Community lift irrigation system	2011-2012Jhalawar	ZP Jhalawar	450 family
Bisalpur rehabilitation social action plan	2011-2012 Rajasthan	RUIDP	29 Village
Rajasthan minor irrigation improvement project	2011-2014 Jhalawar, Bundi, Baran	Integrated water resources department	2500 people
Integrated watershed management programe	2012 till date MalpuraTonk	ZilaParishad Watershed department GOR	1000 family benefitted in 5300 hac.
Mukhyamantri Jal Swalamban Yojna	2017	Government of Rajasthan
Women initiative for skill, employment and empowerment	2017	IIRD,MGNREGA & ITC

4.1 NABARD watershed project

Year:-2010-2017
Place:-Bakani, Jhalawar
Partner agency:- NABARD & ITC

The project

The implementation of the Watershed Development program in collaboration with NABARD and ITC-IIRD, has witnessed almost one year of intervention and association with the rural households of the designated watershed area of Nayagoan. The community who had showed their apprehension in the initial year of the project, witnessing an external unknown agency ushering in developmental measures beyond the community’s usual understanding of government aid through Panchayats and government machinery. The discussions on a thorough land based treatment with community participation in mind were somewhat unheard. However, through regular interaction and community equally participating in planning exercises slowly eroded their preconceived notions.

Observing one and a half year’s intervention, there are several socio-economic and institutional issues that would need to be addressed while implementing the program.
The area being predominantly tribal, much of their economy depends on agriculture for their sustenance. Animal husbandry and income from it could be a gainful secondary option with focused intervention on improving livestock.
More than 70% of the households possess individual land holdings of less than one ha. As community may have very less option of increasing their land holdings, what is crucial is to retain the land holdings and address appropriate measures that would aid to augmenting production.
The community keeps livestock; however, it bears marginal significance to the community in terms of income sources. The big animals especially bullocks is kept for agriculture use for plouging. Some villagers keep cows and buffaloes for milk, though the milk produce is mostly consumed domestically. The current trend has lesser opportunity in generating options from milk produce that could be supplied to Dairy sector or sold in markets. This can be attributed mainly due to scarcity of fodder and quality feed enhancing milk production. Small ruminants especially goats is generally kept by all households. The milk produce from goats is generally used for household consumption and is also sold at times of monetary requirements. Since the goats are of local variety, they generally fetch prices ranging from Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 2500/-. The price of goats varies with their age, sex and weight. An important component would be improving the variety of goat and distributing to farmers interested in maintaining such variety and exploring alternatives of generating household income through animal husbandry.

Project goal:

To improve livelihoods of the community through implementation of watershed development project and enhance agriculture production in the region.

Objectives

To create useful water and soil conservation assets To increase the availability of biomass through re-vegetation of the common lands and increased availability of surface and ground water through soil and moisture conservation and retention measures.

To create model work-culture under the project
To assist individual farmers through appropriate soil and water conservation measures to improve water availability for agriculture, livestock improvement and thereby, improving agricultural productivity.
To strengthen the village level and watershed-level governance of biomass and water resources by village communities, including involvement of Panchayats in addressing natural resource management.
To assist communities in effectively integrating agriculture and natural resources management and in regulating the demand for biomass and water through rules, regulations and mechanisms evolved by community institutions at village and inter village levels.
Strengthen the inter-linkages between different production systems and productivity enhancement through appropriate intervention thus improving the cash flows in the village economy.

4.2 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Programme

Year:-2010-2017
Place:-Jhalarapatan, Bakani, PirwaJhalawar district
Partner agency:-ZilaparishadJhalawar, Government of Rajasthan
Introduction

Government of India has introduced the world’s one of the largest development program in human history, The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). This flagship program was enacted by the Government of India as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in September, 2005. The NREGS came into effect, on a pilot basis, in February, 2006 in 200 economically disadvantaged districts of the country. In the second phase of implementation, it was extended to 130 additional districts and the remaining districts were covered in the third phase on April 1, 2008. This social welfare programme is primarily intended to enhance the livelihood securities of the people in rural areas by supplementing wage employment opportunities to the unskilled labor force. The programme is in force with the intention that it would act as a strong safety net for the poor in the wake of lack of alternative employment opportunities. In an attempt to ensure the rural economy to grow, the scheme is expected to regenerate the rural natural resource base for sustainable livelihood by carrying out soil and water conservation activities. What is considered most crucial is the empowerment of the poor through the provision of a rights-based law. MGNREGA gives rise to programmes that develop not from its willful benevolence, but as a legally binding response by the state to a right to work that is enshrined in law. The constraint of resources cannot thus be cited by the government as an excuse for failing to provide works. Quality of works is central to the implementation of this programme. There is complete abolition of contractors from the implementation of MGNREGA, thereby getting rid of rampant corruption and labour exploitation that was in vogue in earlier schemes. The other key attributes of this scheme are time bound guarantee, labour-intensive work, decentralized participatory planning, women’s empowerment, work site facilities and above all, transparency and accountability through the provision of social audits and right to information. The unprecedented use of information technology in this programme is considered to bring about greater transparency through intensive monitoring and faster execution. The payment of wages through bank and post office accounts is another innovative step that is likely to reduce fudging of the muster rolls on the part of the implementing agencies since the actual payments are beyond their reach.

Project goal:

To improve livelihoods of the community through implementation of watershed development project and enhance agriculture production in the region.

Objectives:

To provide 100% wage rate by achieving 100% task though quality works.
To create useful Water Conservation Assets.
To create Model Work-Culture under the project.
To strengthen the village level governance of biomass and water resources by village communities, including involvement of Panchayats in addressing Natural Resource Management.
To assist communities in effectively integrating agriculture and natural resources management and in regulating the demand for biomass and water through rules, regulations and mechanisms evolved by community institutions at village and inter village levels.
Strengthen the inter-linkages between different production systems and productivity enhancement through appropriate intervention thus improving the cash flows in the village economy.
To assist individual farmers through appropriate soil and water conservation measures to improve water availability for agriculture, livestock improvement and thereby, improving agricultural productivity. To increase the availability of biomass through re-vegetation of the common lands and increased availability of surface and ground water through soil and moisture conservation and retention measures.

Outcomes

The project started with IIRD in June, 2010 during sixth year of the project following outcomes achieved
25 Farm ponds were constructed for vulnerable families.
5 Percolation Tanks constructed at Maroomkheri, Nayapura, Vajindpura, Semlikalan&Gadiya villages.
Continuous Contour Trench dug on 44 Ha pasture land to protect area from erosion.
18 Ha field demos demonstrated in Kharif and Rabi season benefitting 525 farmers.
20,000 Bamboo plants were planted on 400 Ha farmers land to protect area from erosion.
Land Leveling works done in 9 Individual Beneficiaries’ fields at Jhumki, Soyla&Parasali.
9 Vermi Compost Beds constructed at Jhumki, Soyla&Parasali.
7 Cattle Sheds constructed at Jhumki, Parasali&Soyla.
2 New Customer Hiring Centers commenced at Shyampura&Dubliya.
5 New Water User Groups created with 51 beneficiaries.
7 New women FFS formed at 7 villages with 175 female student farmers.
10 Animal health camps were organized benefitting 416 cattles of 10 villages.
Farmer Field Day celebrated in to 5 villages.
Savlon Hand Wash Day celebrated at 15 project area villages.
Classmate Drawing Competition organized in 38 Primary and Middle School at all project villages around 3020 students participated.
120 new Women Self Help Groups made with 1,211 women participants in different villages.
20 capacity building training organized on institutional development, technical aspect, book keeping, awareness, FFS Ugs including 691 total number of participants.
28 CRISIL Module trainings conducted for Ultra Poor Women Self Help Group members.
A loan of Rs. 15 lac disbursed to 11 Women Self Help Groups of different villages.
1,315 rural marginal to small farming families benefitted by the project.
40,490 person days employment generate.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) visited to inspect the activities done under Watershed Management and awarded with best managed watershed award.

4.3 Integrated watershed management programme

Year: 2012
Place: MalpuraTonk
Partner Agency: ZilaparishadTonk, Govt. of Rajasthan

The project:

An altruistic noble funding supports organization Government of Rajasthan has promoted an integrated and holistic community development program in 08 selected villages of Malpura blocks of district Tonk. This humanitarian activity is an outcome of socially responsive vision and mind set of the Govt. towards creating large potential and better opportunities for sustainable livelihood of poor farmer community through participatory development and decentralized management approach. This project is aimed toignite andintensify the hopes within the hopeless community for achieving an enhanced socio-economic status to lead a qualitative life style. Govt. is not restricted only to escalate the hopes of community, but gone further beyond to join hands with them for providing all essential resource input in terms of financial, technical, managerial and marketing skill through well established management information system.

The IIRD field office, Malpura was entrusted the responsibility to implement the proposed project, since inception, in the month of May 2012 in order to cater the technical, managerial and project execution needs at grass roots level for development of the rural poor community of most backward and fringe area of Rajasthan state.

Project goal:

The project goal is to improve the socio-economic status of the farmer community in a sustainable manner and to provide them choices for best deal of their agriculture produce in the market.

Objectives:

The basic objectives of the project is to -

Provide sustainable livelihood to rural poor farmers through appropriate water resources management in a participatory manner.
Promotion of low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) and organic cultivations to revert the agriculture activities in to economically viable option.
Employment generation and opportunities for farmers and landless communities through development of on –farm and off- farm activities. (Skilled/ unskilled Masonry work, labor oriented earthwork activities, Collective input supply and marketing committees)
Women empowerment and entrepreneurial capacity building through women SHGs for alternate sources of income.
Formation and strengthening of village level institutions/ Community based organizations (WC,WUA, VDC, SHGs) for decentralized management at community level.
Enhancement in socio- economic status of farmers community

4.4 Rajasthan minor irrigation improvement project

Year: 2014-2015
Place: JhalawarBaranBundi districts of Rajasthan
Partner agency: Integrated water shed resources department

Objective:

Improving the livelihood of farmer by rehabilitating and improving over 500 existing MIPS at the same time encouraging them to form water user association fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility

Impact:

under RAJAMIP, IIRD has initiated capacity building of WAUs through 75 sub projects in Jhalawar barn Bundi districts .IIRD conducted the following activities in an orderly manner of which most of them are

Conducting mass awareness camp
Conducting base line socio economic survey of WAUs member
Data entry and processing using software
Selection identification nad formation of WAUs
Understanding the social dynamics of formed WAUs and opening account in each WAUs
Constitution of project subcommittee in each WAUs
Capacity building of NGO professional training of trainers on capacity building and exposure visits
MOU between WRD-WUA and fund mobilization towards delivery of agriculture support and extension services and linkage with agriculture inputs for increasing
Holding timely meeting documentation of learning.