Water Conservation

What do we do?

CHALLENGE

The Swaraj facilitated planning exercises - gram panchayat meetings, resource mapping, and corner meetings - revealed the pressing need for access to water for both farming and household purposes. The planning exercises also identified roles of women, youth, farmers, and others to access and manage water resources, and the related challenges

SWARAJ INTERVENTION

Swaraj provided the technical support to the efforts on community based water conservation and management efforts. Swaraj also facilitated linkages with the government and private sector for additional resources required to enable access to water.

How do we do?

WE SUPPORT MICROPLANNING

Since 2010, Swaraj has been facilitating micro-planning in several villages of Jalna district. The participatory planning empowered communities to create action plans and prioritize local needs. Diverse groups actively participated in meetings, enabling even marginalized voices to raise concerns. This led to the development of village maps, resource maps, and action plans, fostering community-driven development and guiding the implementation of community based water conservation efforts.

WE STRENGHTEN

We strengthen the Water User Groups, gram panchayats, youth, farmer groups, and women at the village, to conserve and manage water at the farms, households, and community spaces.

WE BUILD NETWORKS

We actively network with district administrations, relevant departments (agriculture and water resources), and other NGOs, to harness synergies to implement and sustain access to water and livelihoods.

PARTNERSHIPS

Our partnership with Wockhardt Foundation and the government has helped bring financial and technical resources required to enable improved access, storage, distribution, and management of water resources.

Impact

Improved access to drinking water: 3,217 households in nine villages now have access to plenty of drinking water.
Increased agricultural productivity: 400 farmers have been able to sow various crops during two seasons, improving food security and livelihoods.
Reduced drudgery for women: Women no longer have to walk long distances to fetch water.
Replicable model: The success of the program has created a model that can be replicated in other villages to build a more sustainable future.

The "Satat Jal" Initiative - Revitalizing Water Resources

The Case of Maliwada

The Challenge:

Maliwada, a small village nestled in the heart of Maharashtra, faced a perennial water crisis. The village's primary water source, a traditional percolation tank, had fallen into disrepair due to years of neglect and siltation. This resulted in acute water scarcity, particularly during the dry season, impacting both domestic water availability and agricultural productivity. The villagers, predominantly small-scale farmers, struggled to meet their basic water needs and faced significant crop losses due to inadequate irrigation.

Swaraj's Intervention:

Recognizing the severity of the water crisis in Maliwada, Swaraj Gramin Vikas Pratisthan, in partnership with the Wockhardt Foundation, launched the "Satat Jal" initiative. This community-driven program aimed to restore the village's traditional water body and enhance its water storage capacity.

How We Did It:

Community Mobilization: Swaraj's team began by engaging with the Maliwada community, raising awareness about the importance of water conservation and the benefits of restoring the percolation tank.
Participatory Planning: The villagers actively participated in planning the restoration process, sharing their traditional knowledge and insights about the water body.
Collective Action: The community, with technical guidance and support from Swaraj, came together to de-silt the tank, strengthen its embankments, and improve its overall structure.
Capacity Building: Swaraj conducted training sessions for the villagers on water management techniques, emphasizing the importance of sustainable water use and conservation practices.

Impact:

The "Satat Jal" initiative in Maliwada has brought about a remarkable transformation:

Water Abundance: The restored percolation tank now effectively captures and stores rainwater, ensuring year-round water availability for the village.
Agricultural Revival: Farmers have access to sufficient water for irrigation, leading to increased crop yields and improved agricultural income.
Women's Empowerment: Women no longer have to spend hours fetching water from distant sources, freeing up their time for other productive activities.
Community Ownership: The villagers have taken ownership of the restored water body, ensuring its continued maintenance and sustainability.

The success of the "Satat Jal" initiative in Maliwada stands as a testament to Swaraj's commitment to community-driven natural resource management. By empowering communities to revitalize their traditional water bodies, Swaraj is creating a ripple effect of positive change, ensuring water security, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and building more resilient rural communities.