Indo-German Watershed Development Programme

Transcription

1 Indo-German Watershed Development Programme Objectives The Indo-German Watershed Development Programme (IGWDP) is an integrated programme for rehabilitation of watersheds for the regeneration of natural resources. The programme is implemented by the Village Watershed Committees (VWC- a body nominated by villagers), in association with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). IGWDP which was operationalised in December 1992 under the bilateral aid agreement between the German and Indian Governments, was visualized and initiated in 1989 by Fr. Hermann Bacher of Social Centre, Ahmednagar, the guiding spirit behind the Programme. The objectives of the Indo German Watershed Development are : To develop micro-watersheds in a comprehensive manner, so as to create adequate and sustainable livelihood opportunities for the inhabitants of that area. To catalyse to form village groups into mobilising their degraded environment through participatory self-help initiatives. To facilitate the arising and unfolding of a people s movement for sustainable economic development along watershed lines. Guiding principles Poverty can be alleviated and eradicated when people realize their creative potential, come together and organize themselves based on self-help and community objectives. Often a catalyst either from within the community or from outside e.g. a NGO, is required for such a transformation. A watershed is not just a naturally occurring hydrological unit. More importantly, it is the area of survival and base of sustenance of all those living within it. It, thus, becomes necessary to draw the inhabitants together, generate a common interest and foster a common purpose. Participatory and wellmanaged watershed development enhances the ecological resource base of a rural economy and creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for the watershed community. A participatory approach involving all concerned, i.e. the watershed community (village), NGOs and Technical Support Organizations, is necessary, as integrated watershed development involves a variety of skills, disciplines and competencies. To make an appreciable and lasting impact both on the incidence and the extent of poverty, a large scale effort involving the government, banks, agriculture universities must be made. The coming together of people s initiative and supportive institutional and policy framework could create conditions favourable to the unfolding and establishment of a people s movement for environmental regeneration on watershed basis. Main strategies adopted under IGWDP : While a micro-watershed is identified by its physical characteristics, it is the peoples' commitment that decides for inclusion or otherwise in the programme. It is in effect a "self-selection" process. People are asked to demonstrate their willingness/eagerness to undertake the watershed project by visiting nearby watershed for experience / exposure and agreeing

2 to contribute 4 days of shramdan (voluntary labour) initially without any support from the programme. Villagers agree to bring down the cattle population within the carrying capacity of the land, ban free grazing and tree felling and eschewing water intensive crops. A pilot project called Capacity Building Phase (CBP) - 50 to 100 ha - is taken up for treatment measures where the competence and willingness of the community / villagers and the ability of the NGO to mobilise and work with the villagers are put to acid test This project lasts for months period and affords the right opportunity for learning while doing. Technical skills required in soil and water management are demonstrated, practised and refined in the field itself. A peoples' organisation called "Village Watershed Committee" (VWC) with adequate representation of women is formed for planning, implementing and eventual maintenance of the treatment measures / structures. VWC is responsible to Gram Sabha or entire village community. Village community is asked to partner the process of watershed development through it's contribution of one-day-a-week free labour contribution (shramdan of nearly 16% of project measures). Of course, as an incentive for it's participation, the programme envisages ploughing back 50% of free labour contribution to the maintenance funds of VWC. The treatment measures follow a "ridge to valley approach". The "net-planning" approach adopted demands survey of each of the plots in the watershed and suggests appropriate technical measures for conservation and improvement in consultation with the farmer and his family. The women in the community, besides being represented in the VWC, are encouraged to form SHGs and undertake project related activities like raising a nursery, kitchen gardens, in addition to inculcating the habit of thrift and funds management / rotation of funds amongst themselves. Besides, women promotion/development activities are undertaken from a "Women's development Fund" set up by earmarking 5% of project measures. The village community and NGO are allowed to implement the full scale watershed project only on successful completion of Capacity Building Phase (CBP) of the project. This strategy has to a large extent eliminated the incidence of failure at a later stage. The village community in association with NGO manages the entire fund meant for project measures. The management costs of NGOs are funded separately. A maintenance fund is created out of peoples' contribution, ploughing back 50% of voluntary labour and also an end-of - the- project incentive for future repairs and maintenance of structures. The village community is made aware of the exit requirements of NGO towards the later part of the project to allow the equipped VWC to take charge of maintenance, development and possibilities.

3 Partners and their roles The Gram Sabha, the body representing the entire village, accepts and ratifies the project. The VWC plans, implements and supervises the project. The NGO motivates and mobilizes the watershed communities and plays the role of facilitator and guide to the VWC during the project period. Concerned Government Departments, Technical Support Organisations and Agricultural Universities provide extension support during the implementation process as and when sought for. NABARD gives technical training and managerial support, besides monitoring the programme. The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and German Development Bank (KfW) provide financial assistance to the Capacity Building Phase (CBP) and Full Implementation Phase (FIP) of Indo-German Watershed Development Programme through the GoI, NABARD and WOTR. The Programme Coordination Unit with representation from NABARD and WOTR coordinates the implementation of the programme. Structure of the programme : The Programme consists of two Phases : Capacity Building Phase (CBP) : During CBP village communities and NGOs prepare, plan, implement and supervise watershed projects. It enables village communities and NGOs to acquire the necessary skills and competency and qualify for inclusion in Full Implementation Phase. Normally CBP is taken in 50 to 100 ha of the watershed area. Full Implementation Phase (FIP): After successful completion of CBP, the project enters FIP which is the main phase administered by NABARD in association with support organizations like Resource Support Organisations (RSOs) and other NGOs. Major learnings under IGWDP: People's participation is an essential component of watershed development. With commitment and conviction, people can discipline themselves for their betterment. Villagers need to contribute their stake/share(voluntary labour etc.) and feel the ownership of the project. Creating people's organisations like VWC for planning, implementing and maintenance is a must for success and sustainability. Having a pilot phase for proof testing the abilities and motivation of community and NGO during the CBP phase insures against most of future chances of failure.

4 Women and landless need to be integrated into the project design appropriately. Technical considerations and skills for soil and water management, based on "ridge-tovalley" principle can be understood by villagers through learning-by-doing, demonstration/exposure visits, etc. The village community should manage the funds for project measures through the VWC for total transparency and cost effectiveness. However, timely availability of funds in adequate measure in advance is a critical requirement for watershed projects. At present Indo-German Watershed Development Programme (IGWDP) is under implementation in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. A brief overview of the programmes is discussed in the following pages. IGWDP Maharashtra The Indo-German Watershed Development Programme (IGWDP) is a programme of soil and water conservation projects for the rehabilitation of watersheds. The programme in Maharashtra State started in a phased manner in the early 1990s and has successfully completed two phases (Phase I during and Phase II during ). 95 projects were completed under Phase I and Phase II. At present, the Phase III of the programme is under implementation, which was started in January The phase-wise information is given below. IGWDP Maharashtra Phase I (Completed) Phase I of IGWDP-Maharashtra commenced in with the sanction of Rs lakh (Euro 6.14 million) assistance. It was completed in with the successful implementation of 26 projects. Five projects were terminated at various stages of implementation. Total area of 38,180 ha of land was treated with soil & water conservation measure, drainage line treatment etc., by utilizing the sanctioned grant. IGWDP Maharashtra Phase II (Completed) IGWDP Maharashtra Phase II commenced in A grant amount of ` lakh was sanctioned under this phase. In all, 69 projects have been completed under this phase in 16 districts of Maharashtra. Total area treated under these projects was 64, ha. The total grant amount of ` lakh received under Phase-II, has been fully utilized. IGWDP Maharashtra Phase III (Ongoing) IGWDP Maharashtra Phase III commenced in The total sanction under this phase is ` crore. As on 31 March 2015, 110 projects have been completed, four projects were prematurely closed and grant amount of Rs crore has been utilized. Area treated under this phase is 1.57 lakh ha. IGWDP Andhra Pradesh The Indo German Watershed Development Programme- Andhra Pradesh (IGWDP-AP) was initiated to address the issues concerning the rehabilitation of degraded watersheds in the districts of Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, and Adilabad in Telangana (earlier a part of Andhra Pradesh). The objective of the programme is to stabilize and increase the agricultural production based on the resources in the villages in a sustainable and equitable manner. KfW has committed a grant assistance of Euro 8.69 million for the programme.

5 IGWDP-AP traversed a long path since launching of the programme in the year The number of watersheds being developed under IGWDP-AP is 36 covering about ha. All the 36 projects have been successfully completed. An amount of about `42.01crore was sanctioned for the programme of which an amount of `41.87 crore have been utilised as on 31 March Various innovative practices such as System of Rice Intensification (SRI), low cost water harvesting gabion structure, Trench-cum-Bund, Dug out Earthen Gully Plugs, etc. have been implemented under the programme. Practices like water budgeting, crop planning and optimum use of available water through DRIP irrigation etc. is now being practiced in watershed areas. IGWDP Gujarat IGWDP Gujarat was initiated to address the issues concerning the rehabilitation of degraded watersheds in the districts of Dahod, Panchmahal, Vadodara, and Sabarkantha. The Agreement was signed between NABARD and KfW on 02 February The programme was launched in February 2007 and will be ending in February Since the inception of the programme, 35 projects were sanctioned, out of which 07 projects were terminated due to unsatisfactory performance. As at the end of 31 March 2015, 27 projects are ongoing and one project completed successfully, covering 110 villages in 4 districts with total area of ha with a sanction of `38.34 crore. 13 NGOs are associated with the programme as PFAs. As on 31 March 2015, cumulative grant assistance released was of the order of `33.19 crore. Crop diversification has taken roots in the watershed areas leading towards increased income of the farmers. IGWDP-Rajasthan The programme aims at improving the livelihoods of the rural poor and rehabilitating the highly degraded natural production base in the south-eastern parts of Rajasthan (Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh districts). The purpose of the programme is to stabilize agricultural and livestock production. The total programme cost is approximately Euro million, of which KfW has committed Euro million (616 million) and the beneficiaries contribution is approximately Euro 1.24 million. Since inception of the programme, 35 projects have been sanctioned, of which 3 projects got terminated during CBP stage due to unsatisfactory performance. Haldupara project (in Interim Phase) was closed due to overlap with (GoI) Mahi-Kadana river valley project. The aggregate design benefit area under the sanctioned programme, as on 31 March 2015, stood at ha spread over 165 villages involving a sanction of `40.37 crore, out of which `32.29 crore has been disbursed. These projects are benefitting families (79096 populations). The programme will conclude by December 2016.

6 Consolidated position of IGWDP programme in four States is as under: ( Lakhs) IGWDP Phase No of District s covere d Grant Sanctione d Cumulati ve Grant released Complete d No of projects Terminat ed Ongoin g Tota l Maharashtr a-phase I Maharashtr a-phase II Maharashtr a-phase III Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Rajasthan Total