MEGH PYNE ABHIYAN Reviving self-belief

Transcription

1 MEGH PYNE ABHIYAN Reviving self-belief 2006

2 Objectives Short term Introducing the concept and technique of rooftop rainwater harvesting Popularizing rainwater harvesting as a supplementary water source and inculcating the habit of adopting rainwater harvesting as a low cost technology with high cost returns Strengthening the capacities of the local masses to carry out the proposed interventions independently at the community level

3 And Long term Popularizing the concept of rainwater harvesting and transferring the learning of the Maegh Pyne Abhiyan to other flood affected villages in north Bihar Propagating rainwater harvesting system for assured drinking water in areas with high concentration of iron and arsenic in groundwater Developing other community-based water management strategies (such as drainage systems) in partnership with the local communities for transforming water-logged agricultural fields into productive resource base

4 Campaign strategy Campaign launched in May 2006, after 1 ½ years of required groundwork and exhaustive need assessment Executed in one panchayat each of the four flood prone districts of north Bihar Khagaria, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhubani addressing an approximate population of 46,000 people

5 Process Sample survey Internal capacity building exercise Social mobilization process Introducing the concept and importance of rainwater and its conservation for drinking purposes Formation of village level institution Orientation of the opinion leaders, panchayat functionaries, members of village level institutions Continuous interaction with the village communities

6 And Demonstrations Setting up demonstrations in all the four panchayats Constant follow-up Encouraging people to adopt rainwater harvesting at an individual level Ground and rain water testing Mass awareness Jal Samvad Yatra Participating in the Gaushala Mela at Khagaria Publishing campaign related documents

7 And Advocacy Interaction with the local administration, media and eminent people at the district and national level (new component) Distributing MPA publications Presentations Constant monitoring and skill development of the front line workers

8 What made it possible!

9 Building trust Revisited history and explored traditional wisdom to identify the importance attached to rainwater Located local people with the experience of drinking rainwater Included elderly people and women in the campaign during the initial stages Continuous interaction with the villagers Tested the ground and rain water

10 Social mobilization

11 And

12 Demonstrations

13 District specific installations Khagaria 20 Saharsa 18 Supaul 21 Madhubani 19

14 They helped

15 Unfortunately Monsoon failed this year Skepticism crept in People held MPA responsible for the catastrophe Field workers were targeted MPA had a rough beginning BUT the work went on

16 Innovations at individual levels

17 And

18 People said Pyne bhaut neek che - Water tastes good Its light Initially tastes a little weird but once the taste develops then one enjoys drinking it Stomach related problems were solved Food cooked in rainwater tastes much better

19 People said Water does not go bad This alternative was never explored by the locals nor was it told by outsiders Never thought that we will be able to access safe drinking water at such cheap cost What will happen if the monsoon fails again? How can we store more water to ensure that there is sufficient during dry period during monsoon and otherwise? Can something similar be done with the groundwater? Do you think we can survive by just drinking rainwater?

20 Response

21 Water testing... ph and E coli tests gave instant result in the field, and was an effective confidence building measure BUT a lot more needs to be done

22 Jal Samvad Yatra

23 Saharsa

24 Supaul

25 Khagaria

26 Madhubani

27 The yatra went to Khagaria Dhamma Khairi Khutaha panchayat and Chatar (Chatar panchayat), Madhura Musahari and Badi Madhura (Uttar Marar) Saharsa - Mahishi (north), Mahishi (east) Supaul Bayriya panchayat Madhubani West Lucknaur and Daiya Kharbar (Gangapur), Khairi (Khairi), Gunakarpur (Behat south), Balbhadrapur (Balbhadrapur)

28 Outcome Khagaria 4,500 people have drank rainwater Saharsa 3,000 Supaul 2,500 Madhubani 3,500 Out of 46,000 people approximately 13,000 have been made aware and have consumed rainwater And awareness has been further generated in adjoining panchayats as well

29 Additional interventions Participating in the Gaushala mela Interaction with the district authorities and media Exploring possibilities of local water storage options

30 Water storage

31 What next?

32 Proposed plan of action (December 2006 March 2008) Area of work Increase the area of work in additional panchayats and to continue working in the earlier panchayat to attain full coverage Issues to be addressed Rainwater harvesting for drinking and other household purposes Supplementary source of drinking water in areas with high levels of arsenic and iron in groundwater General awareness regarding traditional farming practices to reduce contamination of ground and surface water Public and policy advocacy to institutionalize rainwater harvesting

33 And Organizational development activities Organizational s core staff and field worker (old and new) orientation on Strengthening and mobilizing communities Technical aspects of water management Advocacy tools and techniques to constitute pressure groups at the village level Moderating, reporting and documentation of village level initiatives Personality development of workers to become an effective community worker

34 And Social Mobilization and capacity building of village level institutions Old group Group based assessment of the campaign and future planning SWOT analysis Issue based mass awareness Strategic planning of how to concentrate on individual adoption of the rain water harvesting technique Interface between the old people and present generation to identify the traditional practices of water management in the region and develop them as a point of reference for others Develop a cadre of Jal doot to propagate the concept of rainwater harvesting within the village and in the adjoining areas Relocation of the old instalments

35 And New group Contacting eminent person Village level meetings Water- issue based meetings Committee formation Orientation about the Megh Pyne Abhiyan Identify and develop Jal doot in the new areas Stakeholders meeting at the village level Developing a pamphlet based on local issues Develop a team of local artists/ traditional group to propagate rainwater harvesting

36 And Field level advocacy Dissemination of the outcomes of Megh Pyne Abhiyan District level awareness and motivational programme for the panchayat functionaries to help in impacting the rainwater harvesting policy at the district and state level

37 An idea of the problem

38 And