““Paani Aur ParivartanPaani Aur Parivartan””

An Ordinary Story of change in An Ordinary Story of change in KhoriKhori

District RewariDistrict RewariHaryanaHaryana

A.Mona Sreenivas, IASA.Mona Sreenivas, IAS Additional deputy Additional deputy

CommissionerCommissioner RewariRewari

Water is food and fire is the eater of the food.Water is food and fire is the eater of the food.Fire is established in water andFire is established in water andWater is established in fireWater is established in fire

-Taittiriya Upanishad 3.8-Taittiriya Upanishad 3.8

Unkind GeographyUnkind Geography

• Rewari district has a dryland Rewari district has a dryland topographytopography

• One lost river-”Saavi”One lost river-”Saavi”• Mostly canal based water supplyMostly canal based water supply• Arid weather and depleting Arid weather and depleting

groundwater levelsgroundwater levels• Located between the software capital Located between the software capital

“Gurgaon” and the backwaters of “Gurgaon” and the backwaters of Haryana “Mahendragarh”Haryana “Mahendragarh”

Khori- SnapshotKhori- Snapshot

• Block KholBlock Khol

• Population: 5000(approx)Population: 5000(approx)

• Caste composition: 25% jats, Caste composition: 25% jats, 25%SC,7% brahmins ,6% ahirs25%SC,7% brahmins ,6% ahirs

• BPL :350BPL :350

• Aravalli range criss crosses this areaAravalli range criss crosses this area

Watershed as a crying needWatershed as a crying need

• Taken up in 1999-2000 under DDP 5th Taken up in 1999-2000 under DDP 5th batchbatch

• Reasons:Reasons:Water gushing down the slopes of the hills Water gushing down the slopes of the hills

caused damage to standing cropscaused damage to standing cropsIt also cut into the landIt also cut into the landSoil and land erosionSoil and land erosionWater logging further damaged the cropsWater logging further damaged the cropsYieids fell,productivity went downYieids fell,productivity went down

Contd…Contd…

The dilemma of both excess and scarcity The dilemma of both excess and scarcity of waterof water

Issue of Waste water Issue of Waste water Issue of Wastage of waterIssue of Wastage of waterRampant deforestation in the hillsRampant deforestation in the hillsDrinking water crisis year after yearDrinking water crisis year after yearShrinking unproductive land holdingsShrinking unproductive land holdingsMigrationMigration

Activities for changeActivities for change

Activities Expenditure in lakhs

Field bunding 0.46

horticulture o.10

Agro/social forestry on private lands 0.20

Stock pond(3 nos) 5.09

Diversion channel 2.00

Check dams (3 nos) 7.64

Afforestation on community land 0.30

EPA 0.93

Community organization 0.21

The Beginnings of changeThe Beginnings of change

• Three Check dams constructed to check Three Check dams constructed to check the flow of water from the hillsthe flow of water from the hills

• Protected the crops from damageProtected the crops from damage

• Checked further depletion of groundwaterChecked further depletion of groundwater

• Groundwater rechargeGroundwater recharge

• Agricultural revivalAgricultural revival

• Productivity roseProductivity rose

Change unfolds..Change unfolds..

• Water channels and nalas diverted excess Water channels and nalas diverted excess rain water towards a common drainage rain water towards a common drainage pointpoint

• Waste water of the village drained to a Waste water of the village drained to a johadjohad

• Water accumulated in a johad used for Water accumulated in a johad used for irrigationirrigation

• Drainage point identified following rules of Drainage point identified following rules of natural flow of water and gravitynatural flow of water and gravity

Indicators of ChangeIndicators of Change

• Cropping patternCropping pattern

• Per hectare productivityPer hectare productivity

• Pattern and size of land holdingsPattern and size of land holdings

• Caste and land ownershipCaste and land ownership

• Number of tractorsNumber of tractors

• Number of wells/tubewells revivedNumber of wells/tubewells revived

• Number and yield of milch animalsNumber and yield of milch animals

Social indicatorsSocial indicators

• Number of schoolsNumber of schools

• Enrolment and retentionEnrolment and retention

• Opening of College of EducationOpening of College of Education

• Number of SHGsNumber of SHGs

• Institutional deliveriesInstitutional deliveries

• Social harmonySocial harmony

• Increase in number and usage of toilets Increase in number and usage of toilets

Explaining ChangeExplaining Change

• Watershed initiative created awareness of Watershed initiative created awareness of the need to conserve and manage water.the need to conserve and manage water.

• Link between water and prosperityLink between water and prosperity• The watershed concept is not only The watershed concept is not only

physical, economical,ecological but also physical, economical,ecological but also social. Integrates social resources with social. Integrates social resources with natural resource managementnatural resource management

• Equity, sustainability, participation: keys Equity, sustainability, participation: keys to successto success

Women and waterWomen and water

• In khori, women emerged as leaders of the In khori, women emerged as leaders of the water campaignwater campaign

• Woman sarpanch Smt Kamla devi led the Woman sarpanch Smt Kamla devi led the womenwomen

• Women’s burden as water providers in IndiaWomen’s burden as water providers in India

• Women & girls responsibility to collect, Women & girls responsibility to collect, transport, store and manage water.transport, store and manage water.

• She gets to use the water last.She gets to use the water last.

• She is excluded from decision making on use She is excluded from decision making on use and distribution of waterand distribution of water

Women and waterWomen and water

• In khori women decided the prioritiesIn khori women decided the priorities

• Drinking water , water for animals, Drinking water , water for animals, and channelling waste water were set and channelling waste water were set as priorities above that of agricultureas priorities above that of agriculture

• Empowerment of womenEmpowerment of women

• Divided by caste, united by genderDivided by caste, united by gender

• Women led plantation driveWomen led plantation drive

Long term changesLong term changes

• Watershed concept incurs costs Watershed concept incurs costs instantly but returns are often delayedinstantly but returns are often delayed

• Long term positive externalities involvedLong term positive externalities involved• Necessities collective actionNecessities collective action• Need to fine balance support for socially Need to fine balance support for socially

complex and diverse groups with complex and diverse groups with differing entitlements and rights of differing entitlements and rights of access and use of resources.access and use of resources.

Long term ChangesLong term Changes

• Empowered user groups to develop internal Empowered user groups to develop internal mechanisms for conflict resolution and mechanisms for conflict resolution and determination of rightsdetermination of rights

• Developing agreed norms for sharing costs Developing agreed norms for sharing costs and benefits.and benefits.

• Changes in land ownership patternsChanges in land ownership patterns• Smaller holdings also become viable.Smaller holdings also become viable.• SHGs emerged to give structure to the SHGs emerged to give structure to the

otherwise amorphous category of user otherwise amorphous category of user groupsgroups

THANK YOUTHANK YOU