“ Paani Aur Parivartan ” An Ordinary Story of change in Khori District Rewari Haryana A.Mona Sreenivas, IAS A.Mona Sreenivas, IAS Additional deputy Commissioner Additional deputy Commissioner Rewari Rewari

Water is food and fire is the eater of the food. Fire is established in water and Water is established in fire -Taittiriya Upanishad 3.8

Unkind Geography Rewari district has a dryland topography Rewari district has a dryland topography One lost river-”Saavi” One lost river-”Saavi” Mostly canal based water supply Mostly canal based water supply Arid weather and depleting groundwater levels Arid weather and depleting groundwater levels Located between the software capital “Gurgaon” and the backwaters of Haryana “Mahendragarh” Located between the software capital “Gurgaon” and the backwaters of Haryana “Mahendragarh”

Khori- Snapshot Block Khol Block Khol Population: 5000(approx) Population: 5000(approx) Caste composition: 25% jats, 25%SC,7% brahmins,6% ahirs Caste composition: 25% jats, 25%SC,7% brahmins,6% ahirs BPL :350 BPL :350 Aravalli range criss crosses this area Aravalli range criss crosses this area

Watershed as a crying need Watershed as a crying need Taken up in under DDP 5th batch Taken up in under DDP 5th batch Reasons: Reasons:  Water gushing down the slopes of the hills caused damage to standing crops  It also cut into the land  Soil and land erosion  Water logging further damaged the crops  Yieids fell,productivity went down

Contd…  The dilemma of both excess and scarcity of water  Issue of Waste water  Issue of Wastage of water  Rampant deforestation in the hills  Drinking water crisis year after year  Shrinking unproductive land holdings  Migration

Activities for change ActivitiesExpenditure in lakhs Field bunding0.46 horticultureo.10 Agro/social forestry on private lands0.20 Stock pond(3 nos)5.09 Diversion channel2.00 Check dams (3 nos)7.64 Afforestation on community land0.30 EPA0.93 Community organization0.21

The Beginnings of change Three Check dams constructed to check the flow of water from the hills Three Check dams constructed to check the flow of water from the hills Protected the crops from damage Protected the crops from damage Checked further depletion of groundwater Checked further depletion of groundwater Groundwater recharge Groundwater recharge Agricultural revival Agricultural revival Productivity rose Productivity rose

Change unfolds.. Water channels and nalas diverted excess rain water towards a common drainage point Water channels and nalas diverted excess rain water towards a common drainage point Waste water of the village drained to a johad Waste water of the village drained to a johad Water accumulated in a johad used for irrigation Water accumulated in a johad used for irrigation Drainage point identified following rules of natural flow of water and gravity Drainage point identified following rules of natural flow of water and gravity

Indicators of Change Cropping pattern Cropping pattern Per hectare productivity Per hectare productivity Pattern and size of land holdings Pattern and size of land holdings Caste and land ownership Caste and land ownership Number of tractors Number of tractors Number of wells/tubewells revived Number of wells/tubewells revived Number and yield of milch animals Number and yield of milch animals

Social indicators Number of schools Number of schools Enrolment and retention Enrolment and retention Opening of College of Education Opening of College of Education Number of SHGs Number of SHGs Institutional deliveries Institutional deliveries Social harmony Social harmony Increase in number and usage of toilets Increase in number and usage of toilets

Explaining Change Watershed initiative created awareness of the need to conserve and manage water. Watershed initiative created awareness of the need to conserve and manage water. Link between water and prosperity Link between water and prosperity The watershed concept is not only physical, economical,ecological but also social. Integrates social resources with natural resource management The watershed concept is not only physical, economical,ecological but also social. Integrates social resources with natural resource management Equity, sustainability, participation: keys to success Equity, sustainability, participation: keys to success

Women and water In khori, women emerged as leaders of the water campaign In khori, women emerged as leaders of the water campaign Woman sarpanch Smt Kamla devi led the women Woman sarpanch Smt Kamla devi led the women Women’s burden as water providers in India Women’s burden as water providers in India Women & girls responsibility to collect, transport, store and manage water. Women & girls responsibility to collect, 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 and distribution of water She is excluded from decision making on use and distribution of water

Women and water In khori women decided the priorities In khori women decided the priorities Drinking water, water for animals, and channelling waste water were set as priorities above that of agriculture Drinking water, water for animals, and channelling waste water were set as priorities above that of agriculture Empowerment of women Empowerment of women Divided by caste, united by gender Divided by caste, united by gender Women led plantation drive Women led plantation drive

Long term changes Watershed concept incurs costs instantly but returns are often delayed Watershed concept incurs costs instantly but returns are often delayed Long term positive externalities involved Long term positive externalities involved Necessities collective action Necessities collective action Need to fine balance support for socially complex and diverse groups with differing entitlements and rights of access and use of resources. Need to fine balance support for socially complex and diverse groups with differing entitlements and rights of access and use of resources.

Long term Changes Empowered user groups to develop internal mechanisms for conflict resolution and determination of rights Empowered user groups to develop internal mechanisms for conflict resolution and determination of rights Developing agreed norms for sharing costs and benefits. Developing agreed norms for sharing costs and benefits. Changes in land ownership patterns Changes in land ownership patterns Smaller holdings also become viable. Smaller holdings also become viable. SHGs emerged to give structure to the otherwise amorphous category of user groups SHGs emerged to give structure to the otherwise amorphous category of user groups

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