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Com munit y- led Water Managem entin t he Alw ar Dist r ict , Rajasthan, India

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ProjectObjectives:

Community-led water management through utilization of

a traditional water-harvesting structure (johad)

Results:

Construction of 333 johads in the river basin,

generating employment for community members

Rise of the water table and increased river flow,

resulting in improved water storage capacity of

villages after the construction and restoration of

johads

Substantial increase of crop production and

stockbreeding, resulting in increased income and

improved welfare of villagers, and returning of people to their villages

Increased self-esteem among community members through their active participation in water management

activities

Dissemination of successful experiences and methodologies to more than 100 communities

Part icipating or ganizationsTarun Bharat Sangh (local NGO)

Backgr ound of the comm unity

Rajasthans northernmost district of Alwar has a population of 2.3 million and consists of 1,991 villages, engaged inagricultural and livestock farming. Villages suffer from poverty caused by low agricultural productivity and severe

environmental degradation.

Envir onment al issuesEnvironmental conditions deteriorated due to the loss of vegetative cover caused by excessive grazing and

deforestation through illegal logging. The district is located within a semi-arid region, facing serious problems of

drought and depletion of groundwater.

Appr oaches to w ard comm unity innovationUtilization of a traditional water-harvesting structure, johad and the adoption of cultural and religious practices in

conducting environmental campaignsActive involvement of local people in water management activities through village assemblies

Active facilitating role played by a local NGO

Elem ent s of inno vat ivenessUtilization of culture, local knowledge and indigenous systems

In order to replenish groundwater reserves, the villagers sought to restore traditional mechanisms for water-

harvesting, johads. A johad is a semi-circular earthen check dam, designed to block the flow of streams during the

monsoons and to create a small reservoir behind them, helping to recharge the groundwater to ensure sufficient

water supply, even during the dry season.

The project was initiated in the village of Gopalpura in 1986, under the facilitation of the Tarun Bharat Sangh NGO.

Villagers in Gopalpura repaired all nine johads of the village, resulting in significantly increased crop production. In

order to improve the environment of the catchment area surrounding johads, the villagers reforested the area and

built fences to prevent overgrazing.

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Leadership

Activities of the Tarun Bharat Sangh were facilitated by the leader of the organization, who strongly promotes self-

help attitudes and financial independence of communities. Tarun Bharat Sangh helped in attracting external funding

from various NGOs, government organizations and donor agencies.

Community involvement

The village assembly, which consists of members of every family in the village, played an important role in ensuring

wide participation of villagers in decision making and implementation of activities. In 1992, the role of village

assemblies was reaffirmed under an amendment to the Indian constitution.

Involvement of an external facilitating organization

Tarun Bharat Sangh, established in 1975, played a key role as the initiator of water management activities in the

district. Between 1985 and 2001, the NGO helped in the construction of about 4,500 water-harvesting structures in

850 villages in Alwar. It encouraged communities to utilize internal resources and capacities, instead of depending

solely on external assistance.

Financial independence

In 1989, Tarun Bharat Sangh introduced a policy requiring communities to bear at least a quarter of project costs,

while covering the cost to hire skilled labor, and providing other materials that were not available in the villages. This

arrangement continued until 1997, when the proportion to be provided by villagers was raised to one third. As a result,

reliance on internal resources increased fivefold and village assemblies set up village funds that were designed to be

used for maintaining johads and improving the welfare of communities. Each family contributes one-fortieth of its

annual income to the funds or provides one day of voluntary labor every month for community work.

Barr ier s to innovationInterventions by the local government declaring johadsas illegal, banning other related activities within the catchment

areas, and transferring the catchment land to families outside the village, hampered the smooth implementation of the

initiative.

Factor s cont r ibut ing t o sust ainabilityThe combination of economic benefits through increased opportunities for employment and income generation, and

social benefits through improved environmental and living conditions for villagers.

A johad in Raika village, Alwar district

Source: Centre for Science & Environment