Sujala Watershed Project

Phone: +91 (0)80 25530597, 25533989

Fax: 080-25530597

E-mail: iydblr@gmail.com

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The Sujala Watershed Project is sponsored by World Bank. The goal of this project is achieving sustainable development by involving the communities in the process of increasing the productive potential of their watersheds. This is achieved by building community institutions and training them to plan, implement and manage their own resources. The watershed will be protected, developed and managed in a participatory way and appropriate farming systems and practices will be introduced to increase production and productivity. Vulnerable groups are encouraged to take up alternative income generating activities. IYD is the Field NGO in three sub-watersheds, namely:

· Seegehalli sub-watershed, Shidlaghatta taluk, Kolar district;

· Nilathore sub-watershed, Srinivasapura taluk, Kolar district;

· Yeliyur kere sub-watershed, Kunigal taluk, Tumkur district.

These three projects all started in March 2004 and the duration of the projects is three years. Each sub-watershed is divided into several micro-catchments (MCs) and in each MC a Watershed Assistant and Field Guide are appointed.

Entry Point Activities (EPA) are taken up, which allow the community to enhance the village infrastructure or environment. 90 % of the cost will be contributed by the Government, while the community contributes 10 %.

Area Groups (AGs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are created. AGs consist of farmers living in a Mini-Micro-Catchment and SHGs of vulnerable groups are formed based on the outcome of the wealth ranking conducted in the initial stage. Sujala Watershed Sanghas (SWS) are formed, with members of AGs, SHGs and Gram Panchayath, and the SWS is assisted in selecting the Executive Committee (EC) members, with substantial representation of women and vulnerable groups.

To ensure sustainability the capacities of these institutions are built through several trainings, exposures and regular interaction. The members of these institutions receive training on subjects like the Sujala Watershed Project, the concept of SHGs and AGs and their role in the project, the environment, conducting meetings, the roles and responsibilities of the members and representatives, bookkeeping, gender and equity, leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, institutional linkages and book writing. SHGs and AGs are also supported in their savings and credit linkages.

The SWS develops a Sujala Watershed Action Plan (SWAP) for its micro-catchment, containing activities to be taken up on private and common land, regarding drainage line treatment, soil and water conservation, forestry and horticulture. These action plans are developed with the help of individual farmers, SHGs, AGs, Agricultural Officers, the Watershed Development Team and the Field NGO. The activities suggested by the SWS are screened at various levels for any negative impact on the physical and social environment. An IGA sub-plan is developed, to encourage vulnerable families to engage in alternative activities. A livestock sub-plan is also part of the SWAP. The EC and AGs are assisted in the implementation of the SWAP.

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