Success Story of Ralegan Siddhi's Watershed Development Project
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DRY TROUBLES AND WET SOLUTIONS: Success Story of Ralegan Siddhi's Watershed Development Project |
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It is not enough, to just build some check dams and wash hands off the watershed development projects. How can we utilize the facilities and allocate funds pouring from the departments? How can we join our hands to the need-based progress? Ralegan Siddhi, a small village in Maharastra State, India has demonstrated it. By Dr. Shivaram Pailoor with Suma Embar
Not only Mr. Kadam; but most of the villagers of this village; are not worried about water. While the fields of their neighbouring village stand barren clamouring for water, the fields here glisten with opulent greenery. But, the picture of this small village called Ralegan Siddhi, 23 years ago was quite different and gruesome too. RALEGAN SIDDHI - 1975 Ralegan Siddhi of Parnner Taluk in Ahmednagar district of Maharastra State, was no different from any village of our country. Some 200 families were living in abject poverty, milieu of diseases, rain-dependent agriculture, shortage of drinking water and with a burden of loan. Its population was less than 1500. In this village with a geographical area of 2200 acres, 700 acres were arable. Among them, only 50 acres had the irrigation facility. Average rain fall was 15 inches, the highest recorded was 25 inches. The yield of staple crops(wheat, maize) did not exceed three to four quintals per acre. Though the landless families were only five in number, most families' income was much below the poverty line. Average annual income - just Rs.270. Those were the days when people had to earn their livelihood through hard manual labour, or walk six to eight kilometres to get labour work of stone-breaking; just for a hand-to-mouth existence. Ralegan Siddhi was in the clutches of money lenders and private bankers. The villagers were caught in the vicious circle of borrowing and struggling to repay and again taking loans. Thus the village overflowed with liquor, though not with water. You can just surmise the situation of nearly 30 families engaged in the business of manufacturing illicit liquor! RALEGAN SIDDHI - 1998
Water is found all round the year in more than 100 wells. Two to three crops are grown in a year. Yield is increased to five times its earlier quantity. Average income is Rs.2200. Ralegan Siddhi's success story is unravelled between these two images. This can also be called "the era of Mr.Anna Hazare's achievement", since the village got a new lease of life and marched towards success, only because of Mr. Anna Hazare. You may ask anyone in the village about anything: you will get only one answer. "All this was possible because of Mr. Hazare - his leadership, his pioneering thoughts". CONSTRUCTION OF NULLAH BUNDS "Thinking that the wheel of progress would be set in motion if the water problem is solved, I first focused my attention on soil and water conservation. By this time, I had already observed some of the measures taken by Vilas Rao Salunke, near Pune, in this direction. It was the system of rationing and supplying only the required quantity of water, under the co-operative principle. Besides, my attention was drawn towards in-situ conservation of rain water and allowing it to percolate into the ground to increase the ground water level", reflects Mr. Anna Hazare. The Government had earlier built a percolation tank in the eastern watershed area, between two hillocks, with a total expenditure of Rs.4.35 lakh, presumed to hold 114 lakh cubic feet of water. But it was a complete failure since all the accumulated water used to seep away rapidly just few days after the end of rainy season. Mr. Hazare got ready for practical work; explaining to the villagers the importance of soil and water conservation and its necessity. Hills surrounded the village. Identifying the water courses through which excess water flowed down during rains, he built check-dams at first. Two were built entirely with the help of local labour; whereas the government gave a financial aid of 80 per cent for the remaining ones. In those days it cost Rs.15,000 to 20,000 for each check dam. But, how in the first place did the villagers get interested in this? Mr.Hazare answers: "the selfish farmers who lived basically for themselves, did not show any interest in the beginning. They joined hands with us against their will. But the very next year after the check dams were built, the water level in the wells near the barrages started rising. Simultaneously, the farming activities also became intense. The remaining farmers who had witnessed all this in amazement, also united with us. Then, the soil and water conservation work in Ralegan Siddhi, proceeded on war-footing. Still, it took almost four to five years to get definite results." WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT In 1980, the Maharastra government brought the Watershed Development Programme into effect. This project was aimed at reforming the economy through the micro watershed development with the community participation at the village level. Many aspects of this project are: controlling the top soil erosion, building various types of check-dams, afforestation, earmarking and developing specific areas to be used for fodder and fuel, besides water conservation. State agriculture department selected Ralegan Siddhi in 1982-83, for implementing this plan. The villagers who had already benefited from the success of earlier efforts, responded to the government's new project enthusiastically. They continued building check dams where ever possible. 47 check dams were built in four micro watershed areas. Among these, 35 are in government-owned land, while the remaining are in private lands. Total water storage capacity is 300 cubic metres approximately. From the percolation tank, a canal 3 kilometres long, 10 to 12 metres wide, and 2 to 3 metres deep, passing from east to west through the centre of the village, was constructed too. By this time, Mr.Hazare had come forward to renovate the futile percolation tank. " The most important fact to keep in mind during the construction of any type of check dam for the purpose of percolation is to dig the foundation till the bed rock is found. Then it should be filled with black soil. (Ralegan Siddhi is the land of black soil.) Watering it to compress the soil layers and by again filling it with soil, the process should be repeated till the top of the foundation is reached. This facilitates effective percolation of water by acting like a sponge, absorbing the water collected in the percolation tank. Otherwise, even if the water is collected during rainy season, it will seep out within one or two months" - explains Mr.Anna Hazare. Realising that this was the reason for the failure of the percolation tank, Mr.Hazare submitted a report to zilla parishat. He scuttled from office to office, carrying the appeals and files. Finally he obtained the approval. The foundation of the percolation tank was renovated in 1983 -84 at a cost of Rs.4 lakh. The water which used to drain out earlier, now started percolating, thus replenishing the ground water. "Not a drop of water could be found in this 80 feet deep well earlier, you see. But a year after the percolation tank was repaired; the well had 30 feet of water! Similarly, seven wells in this area got a new lease of life that year. There is enough water in them even during summer. What more is necessary to strengthen the self-confidence of farmers about the watershed development?" - the middle aged farmer Mr.Nanarao Vitobavti asks. Both in-situ and ex-situ water conservation methods were implemented in Ralegan Siddhi simultaneously. Percolation tanks, boulder checks, brushwood dams, staggered trenches, nullah bundings, check dams etc., were constructed to check the flow of water and to allow it to percolate gradually. In fact, the hills surrounding the micro watershed area operate like a huge percolation bowl owing to the various water conservation methods. IN-SITU WATER CONSERVATION To check the soil erosion along the gullies of hill-slopes, brushwood dams are constructed. First, two parallel rows of wooden stumps are pegged across the gully. The distance between the stumps is one metre and the height of the stumps is 1.5 to 2 metres (above the ground level). The rows are separated by a width of two feet. Then, shoots are woven through the row of sticks, similar to weaving bamboo mattresses. When boulders, sand, twigs and vegetation are piled between the two rows and weighed down with huge rocks, the brushwood dam is ready. During the rain-water flow, only the water escapes through this structure and the top soil carried by the flowing water gets deposited against the side of the dam. This soil deposit offers a good support for the plants grown near the dam and contributes towards the firmness of the dam as well. The banks of brushwood dam down stream are made of hard rock. This is necessary because the gully-bed of out-flowing water is quite large. Loose boulder structures are also constructed across gullies which prevent silt from collecting in the structure built further down the water shed, like nullah bunds, check-dams and percolation tanks. Slopes are given on both sides with the help of batter so that heavy rain does not destroy the dam. Apart from these structures, staggered trenches are dug on the slope of the watershed. The storage capacity of each trench is 600 to 800 litres. Another row of trenches are dug down hill in such a way as to capture and collect the run-off water from between the first row trenches. Plants are grown in the soil removed from the trenches, covering the hills with the green carpet. At the bottom of the slope, continuous contour trench is dug which is two feet wide and one foot deep. The top soil planted with glyricidia plants. If the slope is steep, another trench at a distance of four metres is dug. The down-flowing water would have lost its vigour by the time it crosses all these barriers. Its speed is thoroughly reduced and decides that it is better to sink down to become a spring than to leap from rock to rock as a stream. Yet, Ralegan Siddhi will not let it go so easily. EX-SITU WATER CONSERVATION The water which percolates down from the percolation tank and the water, filtered through different checks on the slope which enters the main canal has to confront still more barriers. Some 19 types of check dams are prepared to collect water throughout the canal in many places. It is said that the water thus stored in the main canal of Ralegan Siddhi is retained in those check dams till the end of January. The lower embankments of these check dams are suitable for digging wells. You are sure to see a well wherever you find a check dam. In fact, just 10 feet away from the check dam down stream, you can see wells, wells and nothing but wells! At one place, three wells are sunk in a stretch of 150 metres, in all of which water is found at a depth of just 20 feet. "Since the percolation process is perfect, digging of many wells will not pose any water shortage problem. Though 150 pumps are used for drawing water in Ralegan Siddhi today, the water level does not go down. This illustrates the success of watershed development project" - Mr. Anna Hazare remarks happily. KRISHNA LIFT IRRIGATION PROJECT
This canal flowing out from Kukdi reservoir in Narayan Gaon - 75 kilometres away from Ralegan Siddhi, travels further for another 35 kilometres to join Visapura. Excluding the rainy months July and August, the water flows in this 10-metre wide, three-metre deep canal throughout the year. As Mr. Chand Abdul Shet who is looking after the functioning of the Krishna Project since its beginning, explains: "first a one-metre high check dam was constructed across the canal. Plus, a tank with 40 feet x 40 feet x 100 feet dimensions was built down-stream near the canal, into which water was made to flow from this check dam. This tank is fitted with two pumps of 135 HP and another pump of 20 HP. With these pumps, 745 acres of 165 farmers in four villages including Ralegan Siddhi are irrigated. The entire responsibility of the project lies with the Krishna Water Co-operative Society." WATER CO-OPERATIVES The water distribution in Ralegan Siddhi is as systematic as water conservation. Many farmers of the village are worth their name, owing to th effective and proper execution of work done by the six water co-operative societies. Gradually coming into effect since 1981 - 82, the Padmavathi, Santa Yadav Baba, Goutama, Santa Jnaneshwar, Santa Tukaram and Krishna water co-operative societies(WCSs) are catering water to 600 acres of 157 farmers in Ralegan Siddhi today. The initial stage begins with a few farmers of one area or neighbourhood, digging a big well with unified labour efforts. These farmers constitute the members of that WCS. Water is certain to be found in these wells which are dug right next to the main canal. Then, the WCS is ready to begin work, after it collects share capital and takes bank loans on that capital to buy electric pumps and pipes. A pump shed is constructed and pipe connections are laid to the farmers' fields. The total cost for all these is Rs.1 to 3 lakh. WATER RATIONING
"Before the WCSs started functioning, we had to depend only on rain water for agriculture. We harvested just one crop per year, even that was not possible in the absence of seasonal rains. Really a dreadful plight for a farmer, to be unable to practice agriculture. Now that scenario is changed cent per cent. My crops(bajra, jowar,, wheat, onion) have sufficient supply of water always. I reap three harvests a year. Now I am a full time agriculturist - that itself makes me happy and contented", says 60-year old Mr.B.C.Gajare. But, the farmers cannot grow the crop of their choice, just because water is available in plenty. "The WCSs determine the seasonal crops to be grown, keeping in mind the availability of water. Nobody goes against WCSs decision. In the monthly meetings of WCSs, the water quota for the coming month is decided" - describes Mr.Pawar, the secretary to the multi-purpose co-operative society which looks after the administration of all the WCSs in Ralegan Siddhi. The members of WCSs are given water ration cards (pani card) in which all the details of water distribution (date, number of acres, crop, etc.) are entered. Supposing anybody in the neighbourhood with 15 members, has an independent well? Mr.Pawar, who had expected this question, replies: "such a farmer need not become a member of WCS, even if his land is located between the lands of other members. He has no objection to the pipe passing through his field to other's lands". DRINKING WATER Drinking water too, is distributed in Ralegan Siddhi, through the water co-operative societies. Padmavathi Water Co-operative Society shoulders the responsibility for its supply. Excluding the initial expenditure for pipe laying, you have to pay Rs.15 per month to have drinking water at your door step. "Earlier, summer was a nightmare for us. We had to wander many furlongs to get drinking water. It was rather a severe ordeal for women to walk kilometres, carrying the water pitcher in that hot sun. Now, water flows for two hours a day from the tap in front of our home" - thus saying, Ms.Lakshmi Bai heaves a sigh of relief. THE SUB-STORY OF GANESHWADI Nowhere in the story of Ralegan Siddhi's main canal, a reference has been made to another canal till now. Well, you know that a main story must invariably have a sub-story. The second canal constructed in Ganeshwadi near the village in 1996, two years ago, is like a sub-story to the main canal's story of success. "This too is a part of watershed development project. 80 per cent of aid came from the government and the remaining is villagers' contribution. This two-kilometre-long canal dug from east to west, is not connected to the percolation tank or main canal. Seven check dams have been built along the canal" - explains the middle aged farmer, Mr.Baburao Mapuri. "I have 10 acres of land. I grow jowar, wheat and onion. I had to inevitably depend on the rain water, since my 80-feet-deep well(dug 6 years ago) used to go dry by the end of December. But, the very next year after the construction of the canal, the water level in the well started rising. Now, water is available for two hours per day, even in March. Quite sufficient to grow two crops per year."
The activities of well-digging are taking rapidly place in Ganeshwadi, consisting of 30 agricultural families. The main canal of Ralegan Siddhi and the sub-canal of Ganeshwadi - both flow out of the village to join in place called Terpar Ralegan and further flows to join the Ghode river. Today, Ralegan Siddhi has become a tourist centre for agriculturists. People from different parts of the country and abroad flock to this place, to know the legend behind the success. The National Watershed Development Training Centre, established here in 1996, looks after the boarding and lodging and organises field trips to the visitors. Address: Special features: BAN ON GRAZING AND TREE FELLING In Mr. Hazare's opinion, prohibition on animal's grazing and chopping down the trees is most important for the development of grass and vegetation in watershed area. Both prohibitions are strictly followed in Ralegan Siddhi. Mr. Hazare vehemently opposes the over-accumulation of cattle wealth which results in the dwindling of grass lands due to overgrazing. He prefers the cross breed cows which produce more milk. He explains: "20 years ago, we had 2300 cattle heads. But the milk production was not sufficient even for the local villagers. Hence, we decided at the villagers' meeting to control the livestock population and rear more cross breed cattle. We gave away some 1100 cattle to outsiders and cross bred the remaining 1200 cattle. Now they give an average of 12 to 14 litres of milk. The village is selling nearly 1500 litres of milk everyday through the co-operative society". The field for grazing has been specifically earmarked in Ralegan Siddhi. The farmers cannot let their cattle graze anywhere else. If the herd is allowed to roam about freely during the onset of monsoon, the top soil will be washed away due to the stamping of cattle's feet on the soft soil. As a result, the grass is also destroyed even before it flowers and bears seeds, Mr.Hazare opines. Keeping in mind the requisite fuel wood, more than 3 lakh trees were planted and nurtured by 1986 in 102 acres. When a few families disagreed to the ban on grazing and let their cattle freely, Mr.Hazare took to hunger strike, accompanied by other youth organisations. Subdued by this strike, those families agreed to the public decision. "The path of the progress is not made of flowers, one should be prepared to walk even on thorns" - says Mr.Hazare. HYDRO-BLASTING: "Water, water, stay here" Where ever you dig in Ralegan Siddhi, you will find hard rock layer at a depth of 15 to 20 feet which appears as if the entire village is built on the bed rock, with 15 to 20 feet of black soil in-between. When the micro-watershed development work was in progress, a study of water percolation process was conducted in the village. The results were amazing as well as disappointing. It was true that the water which sank down replenished the wells on both the sides of the canal. But the study revealed that the water which sank as it coursed through the canal, reached the bed rock, and flowed along the canal beneath it and escaped out of the village. Hydro-blasting was used to solve this problem. When eight borewells, each more than 100-feet deep, were dug in eight directions around the well near the check dam and were blasted at the bottom, a miracle happened! The bed rock was fractured and water percolated down through those crevices, to be collected in the nearby wells. A strong determination, not to let even a drop of water escape from the village. GRAIN BANK - A HELPING HAND FOR THE NEEDY Grain bank too is one of the many stepping stones of watershed development project's success in Ralegan Siddhi. As the agricultural production was boosted due to irrigation, Mr.Anna Hazare proposed a new project to the farmers. "There are some farmers who are not benefited by the watershed development. Due to the geographical unsuitability, their fields cannot be irrigated. Sometimes the extremities in the weather conditions bring a loss to the farmers. The grain bank's purpose is to help such farmers." Approved by everyone, grain bank was established in 1983 in the courtyard of St.Yadav Baba Mandir. The administrative responsibility was given to the youth organisations. "The farmers voluntarily donate some quantity of the farm produce that they have grown, to the grain bank. The quantity of deposit is left to the discretion of the farmer. The grain storage in the bank which started with 40 quintals, now exceeds 200 quintals. The last year's deposit was 2.5 quintals" - says Mr.Dagudu Kisan Mapuri, who is looking after the grain bank since its beginning. "The farmers facing hardship, take grain loan from the grain bank. For repayment, one year's time is given, with an interest rate of five kilogram of grain per quintal. Sometimes, the time-limit for loan repayment is extended, considering the situations. But the loan-waiving situation has never emerged. Last year, 15 farmers availed the grain loan." MR. ANNA HAZARE
INTERVIEW "Without the people's participation, the projects can be implemented only in the official files" -- Anna Hazare
Anna: The watershed development project was not begun yesterday. The central government started this during the fourth 5-year plan itself. Maharastra government is developing the watershed area since 1952. But, with the exception a few projects, all others have sunk only money, not the water. Generally, watershed development is understood to be a mere construction of cement dams. But, in reality, only when every single micro-watershed belonging to the village is developed in a comprehensive manner, the watershed there becomes strengthened. It is of no use, if only one or two among 4 - 5 micro-watersheds in a village are developed. Only if the implementation of different types of water conservation methods at various levels starting from the rain water falling on the hill top, to its course down-hill in a canal, afforestation, developing grazing fields and such factors are strictly and systematically observed, the watershed development fetches worthwhile results. Another important factor is united effort. This is not an enterprise which can be done by a few people. For eg., if the land up-hill is under the ownership of revenue or forest department, the land in the valley may be in the hands of the people. In-between, the village panchayat land too, is situated. People associated with all these lands have to plan in unison, to develop the watershed. Besides, many government departments play an important role in this. It is essential that the departments like forest, soil conservation, social forestry, small irrigation, ground water survey, electricity, etc., should be actively involved. Only when each department executes the entrusted responsibility keeping in mind the overall vision of development, the project can be completed. Even if one link in the chain of participation is broken, the work will be arrested, sometimes it stops altogether. Moreover, without the people's participation, the project can progress only in the official files!" Question: The success in Ralegan Siddhi - can it happen in other places too? Anna: If all the above mentioned factors are found to be in order, this success can take place just anywhere. And also, watershed development project should be planned only after observing the concerned village's geographical features, the quantity of rain-fall, the ground water level, etc. Therefore, the method suitable for Ralegan Siddhi need not be suitable for another village too. Priority must be given to the technical details in the construction of check dams for water conservation. Appropriate dams should be constructed after taking note of the soil characteristics, the bed rock, and the quantity of water flow, etc., in that place. Or else, the failure of Ralegan Siddhi's percolation tank will be repeated everywhere. Question: What is your opinion about the digging of bore-wells? Anna: I am not in favour of it. The central and state governments should enforce laws to curb the indiscriminate digging of bore-wells. Otherwise, the drinking water would become scarce throughout the country within the next 10 years. They are already digging bore wells up to a depth of 1200 feet in Rajastan!
Question: Your leadership plays a pivotal role in the success of Ralegan Siddhi. What is your concept of leadership? Anna: If a seed of grain enters the mill, it is destroyed by being powdered and thus loses its identity. But if that grain is sown, it sprouts, grows into a plant and reproduces thousands of seeds. It reveals the indomitable creative force of life. The leadership quality should be like that. It should create leaders everywhere in the society, through self-sacrifice, towards the goal of overall excellence and success of mankind. The leader should think that the fountain-head of his happiness lies in the work he does, to ease other's pain. He must be ever-ready for sacrifice, tolerance and self-less labour. Question: Have you tried training another leader to follow your footsteps in Ralegan Siddhi? Anna: I have been appealing to the people of Ralegan Siddhi to groom a young man, who would dedicate his life to the welfare activities of the village. I am ready to afford his necessities of life too. But, till now, no one has come forward. At present, the whole village is like a large family. Just how long this ideal remains - time shall decide. Question: What are your future projects? Anna: There is no limit to the achievement of progress. Yet, Ralegan Siddhi has been considerably successful till now. Still, this model should not be confined to only one village. Lakhs of villagers should follow Ralegan Siddhi's path - that is my wish. I have been investing my energy in this direction. Note: This article received national level GRASSROOTS AWARD for Excellence in Human Development Reporting, instituted by Press Institute of India in collaboration with National Foundation of India. |
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It is a hot, sultry afternoon in the burning month of March. A hot,
sweltering wind is blowing briskly. Mr. Ashok Kadam is unconcerned
about these. His two-acre field consists of onion crop ready for
harvest on one side; and the freshly sprouting onion seedlings on the
other side. The well at the edge of his field hits the water table at
20 feet. Mr. Kadam is engrossed in steering the water pumped up in a
3-inch pipe; along the furrows between onion plants. A cool, flood
irrigation in hot summer!
Ralegan Siddhi figures prominently in the map of our country today. Its water conservation methods, strategies and the resultant saga of victory have captured the attention of everyone. The earlier scene is completely transformed. The distilleries have been demolished. Drinking water is available at every door step. Irrigation facility is provided for 1100 acres.
Krishna lift irrigation project assisted in the progress of Ralegan Siddhi's water resource. This project implemented in 1986, lifts up water from Kukdi canal three kilometres away from Ralegan Siddhi and irrigates 350 acres of 80 farmers of the village(approximately half the total irrigated land).
The members of the respective WCSs meet to decide the water quota to be supplied - depending upon the field area to be irrigated, the crop and the quantity of water available in the well. The water is distributed calculating the quantity of water flow in hours-per field-per day or as so many days per week. The total cost spent for this is borne by the farmers equally. A member of WCS has to pay approximately Rs.800 to 900 per acre per year.
In the 50-feet-deep well of Mr.Kadam, who is a farmer since 12 years, water could be drawn for only one hour per day, earlier. Now, it does not become empty, even after drawing water for 4 to 5 hours.
Question : What causes have you identified for the failure of watershed development projects implemented in the country at present?
In my opinion, digging a bore-well of 100 - 125 feet for agriculture and 200 feet for drinking water is acceptable. Today, more priority ought to be given for recharging bore-wells; than just for digging them.