This is the story of a village in Rajasthan called Jagdharpura, a place vulnerable to erosion caused by water that leads to the formation of ravines, and which faces water scarcity as well. Bharat Dogra details the efforts of voluntary organisation SRIJAN to boost the villagers’ efforts to triumph over adversities, prioritising conservation of rain water, the creation of water ponds and also mobilising women. Where only crops cultivated during the rains were being grown, now winter crops of wheat and mustard are being sown
Rajasthan’s Jagdharpura Village has an unusual problem – situated as it is, close to the ravine-ridden parts of the Chambal Region, it is vulnerable to the process of erosion caused by water that leads to the formation of ravines. The hard-working farmers here have been taking steps to level the land as soon as early signs of ravine formation appear. Ironically, they also have to grapple with water scarcity. The brackishness of the ground water is a further complication.
Representatives of voluntary organisation SRIJAN (Self-Reliant Initiatives for Joint Action) first came to the village about five years ago, and now work with the community at several levels, prioritising conservation of rain water and the creation of water ponds in the hilly areas around Jagdharpura. Over a period of time, says Bhawani Singh, team leader of SRIJAN here, this can raise the water table and also improve water quality.
For a few weeks, drinking water was also being supplied by taps to the village, but this facility abruptly stopped. Some reports say people from a neighbouring village, who are connected to powerful persons, may have tried to tap the pipes to draw water for irrigation and, in the process, the supply of drinking water to Jagdharpura got cut off.
However, SRIJAN’s efforts hold out hope for a sustainable water supply. Efforts to check water erosion have also helped to check the spread of ravines. Steps to level the land and build bunds have brought some 25 hectares of previously uncultivated land under cultivation. Productivity has nearly doubled too. Where only crops cultivated during the rains were being grown, now winter crops of wheat and mustard are being sown. Vegetable cultivation has also been taken up. Improved natural farming practices are being adopted by an increasing number of farmers.
Of late, SRIJAN has been giving higher priority to mobilisation of women. They meet as members of a village development committee at regular intervals to take forward various initiatives such as improving water and farming conditions. In a discussion, women like Anusuiya, Dharmabai and Rangabai said adoption of natural farming had improved production, nutrition and overall health of the villagers. But they also noted that the spread of gutka (a type of betel quid and chewing tobacco preparation made of crushed areca nut) and smokeless tobacco consumption had impacted health, and they wanted to try and bring down these evils.
The voluntary organisation has also helped villagers avail of government developmental schemes. Several farmers have got subsidised sprinkler irrigation sets and some women have got sewing machines, improving livelihood prospects. Nevertheless, the women feel employment opportunities are still lacking. Some of them are already members of Dang Vikas Farmer Producer Company and, as a result, are likely to get more returns from their mustard crop, grown using natural farming methods. The women, however, call for more efforts to provide sustainable livelihood prospects.
What is particularly encouraging in Jagdharpura is that, despite difficulties caused by factors beyond their control, the village is humming with hope and creativity. This is particularly true of its womenfolk. Keeping hope and creativity alive in difficult situations is a noteworthy achievement, and SRIJAN’s efforts, supported here by funds from the Capri Foundation, have certainly contributed significantly to this.
(The writer is a senior freelance journalist and author who has been associated with several social movements and initiatives. He lives in New Delhi.)
from Webdoux