- Livelihood gets a new boost with water conservation
The Chhattisgarh government’s ambitious scheme, “Vikasit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural),” is emerging as a major source of water conservation and livelihood promotion in rural areas. Under this scheme, the construction of a small pond (Dabhri) in Khotlapal village panchayat of Bakawand development block in Bastar district has not only alleviated the water crisis but also added new colors of prosperity to the lives of local farmers. Built on the land of Mr. Sondhar, a farmer from Khotlapal village, this pond has today become an excellent example of better management of natural resources and rural development in the entire region.
- ‘Freed from the irrigation crisis, now we are taking additional crops’
Sharing his experience, Sondhar explained that previously, most of the rainwater would flow away and be wasted, causing severe problems with irrigating fields during the summer season. However, after the construction of the pond, rainwater is now being effectively harvested. Fields now receive sufficient water for timely irrigation.
The availability of water in the pond has given Sondhar a golden opportunity to harvest additional crops each year. The abundance of water has also given new life to activities such as animal husbandry and vegetable cultivation.
- ‘Not just irrigation, fish farming brings additional income’
This pond isn’t just about quenching the thirst of the fields, but has also become a strong additional source of livelihood for Sondhar. Beneficiary farmer Mr. Sondhar said that fish farming is now being successfully carried out in this pond, providing the family with a substantial additional income each year. In the future, there are also plans to start duck farming here, which will further increase their income sources.
- Improvement in groundwater level and local employment
The positive impact of this pond construction is not limited to just one farmer, but is benefiting the entire rural environment. The pond has improved the groundwater level (water table) of the surrounding area, increasing the availability of water in nearby wells and hand pumps. The maintained moisture in the soil of the fields is also benefiting the surrounding crops. During the construction of the pond, villagers holding job cards from the Gram Panchayat got employment in the village itself, which increased employment opportunities at the local level and effectively stopped migration in search of work.
- ‘Steps towards self-reliance’
This successful experiment in Khotlapal proves that if water conservation works are implemented with public participation and coordination with government schemes, then agriculture, environment and rural livelihood – all three can be made strong and self-reliant together.
