	*NETWORKING*
	Yatra with a difference Who were the pilgrims The yatris said...
	*INITIATIVE*
	Orissa's efforts People rediscover water
	*POLICY*
	Communities do have an answer
	*WATER HARVESTING IN NEWS*

	*PHOTOGALLERY*

	*MEDIA CAMPAIGN*

	*BOOKS/DOCUMENTS*

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Vol. 2 No. 1 February 2001

The yatris observed the following activities:

Field bunding with vegetative protection
The yatris were taken around the agricultural lands to witness the soil bunding work accomplished by the people. While interating with the villagers the yatris realised that field bunding has led to preservation of the topsoil and has improved the infiltration and percolation of water in the soil thereby improving soil moisture.

Grassroot's leader sharing his experience of social mobilisation

Afforestation
This intervention has been done on steep slopes and uncultivable land. This activity has benefited the community with improved availability of fodder and fuel wood and has led to the economic utility of the otherwise wastelands. The plant species that have been grown are kumtha, ker, desi babool, shisaham, custard apple, subabool, teak, neem and karanj.

Silvipasture
Silvipasture activity has been undertaken on the community pasture land so as to provide fodder as a source of income to the community and to prevent soil erosion. Before this activity began, the villagers did not have enough fodder to feed their cattle. After restoring the community land the community has been able to earn a total of Rs 21,025 during 1999-2000 from the excess fodder.

Water harvesting structures
Construction of water harvesting structures such as 13 gabions, 1,373 gully plugs, 13 loose soil dams and 6 bandharas have resulted in conservation of soil and water leading to improvement in the groundwater table upto 1.5 m.

Prompted by a mix of confusion and excitement generated in the group, a focused discussion was held. The pilgrims from diverse professional fields had different views and approaches to the issues explored during the yatra, and when in the field, asked questions from their own standpoint. The session provided a platform for open interaction and facilitated exchange of different perspectives and experiences of the people undertaking the yatra.

While talking about their experiences in Alwar and Bundi, a well-defined contrast between the works of TBS and BAIF were observed. Although the purpose in both the cases was same, that of community development through people’s participation, the approaches were entirely different. While the work of BAIF was formulated as a project for 5 villages in Bundi District, TBS’s intervention was a movement which spread like the proverbial ‘jungle fire’ in as many as 700 villages in the Alwar District. "I found it extremely interesting to compare two different ‘external interventions’: BAIF who is working more in the conventional development, ‘project mode’ and TBS as a social movement", commented Radhika, a social scientist working with Winrock International, New Delhi

On the issue of replicability of the model, Rajeshwar Mishra, director of Centre for the Development of Human Initiatives (CDHI) said, "It is quite easy in terms of techniques and construction technology. As far as the social process is concerned, it has to be a self- evolving process. We need more charismatic people like Rajendra Singh to carry the torch."

"Development is about people.
Without people’s participation and
involvement no change is possible
in their lives.

Mr Sawkar from Geological Society of India appreciated the efforts of Shri Rajendra Singh and said, "We as professionals should strive to support the technology scientifically and identify guidelines to make them optimal.

Paani yatris on the move to quench their thirst of water

Vijay Bhangar chipped in and said, "The technology can be acquired but not the purpose which is development of the people and community participation."

"Now that the crisis of water is clear to us, we need to develop a policy for involving people whole heartedly," commented S Vishwanath, "After all isn’t development all about people?"

Being an eyewitness to miracles of people- based water movement, the pilgrims resolved to take up the task of rainwater harvesting in their full capacity. They have also decided to devise ways to keep in touch with each other to keep the flame alive. W

The yatris said...

The yatra has been successful in sensitising the professional community that the only effective solution to drought-proofing is community-based water management. This could be concluded through the following remarks made by the water pilgrims.

Radhika Gupta ( Program Officer, Winrock International India, New Delhi )
Learnt about the yatra from e-bulletin- ‘whats new at CSE. "It was an excellent chance to share and learn about the various issues relating to water. The yatra also taught me that, while it is important to engage critically through research, one must not forget to appreciate the work being done by individuals and organisations in their own ways."

Chitra Vishwanath ( Architect, Bangalore )
Came to know about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "I would now be able to give a first hand picture of to our urban colleagues about the values of water which since we do not perceive where its coming from and it is grossly abused."

Gautam Ghosh ( Feature writer, The Hindu, Chennai )
Came to know about the yatra from letter by CSE. "Water matters and it is not something that can be taken for granted."

Shakeb Nabi ( Field officer, CARE )
Came to know about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "The paani yatra was the first of its kind for all of us. The greatest learning being that water is not a scarce resource but is grossly mismanaged."

S Vishwanath ( Urban Regional Planner, Bangalore )
Learnt about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "Development is about people. Without people’s participation and involvement no change is possible in their lives. There is need to network and share information among practitioners of water harvesting so as to spread the movement."

Dr. Chandrakala Malpani ( Gynaecologist, Mumbai)
Learnt about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "Water is a unique substance which defies all chemical analysis. Make water everybody’s business should become a mass movement."

Abha Mahajan (Architect, Urban Designer, New Delhi)
Learnt about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "As a professional architect, I would contribute towards spreading awareness about the campaign by making my clients aware of tapping rainwater at different levels such as household level, city level etc."

Paloma Ganguly (Reporter, India Abroad News Service, New Delhi)
Learnt about the yatra from ‘Down To Earth’. "As a person, I now have more space for water in my mind. I have learnt that simplest of the solutions work best."

Sunita Wakloo (Architect, New Delhi)
Came to know about the yatra from friends and CSE confirmed it. "I had come with an open mind. Th exposure to such diverse issues has made me rethink about the role of an architect."

Rajesh Pandey (Government officer, Indian Revenue Service, Ahmedabad)
Learnt about the yatra from CSE website. "It has convinced me that there is no water shortage but only mismanagement of water resources. If sincere efforts are made to conserve water locally, it is the biggest source of rural prosperity."