This is not the end; it should be a beginning of a big movement

Dr. P. Kotaiah, Former Chairman, NABARD recollected the beginning of Indo German Watershed Development Projects within NABARD in late 80’s with the support of Government of Germany and Government of India subsequently. He shared his thoughts on the occasion of award ceremony in which best performing Village Watershed Development Committees and Project Facilitating Agencies under Indo German Watershed Development Projects (IGWDP) in Andhra Pradesh on 14th Sep 2011 at Hyderabad. He appreciated the efforts made by NABARD in sustaining the efforts and making the watershed development projects as an integral part of rural economy. He attributed the success of watershed development projects to "the involvement of villagers in all stages of the project and critical support from NGOs". He also appreciated the coordinated efforts between NABARD and concerned government departments.

Shri P Mohanaiah, CGM, NABARD, Hyderabad congratulated the award winners and mentioned that IGWD projects are able to demonstrate good practices and are ahead of other streams of watershed development projects in the country. He also emphasized the need for developing healthy competition among the villagers and facilitating NGOs to improve the quality, without compromising quantity.

Other dignitaries - Dr C Suvarna, Special Commissioner, Rural Development appreciated the efforts made by IGWDP in "celebrating the success" of watershed development projects by constituting the awards for best performing watersheds. She mentioned that several NGOs who are working as project facilitating agencies under IGWDP and Watershed Development Fund Projects of NABARD were selected as project implementing agencies for Integrated Watershed Management Projects of GoI / GoAP. She hoped that the good practices of these projects would flow into IWMP also, through this arrangement. Similar appreciation was shared by Mr G Venugopan, Chairman, Deccan Grameen Bank. He mentioned that the watershed development projects have significantly improved the credit absorption capacities of villagers. He urged NABARD to take up more watershed development projects and stabilize the basic infrastructure for natural resource management. During this occasion, he released a poster on "banking opportunities in watershed projects".

Mr Suresh, PSU In-charge, IGWDP-AP, NABARD shared the background of awards and the process & criteria for selecting best performers. He opined that this award would trigger healthy competition among villagers and facilitating agencies. He mentioned that six watershed villages received awards this time for their exemplary performance. COFA received "best PFA award" for its performance.

The award for best performing Village Watershed Development Project was awarded to Settihadapnoor Watershed of Adilabad and Mylaram Watershed of Medak districts. The Watershed committees Sakeda, Deverampally, Shivar Venkatapur and Kakatiya watersheds from Adilabad, Karimnagar, Medak and Warangal districts respectively were awarded consolation prizes for their performances.. Mr. Jugnaku Bahaddur Shahu, President and Mr. Aatram Jolshao Secretary Settihadpnur watershed, Mr. Rai Sedam Jangu, President and Ms. Sidam Gundu Bai, Secretary SakedaWatershed and Mr. Kumra Yashwant Rao, President Kohinur-B watershed committee shared the details of the exemplary features of these villages such as effective functioning of sub committees; several groups of farmers (including three groups of fisher communities); effective planning and execution of these plans by local communities, role of watershed committee in giving loans and recovering the same. Watershed Committee members from Mylaram village, Medak district - Ms. Saradamma and Mr. Papaiah who received the award shared the special features of their village. Apart from reaching the poorest of the poor by supporting incoming generating activities, the villagers also agreed to share groundwater with each other. Calendar based vaccination services are systematized in the village for livestock in the village. Both these watershed villages focused on stabilizing natural resource base of the village through a variety of soil moisture conservation works, water harvesting works and plantation.

Mr Ramakrishna, CEO, Chetana Organic Farmer’s Association (COFA) and Watershed Project Manager Mr. Prabhakar who received the award for best performing project facilitating agency shared the secrets of the success. COFA never thought that watershed development projects are mere soil & moisture conservation projects. The emphasis was on sustainable agriculture and practices that help farmers in improving yields and incomes. Cooperatives of farmers were integrated into watershed development projects and transparent systems were developed at village level for effective project management. The team of COFA has necessary skills and is highly motivated. He appreciated the support received from WASSAN and Project Support Unit in the process.

Mr Raju, WASSAN shared the challenges and non-negotiable processes that help in improving the performance of watershed development projects. Mr Suresh and Ravi, PSU, IGWDP-NABARD coordinated the event and facilitated the process. About 100 members from project villages, CEOs and other representatives of project facilitating agencies and resource support organizations, NABARD offices participated in this awards ceremony that has the potential trigger better processes and results in the watershed development projects.

Documented by MV Rama Chandrudu

Date: 15th September 2011

Photographs: M. Pavan Kumar
 

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