Major Ongoing Programmes

Drought Proofing Programme

Gujarat and Rajasthan have been facing consecutive droughts for the past few years. In an effort to help the poor overcome its effects and be ready for future droughts, this CARITAS India funded programme has been implemented with technical support from AFPRO. The implementing partner is Diocesan Director of Social Works (DDSW), Gandhinagar who were supported on at the field level by seven operating NGOs. The programme, a 26 month exercise, has now come to a close.

Activities were carried out in 5 districts, four districts in Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha and Mehsana, and Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The project area was divided into three broad categories - Hilly Tribal region of border Gujarat and Rajasthan, Alluvial region of Banas and Saraswati river, and Bhal region of Kambey basin. While the comprehensive Watershed approach was used in the hilly tribal region, a combination of separate soil and water conservation measures were used in the other two regions. 23 villages populated by 3320 families of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes have benefited.  

Gully Plugs, Contour Trenches, Gabions, Diversion Drains, Percolation Tanks, etc have been constructed. Existing ponds have been deepened and new ones dug. Even two Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting structures have been established. Various types of bunds have been set up along with land levelling activities. Fruit tree plantations, compost Pits, are other visible components of the programme.

The entire programme was geared towards developing a long-term plan for drought proofing in the region that is to be propelled by local leadership centres. The community has also been assigned the task of proper management and maintenance of structures created. For this purpose various capacity building and on-the-job guidance activities have been carried out for the community, the Agriculture Extension Workers, the Village Drought Proofing Committee and the operating partners.

(Field Unit: Udaipur, Rajasthan)