In a state like Rajasthan, where water is always a perennial issue, the initiative under the Catch the Rain campaign as well as Jal Sanchay was taken to ensure water sufficient district. The aim was that every drop of rainwater be harvested as well as loss of water due to various reasons be curtailed. As part of this district embarked on a massive exercise to construct structures to harvest water such as Anicuts, mini percolation tanks (MPT), staggered trenches, ditches, contour trenching and harvesting the water to Amrit sarovars and talabs. In total from 2022-23, 1531 water harvesting and water conservation works were sanctioned. Timely sanction of works were undertaken under MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Atal Bhujal Yojana, Integrated Watershed Management Programme as well as Jal Shakti Abhiyan. These projects have reached various stages of completion. This has resulted in a huge improvement in surface water availability. Also, the surplus water is being taken to Jaisamand Lake which has a 14,650 mcft holding capacity at 295.5 m full reservoir lake. Jaisamand Lake is Asia’s second largest artificial lake and hence provides the district with a natural reservoir to hold water. These water harvesting sites ensure plenty of water for humans and animals. Also, these sites are being used as source water to bring convergence under the Jal Jeevan Mission as these sites ensure source sustainability.
Proposed water harvesting sites were constructed in the district after involving the community. In each of these programmes, the shelf of works was prepared. All these works were put up before Gram Sabha and after its approval were finalised. Also, other stakeholder consultation was done. The water resources department was consulted to guide on technical aspects of the programme. NGOs working in the field of JAL were also consulted. Elected representatives were involved in site selection and using local methodology to solve water issues. Also as part of this programme, all tubewell and hand pumps were provided with a soak pit to ensure water recharge and ensure no water loss. Jal Shapaths were administered to people to make them aware of water conservation as well as the need to ensure every drop of water is used as judicially as possible. Roof top water harvesting structures were made a norm for urban societies to use rainwater. Farmers were roped in via farm ponds to ensure every farmer harvests rainwater. Sheet-based farming is being practised to minimise water losses. Thus all stakeholders have been converged to ensure water availability.
What are the key concerns?
One of the major issues being faced was that the issue of water was seen in a segregated manner via this initiative, all water harvesting departments and their actions were converged. Another major issue was that people were unaware of the seriousness of the issue. Another important concern was the rapid misuse of water and water wastage. Also, there was a lack of convergence amongst water harvesting and water supplying departments via the district administration initiative of Catch the Rain as well as the Jal Sanchay initiative all water harvesting departments were brought together including the watershed department, RDPRD department, groundwater departments, public health engineering department, urban development etc. through massive IEC exercises under this initiative, awareness was brought on the issue of the judicial use of water. This was done through administering Jal Shapaths and awareness exercises. Another issue that the campaign was able to successfully address was a convergence of water harvesting sites as sources of water for supplying water under the Jal Jeevan mission which has ensured source sustainability. Earlier the issue of water in the village was looked through a narrow prism of constructing hand pumps and tube wells. Water harvesting techniques were often ignored and the community had looked to use the MGNREGA to get government benefits. All these concerns were addressed by making the process participative and transparent.
What is the Strategy implemented?
The first key strategy of the initiative was the sustainability of the initiative. That initiative needed to be made sustainable by finding local and pro-environment solutions. These water harvesting structures have ensured all-round water availability for all fauna and species. Another strategy was that the process be made transparent and that work sites be selected after stakeholder consultations. In all these works MGNREGA was dovetailed to ensure the availability of work at the local level and accountability. Another strategy of the initiative was stakeholder consultation. The initiative also focussed on grassroots awareness of the issues to generate sustainable solutions.
As the water harvesting mission requires that all stakeholders are well informed of how water harvesting is to be done, a massive IEC ie information, education and communication campaign was taken up. Apart from newspapers, and print media, electronic media was used to make people aware of water issues and strategies to achieve them. Also, community radio as well as nukkad nataks and kathputli shows were taken up on the theme of water. Apart from this social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter etc were used to make the community aware of water and water harvesting. All the IEC campaigns were in the local language. Repeated messaging was used to highlight the importance of water. By sustained and effective use of IEC campaigns, the district administration was able to make this a mass campaign
RDPRD and watershed were the nodal departments and hence panchayats were the most important stakeholders. Through collaborative exercises panchayats and the common public were motivated around the concept of water and water harvesting. District officers were made in charge of a few panchayats and hence they were given routine tasks of going to these panchayats and motivating people. NGOs were involved by asking them to mobilise the community. The best NGOs were encouraged and awarded at the district level for their work. Self-help groups of women were key units involved in ensuring water resource utilisation. Media was also involved and massive IEC campaigns were organised in the area. Apart from this visit of experts in the area of water was done. Thus the whole exercise was done in a participative and collaborative manner.
What are the Outcomes?
One of the major outcomes of the initiative has been that the district has turned water sufficient. Locally managed sources of water are available in nearly all villages. Another key outcome has been that it has ensured source sustainability under points of water supply for JJM. Also, people have received health outcomes. It has led to the empowerment of women as their self-help groups have been used to manage water supply. This process has made the district self-sufficient in water.
