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Community based tank management project, Malur, Karnataka
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In Malur, we are implementing Jala Samvardene Yojana, a community based tank management project supported by the Government of Karnataka and funded by the World Bank. The objective of this project is to build 30 community based self-reliant tank management institutions to manage the tanks in a sustainable manner and ensure equitable distribution of water in the command area. |
At every stage of the project we strive to ensure peoples' active participation. Based on the amount of water available in the tanks we help the farmers plan their cropping pattern. Providing credit from the banks; technical information and training on the package of practices; and creating awareness about inputs available in other departments such as the Panchayat Institution, Agriculture, Fishery, Animal Husbandry and Social Welfare, Departments is an integral part of our approach. |
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In our bid to integrate the newly formed Tank Management Institutions (TMIs) with the existing village institutions, we are promoting the TMIs as a sub-committee of the Panchayat. The Panchayat Secretary is also a member and secretary of the TMI. Exposure visits for Panchayat and TMI members are important part of the project processes.
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SRIJAN is presently working on 21 tanks in 17 villages. Over 50 lacs rupees have been invested in various activities like bund strengthening, desiltation, turfing on tank bund, feeder canal treatment in catchments area, canal lining in command area, sluice repair, waste weir repair, setting up agricultural demonstrations and undertaking livelihood activities like cattle rearing.
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Story of Anepura village
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Results of effective grassroots planning and implementation of a livelihood activity was demonstrated in a village called Anepura. Under the project, the landless and small and marginal farmers not deriving any direct benefit from tank rehabilitation work are entitled to Rs 2000 each with which they can undertake any income generation activity of their choice. In Anepura village SRIJAN identified 42 such families to promote a livelihood activity. This amount was to be repaid to the Tank Management Institution and was to become a part of the TMI corpus. |
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After a series of discussions the members concluded that this amount was too small to start a viable activity. It was therefore decided that they pool all the money in one fund and borrow from this fund in turns. To begin with eight people were given Rs 10,500 each who then approached a milk cooperative society for a loan of Rs 5,000. With Rs. 15,500 they purchased cows. Each beneficiary was to repay Rs 350 per month to the TMI and on collection of Rs 10,000 this amount was to be given to the next beneficiary. Thus, the amount was innovatively used as a revolving fund, and more productively.
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