Out Approach
Contextual Approaches
The SujalamSuphalam program adopts following two approaches for implementation based on the local context and requirements:
- District-wide Approach: This is a time-bound program to increase water storage capacity of all government water structures viz. dams, minor irrigation tanks, percolation ponds, CNBs, MNBs, Nalas etc. in the entire district. These water structures are created by the government after undertaking necessary technical and scientific surveys and considering their capacity and aquifer mapping. However, accumulation of silt for past several decades has resulted in their decreased storage capacity, disrupting the initial planning with which these structures were originally created. BJS works with the administration to bring back these water structures to their original storage capacity, thus helping to restore their scientifically assessed usefulness. District administration takes ownership of this program and provides single window approvals and fast-track clearances for its implementation. The program involves earthwork using heavy machines provided by BJS with support from corporates, and fuel provided by the state government. Local farmers carry the excavated silt to their farmlands at their own cost, which enhances their farm productivity and constitutes a major component of the program cost. By following these procedures, all identified water bodies within the district are rejuvenated comprehensively, thereby improving water storage capacity at a large scale.
- Gram Panchayat Approach: This is a demand driven, village level implementation approach focusing on improving village water resources by creating new water harvesting and ground water recharge structures, undertaking restoration of existing water bodies, and by watershed treatments for augmenting groundwater through Panchayati Raj Institutions. This approach was created to address the ever-increasing demand for water conservation work from local communities to make their villages water-sufficient. Observing the success and high impact of the district-wide water conservation efforts, several Gram Panchayats now come forward to contribute the cost of fuel to implement the program in villages within their jurisdiction. The demand-driven nature, contribution of fuel for earth moving machines by Gram Panchayats, ownership of the program by Panchayats and participation by the local community in program implementation rising above all their internal differences and barriers makes this approach truly a people’s movement.
