settlement of SC community. Though they own small portion
of agriculture land, it was completely left fallow for longer
period and the farmers, especially men migrated to nearby
industrial units while the women tried to find menial jobs
and work as agriculture labourers in others field. But, once
the community open well was constructed (on a piece of
land that a SC woman donated for putting the well for the
greater common good of her village people), 16 SC families
are benefitting by sustained water availablity, i.e 12 ft water
stored even in the summer which is enough to irrigate 20
acres of agro-farms through drip irrigation.
The other two major interventions were de-siltation and repair
of sluices and weirs of two traditional agricultural tanks in
Thattankudi and Thiruvennakulam villages. This has benefited
90 farmers with assured water to cultivate 80 acres in rain fed
land atleast for one season without water scarcity.
well was constructed. At present, deepening of another
34 agri open wells is under process in seven villages. The
programme contribution by HPCL in these completed
activities were Rs. 46 lakhs and for on-going work Rs. 34
lakhs. In all these efforts, communities actively participated
and contributed their share up to 25%.
A MODEL OF PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT
All the activities were implemented through the community
organisation named Illuppur Agriculture Producer Company
Limited (IAPCL) which is being facilitated by MSSRF, in
this region. IAPCL is a member based organisation with
1,000 men and women farmers functioning to bring
positive changes in the small holders’ livelihood. The water
augmentation programme was implemented through
the active participation of IAPCL. The Implementation
and Monitoring committee (IMC) was appointed and the
committee includes the representatives of progressive
farmers, staff of MSSRF and staff of IAPCL. The entire
implementation process like selection of water bodies,
beneficiaries, cost estimation, monitoring of physical works
and completion status were overseen by a IMC to ensure its
quality and timely completion.
INCLUSIVENESS AND TRANSPARENCY
IAPCL designed appropriate strategies and processes
to ensure inclusiveness and transparency in project
implementation. The whole initiative targeted and reached a
minimum of 30% SC and other socially marginalised families.
Also it was ensured to address 36% women farmers’ in the
intervention. Furthermore, the high level of transparency was
adopted among the implementation and financial accounting
processes. The bottom up approach was adopted in estimation
of works and implementation of interventions to ensure
complete community ownership of the intervention.
ASSURED IRRIGATION WATER – IMPACT CREATED
One of the impactful intervention was construction of a
Community Open Well at Thattankudi village, which is a
Cumulative benefits out of the 40 open wells deepening work
under taken by HPCL’s support;
1. Initially, 40 farming families had access to less amount
of water for irrigation to cultivate less than 20 acres, now
after the renovation of 40 open wells, 69 families have
access to water for irrigation which has increased their
cropping intensity to two seasons.
2. Cultivated area under open wells have increased from
114.7 acres to 122.15 acres.
3. Water supply area increased from 66.45 acres to 122.15 acres.
4. The cumulative size of the deepening works in open wells
is 4947 cubic meters, can store 49,47,000 liters of water.
5. A raise is in the range of 3 M BGL to 5.2 M BGL, which is
about 89% of increased water available for irrigation.
6. Water availability in summer season increased at a depth
from 1.5 M to 3.2 M BGL, i.e. 130% of increased water for
irrigation compare the earlier situation.
7. The farmers started cultivating Paddy, Groundnut, Pulses,
Vegetable and even started establishing horticulture
plantations in the available land since there is an assured
water availability.
8. Deeper impact in the beneficiary families that at present
can get assured first crop and go for second alternate
crop which is the main source of food and nutrient
security for the family and increased the on-farm
employment.
9. Average farm income of the farmers increased from Rs.
62,000 from 1,36,000 per acre.
SOCIAL IMPACT
1. Reduced migration and increased employment at the
village level
2. Reviving the fallow land and increased agricultural
production
3. Increased Ownership, Governance and Social Capital for
water management
4. Water availability – leading the farmers into entrepreneurs
Zakir H. Molla, GM-CSR, PH &
Nikhil Gopal Agarwal, Assistant Manager - CSR, PH
ISSUE 1 2018
21