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Watershed

Rain falling on the mountains starts flowing down along the available slope. As it comes down, many small rivulets join to form small streams or nalas; finally the bigger streams which drain out of the village. The entire areas that supplies water to a major drain, tream, river i.e. the drainage basin or catchments area, is called the watershed of that particular nala stream river.

Environmental degradation does not recognise administrative and political boundaries e.g. village and taluka etc.. A watershed provides the best environmental unit for planning a development programme involving all the key factors. The naturally demarcated area allows effective and more result-oriented planning.

Overview of Watershed Development

The goal of watershed management is to plan and work toward an environmentally and economically healthy watershed that benefits all who have a take in it. Man and his environment are interdependent. A degraded environment results in a degraded environment results in a degraded quality of the inhabitants.   Watershed development, therefore, involves not only regeneration of the environment, but also the management of needs of the human community in such a way that their demands are sustainable with the available resources like land, water, vegetation, etc., taking into account present and future need and demand. This equilibrium will lead to increased resistance to drought, increase in supply of food, water, fuel, fodder and agri-produce. A watershed is not only a naturally occurring hydrological unit, but also becomes a common issue drawing the inhabitants together, engendering common interest and fostering a common purpose.

Components of Watershed Development

Watershed Development involves the conversation, regeneration and judicious utilization of natural resources. It seeks to bring about an optimum balance between demand and use of natural resources so that they remain sustainable over a long term. The components of such development are :
· Human Resources Development (community Development) · Soil and Land Management (conservation and use) · Water Management (conservation and sustainable use) · Afforestation · Livestock Management and Fodder Development · Other farm and non-farm activities Watershed development involves continuous interaction and exchange between various disciplines.

People’s Participation
		There is a close relationship between the environment and human community living within that region. When the economic condition of a community deteriorates, it leads to over-exploitation and degradation of natural resources. Thus any programme aimed at improving the environment and takes steps to evolve suitable mechanisms. Just as human
being and their activities are the primary cause of environmental destruction, they can also restore its health. Hence, no watershed development project can be successfully implemented unless it is “owned” by the villagers/villages. Participatory Watershed Development Watershed development by outsiders without involving the local community is not sustainable as the local community may not be knowing about the utility of assets or wrong selection of treatments without considering the future use planned by the farmers. Hence, to make watershed development sustainable, there is a basic requirement for involving local community in all stages of development including planning, implementation, management and maintenance. Only the local community can maintain the assets created for long term utility. The role of external experts should be restricted to technical suitability of the structures. The need of the hour is participatory watershed development involving all the dwellers of the area.. Criteria for watershed in WDF Programme Dry and drought prone villages. Irrigation area not exceeding state average or 30% whichever is lower. Villages with noticeable soil erosion, land degradation, resource depletion or water scarcity problems. Villages where the general cropping sequence does not include high water demanding and long duration crops. Beneficiaries : Predominantly poor villages with high proportion of SC/ST in the total population. Less difference in the size of the land holdings (lesser privileged community) Villages that have shown concern for resource conservation. Villages with alternate source of income may be avoided. Process and Workflow Pre – CBP State Completion of mandatory for 4 days. The NGO should sent a report of the details of the work done during the mandatory shramadan, dates, the no, of persons families involved in the mandatory shramadan, total no. of families people present in the CBP villages areas, total no. of mandays and the total monetary value of mandatory shramadan contributed. Exposure visit to other nearby watersheds to learn about the programme, various structures in the watershed and the benefits that can be derived bu construction of various structures in relation to the soil type and slope, ect. Development plan for each ‘Survey Number’ (Net plan) is prepared following Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique and is integrated in order to arrive at the total plan and expected expenditure for the watershed covered under the CBP phase. This report covers all physical and financial programme necessary for the watershed under CBP phase and be prepared in consultation with entire community to ensure their effective participation. Selection Formation of Village Committee (VWC). The VWC consists of minimum of 9 members nominated buy consensus, by the Gram Sabha by all the adult members of village, representing all the section of the Villages of CNP area. It should have due representation to women(minimum of 30%). VWC should be registered in due course. VWC is the body that is responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring and future maintenance of the assets created out the project. Capacity Building Phase (CBP) Before entry into the Full Implementation Phase (FIP), an NGO and village community have to prove their capability by practical demonstration in an area of about 50 to 100 ha. In order to clearly define the roles of the involved parties, to develop a mutual understanding of the rules and regulations guiding the programme and to bridge the communication gaps between them. The CBP is a supportive programme to the main programme i.e. FIP. It is implemented by NABARD through the Nodal Department of a State Governments with NGOs or Project facilitating Agencies (PFA) & Villages Watershed Committees (VWCs) for project measures and project management. Feasibility Study Report (FSR) Preparatin state for FIP After an NGO undergoes a successful CBP and show its capability to NABARD, a grand is sanctioned and NGO is advised to prepare a detailed FSR for entering FIP. The FSR is prepared by the NGO. Development plan for each ‘Survey Number’ (Net plan) is prepared following Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique and is intergraed in order to arrive at the total plan and expected expenditure for the entire watershed. This report covers all physical and financial programme necessary for the watershed and be prepared in consultation with entire village community to ensure their effective participation. Full Implementation Phase (FIP) The feasibility report thus prepared by the NGO is scrutinized and detailed sanction memorandum is prepared by NABARD after a field visit and detailed discussions with the village people. After the sanction of the FIP by the Head Office, the word can be taken by VWC. Regular monitoring is ensured by the Nodal Department and the Nabard during entire implementation period to sort out intermittent technical and other problems. Such monitoring visits are undertaken every six months to each project for ensuing quality implementation of physical programme, adherence to norms, people’s participation and ownership, NGO facilitation role, proper funds’ management pace and progress of implementation of all components of the project as per NABARD sanction etc., and for strengthening the people – NGO initiatives through guidance and promotion of consensus. Thus, it can be seen that implementation WDF programme is a planned effort of villages, the NGO, the Nodal Dept, and the NABARD. All the area treatments and drainage line treatments are carried out with willing participation of the villagers in the watershed. Due care is also given to other socio-economic factors of development including women development to ensure successful implementation of the project and achieve basic objectives of the programme.