Regional Workshop on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)
20 th and 21 st January 2006
At
Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA campus, Ahmedabad

Some of us in the NGO sector who are involved in promoting Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) thought it necessary to take initiative to establish an organization to support PIM from outside the government system. Development Support Centre has taken the responsibility to promote a National Support Group (NSG) for PIM. The intention is to support governments and others, particularly farmers' organizations at various levels, to achieve the objectives of increased efficiency, equity and sustainability in irrigation management. The enclosed Note gives the background of the considerations that impelled us to promote the NSG for PIM.

In the first meeting of NSG held on 5 th August 2005, it was decided that a Regional Workshop of the six states implementing PIM (that are Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra) would be held on 20 th and 21 st January 2006 at Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA Campus, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad. The NSG considered the agenda of the Regional Workshop and in the process identified the following themes

1. Criteria for assessing success of PIM
2. Viability of WUAs - Institutional Financial and Technical
3. the tail enders issue in relation to PIM
4. Software Support to PIM
   • Capacity Building
   • Monitoring and Evaluation
   • Communication Package
     

Schedule of Regional Workshop on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), 20 th and 21 st January 2006 at Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA campus, Ahmedabad

Friday, 20 th January 2006 (Day 1)
S.No.	Particulars	Speaker		Session Chair	Time
Registration and Tea					10.00 - 10.30
1.	Welcome and Overview of the Workshop	Anil C Shah, Chairman, DSC			10.30 - 10.50
2.	Inauguration and Keynote Address	Prof. Kirit Parikh, Member Planning Commission	Prof. A. Vaidyanathan, Renowned Economist and an Expert on Water Management		10.50 - 11.30
3.	Impact of PIM on Growth and Equity - An Overview	Prof. R. Parthasarathy (CEPT), Shri Apoorva Oza (CEO, AKRSP), Smt Ramilaben (WUA leader) and Shri Bhaljibhai (WUA leader)	Prof. Kirit Parikh, Member Planning Commission		11.30 - 12.15
4.	Presentation on the findings of the research on working of PIM in AP	Prof. KV Raju, ISEC	Mr. S.P.Tucker, Principal Secretary ( Irrigation) & Commissioner CADA Government of AP		12.15 - 13.00
5.	Presentation of the findings of the research carried out in MP	Prof. KV Raju, IRMA	Mr. Arvind Joshi Principal Secretary, WRD, Government of MP		13.00 - 13.45
Lunch					13.45- 14.30
6.	PIM in Gujarat - special features	Prof. R. Parthasarathy, CEPT	Mr. M.S.Patel, Secretary, WRD, Government of Gujarat		14.30 - 15.15
7.	Conditions for success of PIM (In Bopal Declaration framework)	Shri Anil C Shah, Chairman, DSC, Shri. Ishwarbhai Patel, and Smt. Taheraben	Prof. Y.K.Alagh, former member Planning Commission		15.15 - 16.00
Tea Break					16.00 - 16.15

8.   Identification of themes to be discussed in Groups on Day 2 Group Discussion 16.15 - 17.00 9. Summing up of the day's proceedings Prof. A. Vaidyanathan, Renowned Economist and an Expert on Water Management 17.00 - 17.30 Workshop Dinner at Rajwado Madhuriya, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway , Near NIRMA Campus, Ahmedabad 19.30 onwards Saturday, 21 st January 2006 (Day 2)
10.	International experience on parameters for assessing success of PIM" and "Viability of WUAs"	Shri Raymond Peter, Former Executive Director International PIM, Washington	Prof. Tushaar Shah, Principal Scientist, IWMI	9.30 - 10.30
11.	Group Discussion on the themes identified on Day 1			10.30 - 12.30
Lunch				12.30 - 13.30
12.	Presentation by groups	Leader of each group	Panel of Shri Hari Narayan, Secretary, Water Resources, Prof. Y.K.Alagh, former member Planning Commission, Shri Jay Narayan Vyas, Expert on water management and Shri Anil C Shah, Chairman DSC	13.30 - 15.00
	Tea			15.00 - 15.15
13.	Summing up and Way Forward	Shri Hari Narayan, Secretary, Water Resources, Prof. Y.K.Alagh, former member Planning Commission		15.15 - 16.15
14.	Vote of Thanks	Shri. Sachin Oza, Executive Director, DSC		16.15 - 16.45

Gram Vikas Parithoshik 2005 Gram Sangthan Parithoshik 2005

Date : 17 th Jan, 2005 (Tuesday)

Time : 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

Chief Guest : Ms. Sunita Narain

(Eminent Environmentalist and Director-Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi )

Venue : H.T Parekh Convention Hall, Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA, Vastrapur Road , Ahmedabad

GRAM VIKAS PARITOSHIK 2005

WINNER: SHRI HARIBHAI, SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER,

AMBUJA CEMENT FOUNDATION, KODINAR, GUJARAT

Shri Haribhai Mori has been actively involved in rural development activities for the past 20 years. He has made a major contribution in the field of natural resource management programmes such as Joint Forest Management, Water Resources Management, Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and bio-gas programme. He has worked in the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme ( India ) and is now working with the Ambuja Cement Foundation. At present he is involved in developmental activities in about 130 villages of Junagadh & Amreli district and also supervising the activities in about 425 villages spread over seven states.

As a part of the innovative work in the participatory water resource and watershed development in 130 villages, he has been instrumental in inter linkages of village ponds, bandharas (structures for water harvesting), tidal regulatories and rivers. This not only has changed the lives of the rural communities but also got international recognition. Through a series of underground tanks, he has helped to reduce the drinking water crisis in several villages of Junagadh district. Last but not the least through his work on salinity prevention and horticulture development in the coastal areas he has helped and improved the livelihoods of rural communities.

GRAM SANGATHAN PARITHOSHIK (WINNER)

Name of Community based organizations: Shri Ashapura Tree Growers Co-operative

Village: Nana Kothasana

Block: Satlasana

District: Mehsana

Vested in the foothills of the Aravali range this village has showed the way to development to other surrounding villages. One of the most startling features as a result of 13 years of programme, is the 48 hectare of forest land developed by the villagers. Some of the striking features of this Sangathan are that 100% of the villagers belong to this organization. 50% of the members are women. It has been running in a democratic manner since the past 12 years in which members of different classes and communities are actively involved. The transparent governance system also ensures that a majority of the members are aware & actively participate in the decision making process.

Facilitated by VIKSAT, an NGO in Ahmedabad, the afforestation, watershed management and sector reform programme works carried out by this Community Based Organisation (CBO) has ensured drinking water & fodder security in the village.

GRAM VIAKS SANGATHAN (RUNNERS UP)

Name of the CBO: Sarvoday Jalstrav Vikas Mandal

Villages: Vithalpur

Block: Wankaner

District: Rajkot

Vitthalpar is now known as the ' Mecca " of water resource development - one of the most remarkable demonstrations of reviving a river. Wankaner is a drought prone block in Rajkot district where "Rabi" or winter irrigation is almost unheard of. Motivated by Sarvoday Sewa Sangh, a Gandhian NGO, this small village of about 500 people and 480 acres of agricultural land has created a record of a sort this year by growing crop worth Rs. 57 lakhs from a mere 7 lakhs a few years ago. Vithalpur started implementation of the watershed programme in 1995. With the active participation of both men & women, it constructed a series of 51 check dams to revive the ' Maha River ', which ahs also led to the increase of water table in the area. Under the leadership of the President Prabhubhai, the CBO also looked at other socio-economic issues such as education and women empowerment. Post watershed, the CBO is working extensively on agriculture productivity enhancement activities by introducing new varieties of crops and efficient use of water.

Glimpses of Winners of the Gram Vikas Paritoshik

Gram Vikas Paritoshik - 2002

After establishing Gram Vikas Paritoshik Fund, the first award was given away to Swati and Michael, a couple dedicated for upliftment of tribals in Dediyapada a backward area in Narmada District of Gujarat . Prof. Robert Chambers an eminent international rural development expert did the honour of giving away the first award.

Gram Vikas Paritoshik - 2003

Saurashtra Voluntary Action ( SAVA ) an institution committed to participatory development of the communities in the most interior villages of Jamnagar district was the recipient of the second Gram Vikas Paritoshik. Dr. Abid Hussain, ex-Indian Ambassador to the United States of America gave away this award.

Gram Vikas Paritoshik - 2004

Ms. Alka Jani founder member of Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangthan and a committed rural development worker was awarded the third Gram Vikas Paritoshik. Shri B.N.Yugandhar, Member of Planning Commission gave away this award.

Gram Vikas Fellowship - 2004

The first Gram Vikas Fellowship was awarded to Shri Pankaj Dave, Area Manager of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Sayla (Surendranagar). Shri B.N.Yugandhar, Member, Planning Commission gave away this award.