Formation of fourth PIM federation
DSC has a plan to form six federations in the NDDB supported North Gujarat PIM project. These federations will be playing a key role in coordinating about 180 Irrigation Cooperatives for ensuring equitable sharing of available water across the canal systems in a long run. Till 2006-07, three federations were formed one in Dharoi, one in Guhai and one in Mazum. This year the largest of all, the branch canal -1 federation has been formed in Dharoi project that includes 80 ICs covering 14,000 hectare command area. Formation of this federation was going on for last one year and its formation was crucial because it shares almost 50% of DSC`s PIM area in Dharoi. DSC organized an exposure visit to Maharashtra for capacity building of IC leaders to interact with government officers and farmers of Waghad project that has already been handed over to the local federation.

Inspired from the Maharashtra exposure, the 80 ICs organized a meeting and decided to form their federation in branch -1 Dharoi. This year the sangh will coordinate with the the irrigation department for management of the branch level irrigation. The registration process has started parallel.

Indo German Watershed Development Programme (IGWP)

As reported earlier, last year NABARD sanctioned 7 watershed projects under IGWDP to 5 different NGOs in Gujarat. DSC was one of the NGOs that was awarded one project covering 1600 hectares in three villages. NABARD has released the first installment grant of Rs. 1.30 lakhs to the Watershed Committee for implementation of the Capacity Building Phase and Rs. 0.38 lakh to DSC for management costs.
 
 This year, NABARD is likely to sanction about 7-8 new watershed projects. It can be to existing NGOs implementing IGWDP projects or a few new NGOs.  NABARD asked DSC to propose one or two new watershed projects from Meghraj. DSC has proposed two new projects of about 2000 hectare area to NABARD. On 2nd August, NABARD Programme Management Unit, Dahod called a meeting for detailed discussion on the proposed projects wherein Programme Officer (WSD) and Team Leader from Meghraj participated. Shri Deshpande the officer in charge from NABARD is likely to visit Meghraj on 20th Sept. wherein he will be assessing the progress in the on-going project and also visit the villages proposed under the new project. Top

Expansion of the Drinking Water Programme in Dhari

As a strategy to enhance DSC’s presence in Amreli,  it was decided to increase its direct intervention from 10 to 25 villages in Dhari, DSC plans to expand implementation of drinking water programme from three villages to about 25 villages  and proposed the same to WASMO. WASMO has agreed to the proposal and it is likely that an Agreement to the effect will be signed by the end of September 2007.  They will bear the cost for  staff  and other office expenditure.  Thus, through drinking water, DSC will have the opportunity to expand the work of the Producers’ Company and undertake productivity enhancement measures in other areas as well. Top

Extension of SSNNL project till June 2009.

After two meetings – one at Executive Engineer’s office in Dehgam and the other in the field, it was felt that the certain issues need to be put before the Suptd. Engineer. Accordingly ED, Consultant PIM, PO(PIM) and Team leader SSNNL met Shri Mistry, SE in his office to discuss issues such as :

1. Repairing of the minors
2. Handing over the minors to the Irrigation Cooperatives and
3. Extension of  DSC’s contract

The SE was quite positive and assured that the minors would be repaired and instructed his officers to conduct joint surveys and to prepare plans and estimates by October 15 so that work could be undertaken thereafter. Regarding point No.2 above, it was  felt that since timely repairing of the minors may not be possible, wherever 75% or more sub-minors have been constructed by ICs, they could be handed over the management of the minor, with   an agreement  that  these would be repaired in due time.  The Executive Engineer was keen that DSC be involved in building the capacities of ICs for at least one rabi season after they have been handed over the management of the minor. Accordingly DSC’s agreement with SSNNL which ended in April 2007 was further extended to June 2009. Since DSC has made judicious use of the funds, no additional cost would be involved for such an extension.
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Manual on “Livelihood Augmentation in Rain fed Areas through Watershed Development and Other Approaches

As reported earlier, DSC will be producing a manual on “Livelihood Augmentation in Rain fed Areas through Watershed Development and Other Approaches through funding support from the Aga Khan Foundation. A consultative workshop was held on 24th July 2007 at Ahmedabad to discuss the framework, content, methodology for the proposed manual.  The workshop was organized with selected organizations from six states – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 40 participants participated in the workshop.  The group identified case studies, success stories for different segments of the manual.  Authors for various chapters of the manual have been identified and it is planned that a 3-4 days write-shop will be organized for finalizing them.Top

Facilitating Sakhi Mandals in Meghraj

The State Government has  initiated a scheme/programme Sakhi Mandal ( Self Help Groups)  for women’s empowerment and socio-economic development of rural women. The programme is for all districts of Gujarat. NABARD is providing technical assistance at the State and district level for promotion of the Programme. Director DRDA Sabarkantha (on 20th July) Shri B.S. Dave shared the details of the programme and invited DSC to implement the programme in one or two blocks and also be involved in conducting training programmes at the district level.  In this connection, DSC has sent a proposal for implementation of the programme in the Meghraj Taluka and training programme for Aganwadi workers and supervisors at district level. Decision of the DRDA is awaited.  

DRDA had organized a training programme Training of Training (ToT) for CDPO and agriculture extension officers. DRDA asked DSC’s support for training sessions and exposure visits. PO(Gender) convened sessions on aspects of SHGs and facilitated  the exposure visit to SHGs and cluster level federations facilitated by DSC in Meghraj. Top

Gujarat Chapter on PIM

The first meeting of the  Gujarat Chapter on PIM headed by Shri V.B. Patel was conducted on 21st Aug 2007. Five out of the 11 members attended the meeting at DSC.  All the members welcomed the initiative taken by DSC Board to start this group and felt that PIM in Gujarat was under a crisis and this indeed this was a well timed measure.  The group discussed that there was need to:   

• Study the PIM Bill, have intensive dialogues on the legislation with farmer organizations and bureaucrats and thereafter present it to the government.
• Take  up  strategic research which would study the status of irrigation schemes in particular regions such as tribal, north Gujarat, Saurashtra etc could be taken up. To start with a study on the status of medium and large irrigation schemes in tribal areas could be initiated and presented to the Secretary Shri A.N.Tiwari. 
• Focus on capacity building. Since substantial work had been carried out by Shri Anilbhai as the Chairman of the State Level Committee on Training in PIM, this could be revisited and thereafter proposed to the Govt. 
• Include four existing Govt. officers - two Sr. Officers from SSNNL, one from Irrigation Dept, Director WALMI and Director WREMI may be invited in the  subsequent meetings. As suggested by the Aga Khan Foundation one or two progress farmers who are members of the Irrigation Cooperatives/Federations would also be invited in the subsequent meetings. Top