Development Support Centre receives the prestigious  India Power Award 2008 for its notable contribution in Participatory Irrigation Management, Watershed Management and Agriculture Enhancement.

The award is an honour for the efforts of the farmers of the state.

DSC wins the award out of the 52 nominations received from around the country.

Development Support Centre of Ahmedabad  received the prestigious India Power Award 2008 for its notable contribution to Natural Resources Management Programme. Noted agriculture scientist Dr M S Swaminathan gave away the award in a ceremony held in Delhi on 3rd November 2008. He said that DSC’s contribution in promoting people centered natural resource management was of great significance to the country. Today where there is increasing degradation of natural resources, the approach developed by DSC’s founder Chairman Shri Anilbhai Shah provides motivation for sustainable development of water, land and agriculture.

The Council for Power Utilities and KW Conferences have constituted the India Power Award to recognize the contribution of individuals and organizations in the power and water sector. Around 52 organizations including Government agencies had sent their nominations for various categories of which the Jyoti Gram Yojana of the Government of Gujarat and Development Support Centre were awarded. This was the first award constituted by the Council and DSC was the first organization to receive the same..

In a Press Conference held on today, DSC’s Executive Director Shri Sachin Oza informed that this award was actually an award for people centered natural resource development. It is a recognition of the partnership between Government, NGOs and community based organizations. The Participatory Irrigation Management projects promoted in  north Gujarat provide a model not just for the state but country as well. The watershed management programme has brought in hope for the rainfed farmers while the radio programme produced by DSC has proved to be an effective tool for agriculture extension. Today when such models have been developed, DSC has been invited to other states such as Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

Shri Haribhai Choudhary the President of Branch-II Federation of the Dharoi irrigation scheme informed that the joint efforts of DSC, Irrigation Department  and the farmers have provided motivation not just to the country but the world as well. The federation is not just involved in water distribution but also water management, water use efficiency and improved productivity. Through special concern for tail-end farmers it tries to address equity issues.

Smt Bhuriben Gameti, the sarpanch of Bhatkota village in Meghraj block of Sabarkantha informed that the India Power Award was in fact our award because through the joint efforts of the organization and  the villagers they were able to change the scenario of their village. “Instead of one crop, we are now able to harvest three crops and through initiatives such as soil testing and improved variety of seeds we are able to reduce costs and increase production”.

Mukeshbhai of the Guhai irrigation scheme near Himatnagar informed that we were happy to be associated with an organization that has received such an award and it is indeed a great pride for all of us. This award will motivate the efforts carried out by our irrigation cooperatives and also help in promoting the message of PIM to other farmers in the country.

Shri Naranbhai Patel of Tharad Block Banaskantha informed that the award given to DSC was actually an award respecting the farmers. The radio programme developed by DSC  “Sajjata No Sangh Lave Kheti Ma Rang” has made a great impact on small and marginal farmers has helped in increasing their income. The voice-web developed by DSC in collaboration with IBM will help the farmers to get information round the clock.

Some of the important dignitaries for the award ceremony at Delhi were Shri CVJ Varma, President, Council of Power Utilities, Shri U N Panjiar, Secretary Water Resources, Government of India, Shri Anil Razdan, Secretary Power, Government of India  and Shri V B Patel, Ex-Secretary Water Resources, Government of Gujarat and Ex-Chairman Central Water Commission.

The Yale School of Management (YSOM)  has from the year 2008 initiated a course  on Social Entreprenuership.  The Course Director Mr Tony Sheldon contacted DSC’s Chairman, who felt that DSC should avail this opportunity.  Thus YSOM had invited proposals from NGOs in India.  Five NGOs were selected for participation in the programme. The ED and the Sr Manager Programmes visited  Yale SOM. USA for participation in the International Social Entrepreneurship Workshop. The workshop was aimed to help the NGOs in solving a problem through the experience and expert knowledge of the faculty and students of Yale.  

In October 2007, the Development Support, Centre (DSC) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and the ABN AMRO Foundation India have initiated the project "Livelihood Enhancement through Participatory Natural Resource Management in rural Gujarat". The project covers both irrigated and rainfed areas of Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad and Amreli districts of Gujarat. The total budgetary outlay of the project is Rs. 2.76 crores allocated till September 2010. The Foundation and DSC have signed the project agreement in the month of December 2007 through framework agreement N.A.AF 2007-049-001.
This Project is going to be cover 175 villages of 5 district covering about 57,000 hector cultivated land of approximately 45,000 farmers.

The Project has the following Objectives:

1. Productivity enhancement
   ·   Field demonstrations of  Ground-nut, Cotton, Paddy, Pigeon Pea, Maize and Varmi compost & micro irrigation system.
   ·   Supervision and monitoring of demonstration by the volunteers
2. Risk mitigation - Cost reduction
   ·    Soil testing and putting the results in to practice by the farmers.
   ·    Research study on productivity gap and risk associated to the main crops; especially high value crops such as cotton, cumin and fennel.
   ·   Field extension
3. Value addition and market linkages
   ·   Research study on scope of crop diversification
   ·   Initiating pilot wheat seed processing and marketing
4. Institutional development
   ·   Support to Village Institutions and their 5 federations
5. Capacity building
   ·   Conducting exposure, training and workshop of farmers, extension volunteers and DSC`s staff on relevant issues

Since its inception in 1994, Development Support Centre has made a major contribution at the State and National level for promotion of various programmes in natural resource management such as Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Watershed Management (WSD). 
Field implementation is a major source of learning for DSC and forms the core for providing inputs to its other services. At present DSC has two field units promoting PIM - Mazum and Guhai irrigation schemes in Sabarkantha district. Similarly the organization has one field unit promoting the watershed projects in the Meghraj block, Sabarkantha district. These units have ably demonstrated people’s strength in planning, implementing and managing their own natural resources to enhance their livelihoods and the inter-relationship between technical and social interventions. DSC’s work at the field level has received recognition at the district, state and national level.   
At the district level, the concerned departments of the Government such as the Irrigation Department and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) often utilize the services of DSC’s field units for hosting field visits and as resource agency for conducting training programmes. Looking at the expertise of DSC, there is demand for carrying out documentation of successful cases, produce and disseminate communication material and conduct workshops to create awareness on best practices, orientation of Govt. programmes etc.

Considering the current opportunities, response of the district administration and its own strength, DSC initiated  Resource Centre at the Sabarkantha district.

Functions of the District Resource Centre in Sabarkantha

The DRC would perform the following functions:

• Work as an Information Centre for programmes related to livelihood enhancement  such as   watershed management. PIM, agriculture development, drinking water management and micro-finance.
• Work in close co-ordination with Govt Depts and prepare a comprehensive livelihood plan for the district. 
• Document and disseminate information on programmes and best practices on livelihood enhancement.
• Conduct workshops, training programmes and exposure visits for Govt functionaries, NGO staff and FOs within and outside the district.
• If needed,  provid hand-holding support to NGOs, Government and FOs.
• Prepare communication material – print/audio visual/street plays etc for creating awareness.
• Undertake impact assessment and other issue based studies.
• Provide appropriate feedback to respective departments for quality enhancement of their respective programmes.