The tribal villages of Satpura mountain range that runs along the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra faced acute water scarcity due to soaring temperature, lack of soil and water conservation measures, irregular rainfall pattern and groundwater fluctuation.

These villages were inhabited by the Korku community, designated as a Scheduled Tribe for their socio-economic backwardness. One of the reasons for the backwardness – in terms of education, health services, infrastructure and household income – has been the remoteness of their settlements. Many are severely affected by malnutrition which had aggravated with a steep dip in surface and groundwater availability.

Extensive deforestation rendered mountains bare which exacerbated the overall water insecurity in the Korku region, thereby further limiting the already-scant agriculture possibilities in the drought-prone region. Caritas India’s SABAL project work with Korku communities to raise awareness on the significance of soil and water conservation and helping them understand the link between food and nutrition security and water availability. This project has established strong local partnerships with government departments and had initiated a local civil society network for contributing to district-level campaign on food and nutrition insecurity while ensuring the conservation of soil and water resources.

Low-cost soil and water conservation measures are done in SABAL project areas with the active involvement of the community members. The processes involved were found to be interesting as it is done through food and knowledge for work. The community were informed on the training programs under the project and they undertook soil and water conservation measures as part of the training.

In this process, several soil and water conservation measures were implemented which has created 38,403 workdays to the most deserving people. The soil and water conservation structures, developed with people’s contribution of labor, were initiated as people’s campaign to address the drought situation in the project area. Communities had identified water sources and constructed soil and water conservation measures to improve the groundwater potential of the area and hence to increase the area under cropping.

Caritas India team members and the respective partner directors and coordinators have taken special efforts in promoting soil and water conservation measures without spending much money. Intervention focus of SABAL is the Korku community of Khalwa of Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, Dharni and Chikaldhara blocks of Amravati district of Maharashtra. Partners in Maharashtra work in 81 villages of Amravati district and partners working in Madhya Pradesh cover 60 villages of Khalwa block of Khandwa district. Thus, SABAL works in 141 villages.

Several trainings were organized on soil and water conservation measures. While coming for the training, the community need to attend the training for few hours and then work in the field to construct the soil and water conservation measures. Hence it is a new approach of improving the knowledge and skills through trainings as well as constructing structures.

1272 soil and water conservation structures are made in the project area including 464 Loose Boulder Structure, 54 Gully Plug, 70 Stone Bund, Desiltation of 21 check dam, 25 Farm Bund, 3 Farm Pond, 25 Water Absorption Trenches (WAT), 70 Sack filled dam and 540 Soak Pit. All these structures are completed with the part labour contribution from communities under Training & Work programs. The training and food for work provided 38403 days of work to the most deserving people in creating 1272 different types of soil and water conservation measures. INR 55,57,365 has been spent in creating these structures. Construction of these structures resulted in creating 124447 cubic feet of work which has helped in conserving 3,41,50,599 litres of water.  The soil deposited is also measured and quantified. 36,44,987 Kilogram of soil is deposited due to the construction of soil and water conservation measures in the project area.

The construction of soil and water conservation measures helped in increasing the groundwater level, reduced soil erosion and hence the topsoil conservation, moisture retention in the soil, improved fertility of the soil, increased area under cultivation, increase in crop yield etc. In addition, the employments provided in creating community assets of soil and water conservation measures have improved their living conditions.

Previously Babulal Soma Dhikar & Ramlal Bura Kasdeka were depended on monsoon for their agriculture and were running a shortage of grains for the whole year. During monsoon season if there is a shortage of rain or excess of rain the cultivation fails, and they have no grains at all. The open well which is situated near one of the Sack bag Dams was completely dried. Non irrigated land of the farmers who completely depended on monsoon, water crisis during rabbi season for crop cultivation and drying of wells were the major issues being faced by the tribal communities there. Now they are very happy with the construction of the Sack bag dam as they were able to cultivate more crops.