This is a story that comes to conform the age old saying, “Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness”.

It is yet to be officially monsoon in drought hit Marathwada, but few generous sprinkles of rain in the region seem to have already been benefitting Baranpur village. More so because of the nature of preparedness among the villagers this time, unlike in the past.

The initial plan was conceived in the late January this year. Led by Balasahe, the Sarpanch of the village, a newly formed village development committee (VDC) started to work on the resolution passed by the Gram Sabha.

The objective was to stop the rain water that runs out of the village. The speculation was that of potential ground water recharge that can revive over 200 dry wells.

Over 100 trenches and bunds were dug within a period of 100 days.

The first set of financial resources (around 50 thousand Indian rupees) were locally mobilized from within the community. Within a short period, St Ann’s school in the neighborhood responded with more financial help.

Caritas India, an NGO based in Delhi along with the local partner in Aurangabad (ADSSS) roped in more financial and programmatic assistance to the villagers.

An online campaign started by Caritas team on behalf of the villagers were backed generously by nearly 30 likeminded individuals from across India. Donations from a minimum of Rs.100 to a maximum of Rs.10, 000 poured in support to the cause.

When the onset of monsoon in Kerala made headlines early this month, the anticipation grew among Baranpur villagers.

Subsequently, the village has had a little over 91 millimeters of rain so far. Given the undulating ground of the village, rain water that normally would have ran out, have been stored in the trenches that were readied by the villagers.

In over a week’s time, the collected water in the trenches have gradually started showing first signs of “ground water recharging” as the dry wells got fresh water in them. Villagers in Baranpur who are primarily farmers are now out ploughing their field.

“The seeds have fallen into fertile ground” exclaimed Debanghsu Ganguly reacting to the pictures that came in from the village, while he took time to remember the donors who have come to back the cause on Ketto.

In a unique way, what could be seemingly insignificant plan of the people backed by micro finances and services has enabled them to embrace the nature’s blessings which otherwise (like in the past) would have gone unnoticed and untapped.

The project was completed with an investment of little over five lakhs. Can this traditional and low cost project turn to be a sustainable model for the surrounding villages? What more needs to improve? Answers to these questions in the coming days will remain key to our interest of work.