Wahramkhar, a remote village nestled in the East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, faced numerous challenges in its quest for progress. With only 42 households and a population of 270, the villagers relied on agriculture and daily labour for their livelihoods. The community depended on crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, pumpkin, paddy, and mustard leaves. The absence of a local market meant that people had to travel 6 kilometres to Nongspung or take a daunting 65 km road trip to Iewmawlong market, just to buy and sell essential goods.

In 2021, a ray of hope began to shine upon Wahramkhar through the efforts of the Social Service Centre (SSC) under Caritas India’s FARM Northeast programme. The SSC organised a consultation meeting with the village community, during which the residents expressed their challenges, among them being the lack of a water reservoir for both agricultural and public use. The villagers had sought assistance from government departments but were met with disappointment since there were no existing schemes related to the construction of a water reservoir.

However, the intervention from SSC under FARM NE III brought about a transformation in the village’s fortunes. In September 2021, a water reservoir was constructed through collaboration with the community. Together, they constructed a check dam by partially blocking an existing river that flowed through the village. This reservoir would serve multiple purposes, primarily irrigation and washing, especially during the dry season. To enhance its utility, a small shed was also built for washing purposes.

This check dam proved to be a game-changer for the village. The community could now wash clothes, supply water to the paddy fields, and tend to their kitchen garden. The dam’s strategic location between the paddy fields and the garden allowed farmers to efficiently use the water for irrigation. They also used buckets to spray the various crops cultivated in the garden, including mustard, radish, beans, peas, cabbage and other crops. The community had plans to construct toilets near the dam to maintain cleanliness and hygiene through the MGNREGS scheme. This holistic approach aimed not only to improve their agriculture but also to create a healthier living environment, free from germs and contamination.

According to Hamborlin Khardom headman of the village, the construction of the water reservoir for irrigation could greatly benefit the farmers, particularly those with nearby paddy fields adjacent to this dam. “It became easier for them to supply water to their fields and the kitchen garden where they cultivate crops therefore, the availability of this irrigation water has significantly eased the lives of all the farmers who utilize it,” Khardom said.

The community expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the FARM Northeast project and their pivotal role in bringing about this transformation. The newly constructed dam not only improved agriculture but also enhanced the overall living conditions of the community. Farmers now had a reliable source of irrigation, and some even planned to invest in pipes to streamline water distribution to the paddy fields, making their lives easier than ever before.

According to Miss Phrinda Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi, the SSC’s Field Animator, “construction of water system will make it easier for people to irrigate their paddy fields and also for washing clothes. This will drastically change the state of affairs for the village community for the good”.