Once written off as barren after the monsoon, the village of Kita in Jharkhand’s Latehar district is now thriving all year round. A simple yet transformative act of renovating an old pond has turned dry lands into fertile fields, enabled Rabi cropping, and even created a small fishing economy. All this, driven by the villagers themselves under Caritas India’s Gram Nirman Program, which empowers communities to harness their own resources and lead the change they wish to see.

At the heart of this success lies a pond that once dried up as quickly as it filled during the rains. Located at the edge of a dense forest, Kita village’s terrain slopes downward, causing precious rainwater to run off swiftly. This natural disadvantage had long stalled the community’s agricultural potential, limiting them to Kharif crops like paddy, maize, and arhar. Without irrigation infrastructure, Rabi crops remained a distant dream.

But change began to trickle in with the Gram Nirman Program’s Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. Through capacity-building trainings, government interface meetings, and persistent community engagement, local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Gram Sabhas found their footing. On 17th October 2022, the residents of Kita gathered at the local government school to draft a plan. They identified their most pressing need as water and applied for pond renovation under the Soil Conservation Department of Jharkhand.

The proposal was approved. A government-sanctioned grant of ₹679800 catalyzed the transformation. The villagers formed a Panchayat Water Committee to oversee the work. What followed was not just civil construction but community construction a collective reclaiming of a future that once seemed beyond reach.

Today, that same pond stands revitalized with dimensions of 250 feet in length, 150 feet in width, and a depth of 10 feet. It no longer dries up post-monsoon. Instead, it sustains water throughout the year, thanks to its improved capacity and the natural recharge of groundwater. Twenty-five farmers now use it to irrigate 15 acres of land, growing onions, potatoes, mustard, green peas, wheat, and even fish.

In a further stride towards sustainable agriculture, these farmers have adopted solar-powered irrigation systems promoted under the Gram Nirman Program. By harnessing solar energy, they irrigate their fields without incurring electricity costs, which reduces their reliance on diesel and grid power. This shift not only cuts operational expenses but also ensures a reliable water supply, enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience.

For these farmers, the benefits have been immediate and tangible: more crops, more income, and more resilience. With vegetables and Rabi grains added to their seasonal harvest, household nutrition has improved. And with fish farming introduced, the pond has become an additional source of livelihood. What once symbolized scarcity now signifies abundance.

Caritas India’s Gram Nirman Phase II, with its focus on inclusive socio-economic growth, aims precisely for such grassroots victories. By empowering communities to map their own assets and access government schemes, the program enables people to become “Drivers of Change.” In Kita, that philosophy is no longer just a framework; it’s a lived experience.

The village’s revival is a testament to what happens when development isn’t handed down but rises from within. From dry land to green fields, from disuse to productivity, the renovated pond is more than a water body; it is a symbol of what communities can achieve when they are entrusted to lead.

Caritas India’s Gram Nirman Program, through its ABCD approach, facilitates improved access to various government schemes and programs, enhances the income of families through on- and off-farm livelihood initiatives, and makes efforts to achieve recognition and empowerment of the people in the community.