Maharajanpuram is one of the 10 target villages of Udhagamandalam Social Service Society (USSSS) under Caritas India facilitated Land and Water (Thulir) cluster programme. This village inhabited by 130 families with a population size of 600 falls under Talavadi Taluk of Erode district. 83% of the households are involved in rainfed farming with goat and cow rearing as an allied occupation.

Awareness meetings, baseline survey, and orientation on PRA tools helped this village community to get organized themselves into  5 women Self Help Groups and 2 Farmer Interest Groups. There are 10 well-motivated volunteers who are taking lead in motivating the community to have ownership on the community natural resources. This volunteers team serves as  Village Land and Water Watch Committee. They realized the importance of creating awareness among the school children as well as moulding them become community guardians. Competitions were held on environmental topics and children took active participation.

The local living environment was investigated by the children themselves with patterns of irregularities affecting the environment.  Their analysis of local realities and degeneration of natural resources created an overarching effect on local self-governance. The children wanted their parents to participate in the Gram Sabah meetings. It is in line with the key strategic pillar of Caritas India which insists on Dialogue with community, duty bearers, and nature. The collective planning and dialogue were aimed at mitigating the ensuing drought-like situation and protect the land and water through local participation and good governance.

Udhagamandalam Social Service Society (USSS) has lived up to its commitments made during the Land and Water (Thulir) Cluster programme review held in January, 2019 by organising regular trainings to the CBO members and children club to analyse their land and water based issues and represent them as  micro plan in the Grama Sabha meetings.  As a result, the community was capacitated to make a well-drafted demand for the common good with emphasis on the protection of ecosystem and livelihood that focused on desiltation of ponds, construction of trenches and farm ponds, creating rainwater harvesting structures for farming and domestic purpose and propose for solid waste management in the village.

More than 80% of the households were represented in the Gram Sabah. Children also participated along with their parents.  Their demands were duly processed and as a result, the village pond is desilted. Two farmers by name Veerabathirasamy and Sivanna were helped to have farm ponds in their land under MGNREG scheme for a sum of Rs.1,75,000. Two women farmers by name Ms.Swarnamma who owns 2 acres of land and Ms. Sivamma who owns one and a half acres of land dug 10  trenches ( 3” x 3”x2”)  each in their land to conserve rainwater. Arrangements are made for the proper disposal of solid waste. Children are happy that their village is clean and there is water available for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The community could store runoff water, witness the drastic increase in the groundwater level and reduced soil erosion. The programme implementation is monitored by Mr.Joseph, the Block co-ordinator. Ms.Suprabha, the Project Manager of USSS  who is spearheading the project says that USSS is appreciative of the proper guidance and accompaniment gave by  Dr. John Arokiaraj,  Caritas India Manager.

USSS  has become a centre of excellence in community managed natural resources and is sharing its expertise with  Government and Non-Governmental Organisations. It believes in the community led initiatives with due recognition to children’s contribution.