Community Development Support to EC Aided Minor Irrigation

Community Development Support to EC Aided Minor Irrigation Project, Orissa

Brief of the Project
Type of Project Participatory Irrigation Management
Project Year 1999
Funding Agency EC/Partex (Lead Consultant)
Duration of the Project 1999-2004
Location of the Project Nayagarh, Ganjam, Cuttack, Phulbani & Angul district. of Orissa
EC Aided Minor Irrigation Project

Details of the Project

The programme aimed to reduce dependence on seasonal migration as the main source of cash income & employment during the dry season, by increasing employment opportunities for small & marginal farmers and the landless.An agricultural extension programme was implemented through on-farm demonstration of water management and production of less water demanding crops.

EC Aided Minor Irrigation Project The community organisation programme, managed by our 40 Nos of CO (Community Organiser) to help farmers to form water users association. The WUAs are closely involved in rehabilitation process and took on responsibility for operation and maintenance of their schemes. The project assisted the WUAs to become self-funding though collection water charges, membership fees, surplus fund from rehabilitation programme & income generation programme (IGP). The CO's are activity supported & guided by TA Team & PMU Engineering Staff.

 Achievements:

    • Twenty three (23) water users association (WUA) has been formed.
    • All WUA adopted construction & rehabilitation work of respective scheme.
    • A total of 7000 hectares has been covered for Kharif irrigation.
    • Total of 4462 farmer family has been benefited from this.
    • The membership of all WUA is 1062 out of which 321 are women member.
    • One WUA at Baulasahi of Nottar Panchayat has been formed by all women members & involved themselves in all aspects of participatory irrigation management activity.
    • All WUA funded by EC Aided project has formed a federation in the name "JALAGOSTHI".
    • Innovative methodology for peoples participation like "Social Audit Committee", "Finance Committee", "Construction Committee", "Water Management Committee" & "Village Water Users Group" has been formed & successfully operating.
    • For the first time a set of "In House Rule" has been formed by Implemented through PIM unit in the World.
    • Five WUA's has varied an assets valued more than one lakh rupees.
    • A total Rs. 5 Cr. has been transacted through WUA's.
    • A total Rs. 1.9 lakh water service charge has been collected within one year.
    • A total Rs. 1.45 lakh membership fees has been collected within one year.
    • Schemes like "GOSINGANALA" WUA of Khandapada block has been able to collect the water rate which govt. has not been able to do within last 22 years.
    • Schemes like Darpanarayanpur of Ranpur block, take up watershed management scheme in the catchment area for land & environment protection funded by DRDA.
    • In three WUA women representation as office bearer is very successful.
    • 150 individuals have received direct employment through income-generating scheme of doing contracting activity through WUA contract. Around 700 labour has been engaged in construction activity & reduce the migration during Rabi-Summer period.
    • 5000 ha. out of 7000 ha. has received irrigation water in last working season.
    • Drought prone area like Koska of Khandapada for the first time received water after 30 years or since the project implemented.
by Read Foundation