Impact of Entry Point Activities on The Change of Lifestyle in Watershed Villages

Abstract

Introducing watershed development programme to the community has always been recognised as an important activity for not only improving the natural resources but also for livelihood development. In Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) projects, entry point activities (EPA) are carried out to establish togetherness with the community, and strengthening and sustaining it throughout the programme and beyond. The present study largely focussed in assessing the outcomes o f EPAs and their impact on the way o f watershed community's life. The study covered all 70 PMKSY Batch-IV projects sanctioned in Prakasam district o f Andhra Pradesh. The sample size under each PMKSY project covered a minimum o f 20 per cent physical verification of the EPAs in the project area on stratified random sampling basis. In all, 19 micro watersheds (MWS) were included in the study. Seven types of EPAs (cattle/goat/sheep water troughs; school-related provisions like furniture, shed, building repair, laboratories; health camps; fertility camps; solar street lights; RO Plants; tent houses) executed in PMKSY projects are rated as Excellent based on TOO per cent achievement of EPA targets; quality & utility of the activities; and status o f functioning. Cash-based EPAs are found to be more effective to build rapport with the community by ensuring perceptible socio-economic benefits for the community.