Integrated and Participatory Water Management: BIRD K Experience

Abstract

BAIF Institute for Rural Development-Karnataka (BIRD-K) is an associate organization of BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune working for the up-liftment of rural poor where natural resources management, livestock development especially breed improvement, trainings and women empowerment are the thrust areas. Almost all the selected approaches are site specific, economically viable, replicable and socially accepted. All these projects have been implemented on participatory mode. The present paper highlights on the two such approaches being followed in two different areas, one is drought prone in Tiptur taluka of Tumkur district and the other is fluoride affected in Mundargi of Gadag district. Both the approaches have shown encouraging results. The linking of farm pond in a scientific way, and planning and implementation in participatory mode at Tiptur taluk of Tumkur dist. has proved to be a drought proofing mechanism. The approach has been adopted by different agencies in the watershed programme in Karnataka, and undivided Andhra Pradesh states. The second approach is for the fluoride affected area where the content of fluoride was 2.33 mg/liter in the bore well water and 5.26mg/ltr in the open well water before the start of the project in 2005. Trend in dilution of fluoride in the groundwater is observed at the later stages of the project. In the bore wells fluoride concentration came down from 4.39 to 2.86 ppm. and in the open wells from 5.44 to 2.71 ppm. Fluoride concentration in 17 other water sources too has come down to the permissible limit. The encouraging results attracted the donors and government officials, and as a result BIRD-K has extended the programme to more than 150 villages benefitting over 7200 families. In both the cases natural resources are improved with a rise in ground water table and water availability for agriculture, thereby enhancing income of the participants. The increased skills of the participants have diversified their income sources.