Development July 2017 Monthly Development update from DHAN CollectiveMatters Watershed Health Event Transformation of Mallapur into Communities Spearheading Tamil Nadu River Week – 2017 10 "A Model Village" 6 Sanitation! 18 Feature NABARD honours DHAN Foundation Development From the Editors’ Desk Monthly Development update from DHAN Collective Matters Dear Readers, Vol. IX Issue 3 July 2017 Greetings from DHAN Foundation. Cover article in this issue highlights the honour bestowed on DHAN Foundation as recognition for its contributions in 25 years of SHG- Bank Linkage Movement spearheded by NABARD in India. It was organised as part of 36th Foundation Day of the Bank in New Delhi. The article on urban water bodies narrates how the water bodies get ignored and the impact of such neglects on human living. Mallapur development experience shows how sustained development intervention could transform a village in multiple spheres. The article on nutritional security through kitchen garden shares the Chilume Mahila Kalanjiam's success story, which is worth emulating. There are articles showcasing stories from the field, such as communities- led Swachh Bharath, a development worker's field notes, a study on addressing the gaps in disaster management. The readers are welcome to give their suggestions and feedbacks on the articles featured in the development matters. They can send their Human civilization flourished in river basins due mails to [email protected] to availability of fertile lands for farming. Urbanization and industrialisation have alienated Happy reading! people from the rivers, which resulted in mis- management of river-ecosystem. In many countries, smaller or bigger, the rivers are in precarious state due to pollution, encroachment, indiscriminate exploitation of sand, displacement of aquatic animals and plants. Reconnecting the human beings with the river-ecosystem is the need of the hour to protect further deterioration. Tamil Nadu River Week organised by DHAN Foundation at Madurai was one such initiative aimed at bringing all the stakeholders together to dialogue on the current status, challenges and Contents opportunities for restoring river eco-systems in Tamil Nadu. Experts, technocrats, agriculturists, 1. From Wrong Turn to U-Turn 1 and student communities actively participated in this two-day event. The outcome was promising Elamuhil S and sown seeds of hope to rejuvenate the river 2. Transformation of Mallapur into “A Model Village” 6 ecosystem. Rathod Neelesh 3. Tamil Nadu River Week – 2017 10 Gurunathan A & Praveen Kumar S 4. Nutritional Security through Kitchen Garden 13 Vasantha Kumar N K & Girisha P J 5. Communities Spearheading Sanitation! 18 DHAN Foundation Sindhu P D 1A, Vaidyanathapuram East 6. Addressing the gaps in disaster management 23 Kennet Cross Road Dheivanai P Madurai 625 016. Tamil Nadu, INDIA Tel.: +91 452 2302500; Fax: 2602247 7. NABARD honours DHAN Foundation 26 Email: [email protected] 8. Gram Swaraj: Myth or reality? 30 Website: http://www.dhan.org Pravin Bhikale Study From Wrong Turn to U-Turn Elamuhil S* “Evolution of knowledge is towards simplicity not populated with the ‘rural push’ inhabitants. In the process complexity” – L. Ron Hubbard. of centralisation, the administrative system, settlements along with other public and private services were Gigantic temples and numerous water harvesting established. Lands that were once cultivated transformed structures spread all over Tamil Nadu stand testimony to into concrete masses. the immense scientific wisdom of our forefathers. They “Anna! Where is Anupanadi Chinna Kanmai (small are the surviving marvels and time tested monuments tank)?” of our land. After all, technology is meant for bettering our lives. With a smile he replies “Thambi! We both are standing on the tank and talking about the Kanmai”. Madurai, popularly known as the city of temples is rich in spiritual and historical heritage. It is the third largest ‘Annupanadi Small Tank’ is one of the 15 irrigation city in Tamil Nadu and one of the living heritages of tanks that is completely encroached by the rapidly India. The agrarian civilisation was established on the growing urban system. The Tamil Nadu Housing banks of river Vaigai, which was a non-perennial river Board has encroached both ‘Annupanadi Big Tank’ even in the age of ‘Sangam’. The agrarian community and ‘Avaniyapuram Tank’ to the maximum extent. for its sustained survival; based on its A sign board in ‘Avaniyapuram Tank’ observation and wisdom, developed a This article describes the says: “This is a property of The Tamil technology to conserve water during apathy of urban communities Nadu Housing Board. Encroachers will monsoon showers. It is called as ‘the towards upkeep of water be penalised.’’ It shows how the tank tank technology’. Madurai City holds resources. It also echoes once a common property had become about 96 irrigation tanks. The tanks were the global scenario. It lays part of the public system. Similarly, well-connected as cascades and fed by emphasis on the understanding 34 irrigation tanks have been partially 13 major channels. Some of the tanks are of ‘indigenous technology’ encroached by different urban systems, few hundred years old and most of the to derive its relevance to the both public and private. tanks have crossed half a millennium of present and future. their existence. Madurai is an administrative and agricultural centre having a large floating population. Its high market base catalysed its urbanisation through its services. Urbanisation attracted rural communities with a wide scope for employment. Better employment elevated the standard of living which further attracted the rural communities towards Madurai. Madurai City was also known as ‘Kadambavanam’ (Forest with Kadambam Trees), and called with pride as ‘Thoonga Nagaram’ (City that never sleeps). Immigrants landed at Madurai responding to both push and pull factors. Slums on the banks of rivers Vaigai and Gridhumal and irrigation channels were mostly Sewage flowing to irrigation tank * Mr. Elamuhil S, Project Executive in charge of Centre for Urban Water Resources (CURE) Development Matters July 2017 1 Chinna Odaippu Tank, Sand mined by road contractors Encroachments along the river banks have reduced the Due to reduced dependency on ancient irrigation system, width of the rivers and channels. This aggravated the the farmers started ignoring the feeder channels and risk of the banks becoming a flood-prone zone both in irrigation tanks. Feeder channels and irrigation tanks terms of spatial extent and intensity of disaster. In 2010, were heavily silted, misshapen and invaded by Prosopis to prevent encroachment of channels and to avoid flood juliflora and other weeds. ‘Vannankulam’ tank is one risks, irrigation channels were RCC (reinforced cement such irrigation tanks completely invaded by Prosopis. concrete) lined under JnNURM project. In urban fabrics, though daily per capita demand was135 Centralised urban system demands a centralised water litres of water, as per Indian standards; in summer, supply and sanitation system. The Vaigai reservoir and Madurai City Corporation was able to supply only 60- integrated drinking water project play a vital role in the 70% of the demand. The rest of the demand was fulfilled corporation’s water supply for Madurai city. Water from by ground water alone. Since ground water pumping the Vaigai reservoir and river bed is pumped to ensure is not regulated, the abstraction (extraction of ground the corporation’s water supply. Zero flow in the river due water) depends on the life style of the individual family. to dam construction and higher demand for sand led to heavy, unregulated and illegal ‘sand mining’. The river The scenario in peri-urban area is also similar. Increase Viagai in its corporation limits has lost its sand bed and in bore wells and invasive spread of Prosopis has reeds completely. aggravated the fall of ground water level. It is not only an issue of quantity but also an issue that affects quality. The Feeder channels having off-take points in river Vaigai fall of water table might increase mineral concentration were supplying river water for the chain of irrigation based on the geological condition, resulting in serious tanks (cascade). South flowing channels such as health issues among the consuming community. It is a Nilayur, Avaniyapuram and Sottathatti channels are concern that there is no perfect and economical filter a few channels that feed tanks in the Kondagai and available in the market for removing hazardous metals the Usilangulam cascades. Heavy sand mining in the in the ground water and disposal of filter residue. river bed has reduced the bed level of the river, thereby reducing the river water supply to irrigation tanks. The dry irrigation tanks have become sand mining This adversely affected tank-fed agriculture in both the quarries for road contractors. Road contractors have cascades. received permission from the City Corporation to desilt specific tanks within the city limits. However, greedy Small and marginal farmers either sold their land or left contractors have excessively mined the irrigation tanks. it fallow while large farmers dug wells and bore wells. ‘Chinna Odaippu Tank’ is one of the five tanks that were excessively mined more than 2 metres below the silt level of the sluice in the name of ‘desiltation’. Major portion of the runoff water will be stored in its dead storage while the live storage of the tank will be minimal or nil. The tank is no longer fit for irrigation. The irony is that this has happened with the approval of the local community. “Since the tank was not fed with river water by the channel, our agriculture land has been Prosopis Juliflora invasion in Vannan Kulam Tank left fallow for the past five years. We found sand mining 2 July 2017 Development Matters Kuthiraikuthi Tank filled with water even in this drought year as a source of income. We have received money from the feeder channel. ‘Kaathiyanoor tank’ is one such tank contractor for our village.