Sujalam Suphalam (SS) : A multi-stakeholder Water Resources Management Approach

Rejuvenation of existing water bodies is an important element to achieve village water security in the context of both drinking and agriculture water requirements. Rejuvenation of the water structure leads to the creation of storage or increase in the storage capacity of the existing structure, eventually aiding to groundwater recharge. “Sujalam Suphalam” is a District level time-bound program that focuses on the improvement of village water resources by undertaking the restoration of existing water bodies, and watershed treatments for the augmentation of groundwater. It is an effort to make a parched village 'water abundant' by creating water infrastructure that instils the notion of ownership amongst the stakeholders which is an important element in arriving at a sustainable solution for drought frequented regions in a short period of time. Sujalam Suphalam (SS) takes a multi-stakeholder approach to arrive at village water security. The multi-stakeholder design of the programme involves the Government (State and District Administration) – Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) -Community/Farmers Group – like-minded civil society organisations and advocacy groups (public representatives and newspaper & electronic media) as the stakeholders. Where Government authority provides necessary sanctions and takes full ownership of the programme, BJS provide their services of heavy machinery and support the Government in programme execution, implementation, community mobilisation, data management and monitoring. This program promises rejuvenating water structures that store run-off generated during monsoons, which recharges groundwater, these earthen works also provide an essential resource to the farmers which is silt to enhance individual farmer's productivity. SS has helped in increasing the agricultural income by bringing the larger area under irrigation and enhanced the income from agro-allied diversified activities. By desilting percolation tanks, water harvesting tanks and village nalas (rivulets) BJS has not only enhanced the storage capacity of these structures but also increased the period of water availability in the parched villages. It increased the number of days of drinking and domestic water availability accessible to all habitations within a village. The approach promises to reduce the gap between demand and supply of both, water and silt, in a short period. It also garners active participation from the farmers that leads to effective management of community water resources by enhancing the capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions and individual farmers. Since the implementation of IWRM projects back in the 1970s, many water storage structures were created in drought-prone villages. But often it was found that very few programs were concentrated on rejuvenation or repair of these water bodies. Often the Gram Panchayat was given charge of these water bodies who lacked the necessary guidance and resources to rejuvenate or repair. Sujalam Suphalam program is focused on rejuvenation or repair of government and community-owned water bodies. These processes demanded the active participation of district administration, gram panchayat, progressive farmers, farmer boards at village level and those who were on the periphery of these institutions. This paper reviews the multi-stakeholder sustainable water conservation approach adopted by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana with the support of the government of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The paper also highlights the main components of the programme, methodology of the programme, execution, key achievements, impacts and critical lessons learnt.