itwdp

Integrated Tribal and Watershed Development Programme, Sangammner, Maharashtra, India.

The Integrated Tribal and Watershed Development Programme focuses on improving the small and degraded plots of land of the tribals in order to increase their economic situation and alleviate extreme poverty. The tribals are the poorest people in the lowest part of Indian society. They are seasonally migratory and are educationally and economically disadvantaged. The primary objective of ITWDP is to create a participatory Watershed Development Programme. Apart from gaining drinking water and an irrigation system it will allow for a second crop, that can be sold. All decisions are made in communal meetings, the crops are sold together and the returns shared fairly. Once the tribals are settled they will be given help to get a title to the land as well as caste certificates needed to send their children to school and to receive health care.
If you are interested in more information about ITWDP and its projects, please send an email.

non profit

Planning session with ITWDP director Robert d'Costa, S.J.

The land is located mainly on plateaus and in isolated mountain areas with very little rainfall.

Homes of migrating workers

The tribals contribute 20% of their labor for free to build a very sophisticated system of trenching, bunding, check dams and leveling.

It is extremely hard work to regain fields from the desert.

Water for irrigation will allow a second crop. It's sale is a souce of income, allowing the tribals to settle, work their own land and send their children to school.

Very nutricious crops (clockwise): millet, 3 different kinds of lentil, Hulga or Kulid, Mut, green Moog

Ranjana is very fortunate to go to school now. Her parents joined the watershed project Babulwandi in 2010.

All decisions are made in communal meetings, the crops are sold together and the returns shared fairly. Apart from gaining drinking water and an irrigation system, the participating people will have formed a strong bond.