‘Aajeevika Dabri’ campaign becomes the pivot of rural change in Chhattisgarh

Raipur : With the aim of strengthening water conservation, rural employment and sustainable livelihood in Chhattisgarh, a special campaign for construction of livelihood dabri (farm pond) is being conducted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) under the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ campaign. Under this innovative initiative, construction work of more than 10,000 livelihood dabris is in progress across the state. This work is being done on the private land of the beneficiaries from the weakest section of the society, thereby ensuring rain water conservation on the one hand, while on the other hand, long-term and sustainable livelihood opportunities are being created.

Under the campaign, priority is being given to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), so that water resources and housing based livelihoods can be strengthened in an integrated manner.

Through this scheme, while employment is being created on a large scale at the local level under MNREGA, rain water harvesting is being promoted institutionally. Agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and other water based activities will be planned and implemented under inter-departmental convergence through Aajeevika Dabri.

Each Aajeevika Dabri is being constructed in 20 meter × 20 meter × 3 meter size as per the prescribed technical standards. To ensure the quality and long-term sustainability of water, mandatory arrangements of inlet-outlet system and silt arresting chamber have been made. Active participation of Panchayats and community has been ensured in this campaign. Dabri construction work is being inaugurated in the presence of Panchayat representatives and villagers. After detailed discussion on the subject at the Gram Panchayat level, information about the beneficiaries is being shared publicly, so that transparency is maintained. Besides, necessary contributions are also being taken from the beneficiaries, so that the feeling of ownership and participation is strengthened.

Aajeevika Dabri is being constructed scientifically on ‘Ridge-to-Valley Approach’ through satellite based Clart App. This work is being implemented as a convergence package with convergence of various departments. Along with Panchayats, active support is also being received from other civil society organizations including PRADAN, TRIF, FES.

A target has been set to complete all the construction works before the rains. The maximum cost per livelihood block has been fixed at Rs 3 lakh. This initiative is emerging as an important, innovative and replicable model towards empowering rural livelihoods through water conservation as well as creation of sustainable assets on private lands.