Pani Panchayat is the name first given to a movement by Mr. Vilasrao Salunke for motivating farmers of Naigaon village of the drought-prone Purandhar taluka of Maharashtra in 1974. The government's inability to deal with the drought situation prompted him to take a 40 acre land on lease from the village temple trust and develop a recharge pond in the recharge area of the village, a dug well in the discharge zone and a lift irrigation system.

1. WATER AND EQUITY
PANI PANCHAYATS

2. • Introduction
• Objective
• Functions
• Principles
• Achievements
• Awards
• Limitations
• Conclusion
CONTENTS

3. INTRODUCTION
• "Pani Panchayat" is a voluntary activity of a group of farmers engaged
in the collective management of water for both harvesting and
distribution equality, among themselves in order to improve their
economic condition.
• 'Pani Panchayat' is the name first given to a movement for motivating
farmers of Naigaon Village of the drought-prone Purandhar taluka of
Maharashtra State.
• In 1973, a social worker Late Shri. Vilasrao Salunkhe and his wife Smt.
Kalpanatai Salunkhe motivated the people of the village to pool their
efforts to harness their meager water resources for common good
and as a means to break social barriers and economic inequalities

4. OBJECTIVE OF PANI PANCHAYATS
achieve sustainable rural development.
identity local needs, local resources, local talents, local strength and to integrate
them.
carry out experiments for optimum use of natural resources like water, land, solar
energy and to demonstrate effective water conservation and maintain soil to fertility.
develop cropping patterns agriculture cultivation methods and living habits to suit
available resources.
carry out experiments for implementation of organic farming / natural farming and
setting small village industries for value addition in the agricultural products.
Interact with decision maker to incorporate the proved rural development
methods into the policy of the Government.
provide education, training and infrastructure in order to implement the above
projects.

5. • To propose cropping program considering the sale and agro climatic
condition
• To prepare a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system
• To regulate the use of water according to the requirement
• To promote the economy in the use of water allocated
• To asset the revenue and disaster management department
• To resolve the disputes
• It ensures construction, maintenance and repair of all water courses
• It protect the entire system covered under the water courses
• It receives water from government and distribute it among water user
FUNCTIONS OF PANI PANCHAYATS

6. PRINCIPLES OF PANI PANCHAYATS
• Every family member should be allowed water for cultivation at
the rate of half an acre per head subject to a maximum of 2.5
acres per family.
• No water intensive crops can be grown .
• Land for which the water is obtained under this project cannot be
sold.
• Water taxes to be paid by all members in 2 installments each year
by the dates fixed by consensus.
• All equipment connected with the project is kept with the "Pani
Panchayat". Money obtained from the taxes is deposited in an
account in the project's name and all claims on the project be paid
by the "Pani Panchayat".

7. • A meeting of all the members is held twice a month.
• Any action by a member contrary to the rules is severely punished.
• The membership of a member who causes a grave problem in the working
of the project and disobeys the "Pani Panchayat" be cancelled.
• The construction and management of the project and distribution of water
and monitoring of crops is the joint responsibility of the members.
• The “Pani Panchayat” has the right to make new rules and to change
existing rule.

8. • Extensive agriculture by lifting water in uplands for the land which cannot
get water normally for cultivation.
• Self imposed common tight control ensures optimum utilization of scarce
water resource.
• Only crops which require perennial irrigation are permitted.
• Emphasis on food crops ensures food security.
• Some farmers have taken up floriculture which has a very good market in
near by Pune.
• Social tensions reduced due to participatory management of community
resources.
• Some city migrants have returned to their villages to go back to farming.
ACHIEVEMENTS

9. Pani Panchayat has received certain awards for the works done by
them in different field, which are as follows….
• Jamnalal Bajaj Award
• Stockholm Award, 1986
Being Felicitated by His Excellency King Gustav of Sweden
• Fie Foundation Award
• Datta Deshmukh Puraskar
AWARDS

10. • Not backed up legally.
• Procuring of electricity is a huge problem.
• Scheme could not able to encompass an entire village.
• Pani panchayat model works only in a situation where large water
body already exist.
• No priority been given on regeneration of surrounding environment
because it focused on exclusively on sustainable use of water for
agriculture.
LIMITATIONS

11. • Pani panchayats is complex and long, raising the costs of participation
for the farmers.
• Simpler procedures are needed that will provide the Pani panchayats
organizations with sufficient legal standing to deal with government
agencies, contract with private firms, contractors and control
resources within the group.
• There must also be mechanisms to ensure that the benefits of the
project are equally distributed among all concerned Stakeholders
CONCLUSION

12. THANK YOU