1. GRAMYA VIKASH MANCHA
(GVM)
(A unified platform for progressive
contemplation)

2. Vision:
 “GVM envisages a peaceful, prosperous, egalitarian and exploitation free society in every
village”
Mission:
 GVM exist to empower the rural community particularly the underprivileged and women
to take control over the social institutions and to improve their quality of life , thereby
create a society where these people can live with dignity
Address
 NO. 1 BARDHANARA
 P.O: DAKSHINGAON
 PIN: 781350
 DISTRICT : NALBARI
 ASSAM , INDIA
 PHONE: +91-3624-283740
 Email: gvm_ngo@sify.com

3. Staff Strength
 Full time Project Staff: 82
 Village volunteers: 350
 Technical / Professional Consultants: 12

4. PROMOTION OF DIVERSION BASED IRRIGATION IN
NALBARI, KAMRUP(RURAL) & BAKSA DISTRICTS OF
ASSAM
(2012-15)
Supported by : Jamsetji Tata Trust
Implemented by: Gramya Vikash Mancha

5. Project Profile
 Project title: Promotion of Diversion Based Irrigation in
Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa district of Assam
 Supported by: Jamsetji Tata Trust
 Implemented by: Gramya Vikash Mancha
 Project period: 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2015 (3 years)
 Project area: Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa district
 Total Sanctioned Amount (for 3 years): Rs. 288.25 lakh
 Total sanctioned amount (For 1st year): Rs. 85,27,000.00
(Rupees eighty five lakh twenty seven thousand only)
 Total sanctioned amount (For 2nd year): Rs.
1,00,24,000.00 (Rupees one crore twenty four thousand
only)

6. Objective & Strategies of the
implemented Project
Objective:
• The developmental objective of the project is “To
improve the quality of life of 50000 families from excluded
section of society in Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa
district of Assam within three years “
Strategies:
• Protect natural water bodies and reduce vulnerability
through community mobilization
• Socio-economic upliftment through introducing effective
use of diversion based irrigation system

7. Project area in Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) & Baksa District
Cluster
No
Name of cluster Nos. of
villages to
cover
(approx)
Name of main Dong/
Jan
Dev. Block District
1 Pagladiya Cluster 50 Ghogra Jan and
Maranadi jan
Barigog Banbhag and
Barbhag, Pub Nalbari
and Barbhag
Nalbari
2 Saulkhowa Cluster 30 Nameri jan Pachim Nalbari,
Madhupur and
Barskhetri
Nalbari
3 Jaha Cluster 50 Jaha Jan , Garakhiya
jan and Beldow Jan
Pub Nalbari, Pachim
Nalbari and Barskhetri
Nalbari
4 Baralia cluster 25 Dokoha, Bala, Sijua
and Simalua Jan
Barbhag Nalbari
5 Diring cluster 25 Balakata dong,
Trisanka dong,
Amarpur Dong
Musalpur and Baska Baksa
6 Tamulpur Cluster 20 Ghoga Dong Tamulpur development
block
Baksa
7 Motonga 50 Bharaltola Jan,
Maihati Jan, Bhaira
Jan, Barshil Jan,
Bodna jan
Rangia, Kamalpur Kamrup
(Rural)
8 Satdola 22 Bhoma Jan, Rahar
Jan,
Hajo Kamrup
(Rural)

8. Situation of natural water resources in Nalbari and Kamrup (Rural)
districts ..

9. Situation in Baksa
Scarcity of water for both drinking & irrigation

10. Major activities under the DBI project
 Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA)
 Community dialogues
 Restoration of natural water bodies like canal, dong, swamp, wet
land
 Construction of irrigation based structures like check dam,
diversion weir, sluice gate etc.
 Capacity enhancement programmes for targeted community
 Reflection Programmes
 Interface Programmes with Govt. Authority
 Networking & advocacy
 Consultation Workshops
 Media Sensitization programmes
 Documentation of Good Practices

11.  PVA was conducted in each Cluster to get all kind of
information of the villages like Mapping of the villages,
Socio-economic background, livelihood analysis,
population break-up, resources, different vulnerabilities,
historical background, coping mechanism etc. It shows
the use, impact and problems in accessing natural water
resources.
 All major activities like Restoration work of canal,
Construction of Irrigation based structures, Capacity
Enhancement programmes are implemented based on
the Community Action Plan (CAP) prepared by the
community
Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA)Report

12. Nalbari, Baksa, Kamrup (rural) district

13. Pagladia River Basin (Source: Geology department, GU)

14. Community participating in the Participatory Vulnerability
Analysis (PVA)Report

15. The situation of Badna Jan (canal) in Kamrup (Rural)
District

16. Cleaning of Badna Jan (canal) in Kamrup (Rural) District

17. Farmers during a restoration work of canal in
Balisatra village under Kamrup (rural) district

18. Restoration work (cleaning) of the
Pekdua Canal in Ghorathal village
Before the cleaning work After the cleaning

19. Before After
Restoration work (dredging) of Manik Jan, Balisatra

20. Before After
Restoration work at Baranghati

21. Before After
Pub Baranghati

22. Before After
Pub Baranghati

23. Before After
A newly dredged canal through the Roumari bil to
solve the problem of water logging and do Boro
paddy at Baranghati

24. Before After
Restoration work at Bilsipar canal in
Balisatra, Kamrup

25. Cultivattion of mustard in 250 bigha of land by 2
Pathar Pachilana Samiti after restoration work of
Baranghati, Kamrup

26. The same land will be used for Boro paddy adopting SRI
cultivation after harvesting Mustard

27. Restoration of Bhagia canal in Bezkuchi village of Jaha, Nalbari based on
Community Action Plan

28. After the Restoration work (Cleaning) of Bhagia Canal

29. Restoration of a dying dong in Palashguri village of
Baksa

30. Restoration work (Dredging) of a dong in Subansri village of
Baksa

31. Farmers during the restoration work of a canal in
Raharpara village under Baralia cluster of Nalbari district

32. After completion of the restoration work of a canal in
Raharpara village under Baralia cluster of Nalbari district

33. The restoration work of the wetland in Ghorathal village
of Nalbari

34. woman participating in the restoration work of the
wetland in Ghorathal village of Nalbari

35. Farmers using kutcha bundh to divert water to the paddy field
from the canal in Balikuchi village, Nalbari

36. Irrigation based structure constructed in Balikuchi, Nalbari to
check water and irrigate adjacent paddy fields

37. The Balikuchi Bandh used by farmers this year to plant
Sali paddy

38. The Constructed Irrigation based structure in Bhogpara village of
Baksa this year would irrigate 512 bigha of agricultural land and
benefit 65 farmers saving around 600 person days a year

39. Construction of an Irrigation based structure (check bandh) constructed under
MGNREGA work by the Village Council Development Committee (VCDC) of Nikashi
under Baska Dev. Block of Baksa district in 2012-13 year

40. Overhead RCC Canal inspected by Technical consulted during
construction in Dongorgaon, Nagrijuli, Baksa

41. Photo: It is a mandatory mass contribution from every household to repair the bund at the
source of Pagla and Diya, where the two river merges at the foothills of Bhutan. The
villagers (only male) stay for 4-5 day & night to work with strict timings set by the DMC to
repair the bund. The Dongs will only get water if they maintain the main bund at source.

42. The Bandh Dong Committees has strong rules & members from each family has
to contribute their labour to maintain the Bandhs and Dongs which is the only
source of water for the villages in Baksa

43. Every Winter in December more than 2500 people from 40 villages
repairs the Bandhs and Dongs (Canal) for 4 consecutive days at the
source of Pagladia and Diring river

44. Introduction of Shramdaan in Restoration work of natural
water bodies in Nalbari & Kamrup district
 Shramdaan by community was introduced as a replication of the
practice of Dong Bandh Committees exists in Baksa district
 In each of the Restoration work community is contributing one
day of Shramdaan in a interval of every 7 or 10 work days
(depending on the type of work & socio-economic situation of
the community)
 The practice of Shramdaan was introduced to build up
ownership of work & ownership on their natural resources. This
will help to future sustainability of the work implemented under
the DBI project as the Canal Management Committees would
carry forward the practice of maintenance of canals

45. The Problem: Lifting of Canal water for cultivation of Rabi & Paddy (Boro)
crops by using diesel water pumps has increased the cost of production which
is not affordable to most of the farmers. ( Photo: Satha & Raimadha village,
Nalbari district in 2011)

46. Diversion based irrigation using earthen check dams and
micro channels from perennial natural source of water in low
lands of Nalbari district
 Micro channels are dredged to irrigate agricultural land in many parts
of Nalbari district to use the water of natural water sources like the
Ghogra canal
 The natural diversion based irrigation system (DBI) has reduced the
cost of irrigation usually done through lifting of water through diesel
water pumps from canals to grow paddy (Boro)
 The reduction of cost has led farmers to do mustard in large plot of
land and again to plant paddy (Boro) in the same plot of land using
DBI
 Through the earthen check dam and micro channels mustard was
cultivated by farmers of Satha & Raimadha village in 278 bigha of
land using natural diversion based irrigation
 Cultivation of paddy (Boro) is started in approx. 1500 bigha of land
using natural diversion based irrigation

47. Construction of Check Bundh and dredging of micro channels in Satha to divert water
to the paddy fields for cultivation of Rabi & paddy (Boro)

48. Through the earthen check dam and micro channels mustard was cultivated by
farmers of Satha & Raimadha village in 278 bigha of land using natural
diversion based irrigation

49. Deputy Commissioner of Nalbari District visited 5 - DBI sites and has immediately adopted the
Satha DBI project under District Administration and 2 other micro irrigation works

50.  During 2012-13 total 68.51 kms of canals been restored through
cleaning & dredging work (till 31st March 2013). The restoration
work would benefit 12,286 farmers and fisherman families by
making cultivable approx. 38,797 bigha (12,596.42 acre) of land.
 This year, during 2013-14 (Till December 2013) total 65.2 kms of
canals have been restored through cleaning & dredging work by
community . The restoration work will expected to benefit total
10,888 farmer & fisherman families and approx. 23,756 bigha
(7712.99 Acre) of agricultural land.
 Total 1839 person days contributed by the community by doing
Shramdaan in each & every restoration work implemented. This is
done by community decision prior to the restoration work where
the Canal management committees have taken a important role
Significant Outcome

51. Other Activities implemented with
targeted community under the
PDBI project

52. Networking & Advocacy programme with farmers & DO, District
Agriculture Department, Nalbari

53. Interface programme with development authority in
collaboration with Songuti Farmers Club in Kamrup (Rural)

54. Interface programme with farmers & Agriculture Deptt, Veterinary Deptt.,
Panchayat & Zila Parishad member in Kshudra Kulhati village under Pagaldia
Cluster, Nalbari

55. Base Line Orientation & Inauguration programme of ASHA Farmers
Club in Jaha Cluster. Total 8 Nos. of Farmers Clubs formed through
linkage with NABARD & Local SBI & AGVB Bank Branches

56. Base Line Orientation & Inauguration programme of Milijuli
Farmers Club in Sanekuchi village. Total 8 Nos. of Farmers Clubs
formed through linkage with NABARD & Local SBI & AGVB Bank
Branches

57. Networking Meeting with farmers & cluster representatives to
review of implemented works and participatory planning of new
activities

58. Interface programme with farmers & District Agriculture
Department in Mugdi, Chaulkhowa

59. District Level Consultation workshop on PDBI & MKSP in
Nikashi, Baksa (Represented by MCLA, Baksa)

60. Gao Sabha organised in the paddy field by the No. 12 Ghograpar GP as a response to
the visit by the DC, Nalbari on 4th Feb.’14. 2 sub-canals for irrigation and one Krishi
Bandh was decided to take up by the GP

61. Capacity enhancement programme on Livestock rearing in Mugdi,
Chaulkhowa cluster

62. Capacity enhancement programmes on SRI cultivation of Boro
paddy in Bezkuchi (Deharkhat)

63. Training cum awareness programme on marketing aspects of water
hyacinth based crafts for woman artisans in Sathamou village, Nalbari

64. SRI paddy cultivation initiated by farmers on the banks of the
Kawoimari canal, Jaha cluster

65. Promotion of Group Cultivation of Green Mustard taken up by 15
Groups this year (Photograph – Jaha)

66. Balisatra
Dhuhi
Vermi compost units adopted by farmers

67. Capacity Enhancement programmes organised on
preparation of Vermi compost among farmers

68. Training on Preparation of Organic Pesticide in Jaha Cluster

69. Capacity building programme on
Vermi Composting
Capacity Enhancement programmes organised on
preparation of Vermi compost among farmers

70. Training & Awareness programme on Marketing aspects of
water hyacinth based crafts for woman artisans in
Sathamou village after completion of the 7-day long training

71. Jonathan Cook, 2nd Secretary British High Commission in
Delhi visiting the woman artisans of water hyacinth based
craft in Barjabrihati village

72. Training on Dairying for the farmers of the villages Da-Raitkuchi, Na-kheti,
Arrangamou & Dokoha villages in collaboration with Dairy Development,
Nalbari

73. Exposure visit to Dairy Cooperative of Nityananda, Pathsala under
the training programme

74.  More emphasis will be given to multiple cropping and
group farming
 Strengthening of the Canal Management Committees
specially in Nalbari and Kamrup (rural) area to sustain
the works implemented under PDBI project
 Leveraging of DBI works into Govt. schemes like
MGNREGA
 Awareness and mobilisation of the community on
protecting natural water resources and grow awareness
on the effects of climate change on agriculture practices
 Create a common platform for the marginalized farmers
to raise their issues and can pave ways to access to their
rights
Way Forward

75. Thanks