This document provides information about Gramya Vikash Mancha (GVM), a non-profit organization in Assam, India. GVM's vision is to create an egalitarian and exploitation-free society, and its mission is to empower rural communities, especially the underprivileged and women. The document then discusses GVM's Promotion of Diversion based Irrigation project in Nalbari and Baksa districts, which aims to improve the livelihoods of 50,000 families by restoring local water bodies. It provides details of achievements restoring canals and irrigating land, as well as the community-driven process used and issues in implementation addressed through community engagement. Impacts included increased agricultural production, income, and sustainability

1. Welcome

2. GRAMYA VIKASH MANCHA
(GVM)
(A unified platform for
progressive contemplation)
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. Historical Context
• Project title: Promotion of Diversion based Irrigation in Nalbari and Baksa districts of Assam
• Location: Nalbari and Baksa districts of Assam
• Other partners: Institutions such as NABARD, Krishi Vigyan Kendra , North Eastern
Development Financial Corporation Ltd.(NEDFi), Local bank, Krishi Vigyan Kendra,
Agriculture, Veterinary and Fishery Department, PRI, CSOs
• Target: 50,000 families from excluded sections of the society
• Context: The entire area is situated at the plains of the Brahmaputra Valley and numbers of
tributaries of the mighty river Brahmaputra, which are originated from the foothills of the
Himalayan Range and have been passing through the area
– Large network of natural canals, creeks and wetlands are source for irrigation, drinking
and natural fishing. Almost all farmers and fisherman of both the districts are solely
dependent upon these natural networks of water bodies
– But due to problem like recurrent flash flood, deforestation, rapid diversion of main
tributaries, siltation, sand deposition, breach of embankment etc. etc. most of these
natural water bodies become worthless, which have been affecting the life and
livelihood of common people engendering a set of social problems such as increasing
migration to urban areas, increasing unsafe human trafficking, ethnic conflict,
increasing social violence, livelihood crisis, increasing drop out of child / adolescent and
so on
– First initiative during the year 2007 in Ghogra Canal restoration work (On community
demand in lieu of relief activities), which gave an encouraging results

4. Achievements
The PDBI Project was initiated for restoration of natural water bodies through
mobilization of farmers, fishermen, daily wage labourer etc. to initiate a process for
promoting diversion based irrigation with an objective to “ improve the quality of life
of 50000 families from excluded section of society in Nalbari and Baska district of
Assam within three years “. Achievement so far:
Year Total Total Total No. of HH Total
Sanctioned Restored irrigated benefitted additional
Amount (in canal (in land (in production (in
Lakh) km.) Acres) Quintal)
2009-10 59.3 40 .0 6606.2 15000 33233
2011-12 82.0 46.33 18735.67 27000 84000

5. Process Adopted
Strategies adopted:
1) Protect natural water bodies and Reduce vulnerability through community mobilization
2) Socio-economic upliftment through introducing effective use of diversion based irrigation
system
Process Adopted:
• Preparation of Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) report and community action
plan
• Restoration of water bodies like canal, creeks and wetland with special focus on DBI
• For improvement of irrigation for agricultural practices adoption of improvised
techniques like installation of improvised sluice gate, diversion weir, bandh
• Formation of Cluster level coordination committee in the clusters for planning, review
and monitoring of restoration work and other agricultural activities
• Formation of Jan Suraksha Samiti (Canal Management Committee) for management of
canals, conflict resolution, regulation of water.
• Consultation and Networking with NABARD, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Local nationalized
Bank, North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), Agriculture,
Veterinary and Fishery Dept. etc.
• Capacity enhancement of farmers/ fisherman, woman, SHGs and Farmers Club for
sustainable agricultural practices and use of resources for income generating activities
• Media sensitization and interaction program

6. Issues in Implementation
• Disorganized community and distrust towards development initiatives
• Encroachment and blockage of water bodies
• Inter village conflicts is a challenge in the restoration of canal work
• The politically disturbed situation due to the existence of different power groups
particularly in Baksa district is a big challenge
• Disaster and Climate change affecting mostly the poor and marginalized farmers
Strategy to overcome the problems:
• Community organised, trust building process initiated through PVA, reflection
and community dialogue
• Issues related to encroachment, inter village conflicts etc resolved through
community dialogue led by cluster level coordination committee and Jan
Suraksha Samiti (Canal Management Committee)
• Through the help and active participation of the Dong Bandh Committees and
local development organisation
• Capacity enhancement of farmers/ fisherman, rural woman through trainings on
System of Rice Intensification (SRI), water hyacinth based craft, agricultural
activities such as chilli cultivation, banana plantation and plantation of Pat-doiya
(Scientific name – Schumannianthus dichotoma)a kind of tree which can reduce
erosion, siltation and become source of livelihood across water bodies)

7. Leveraging for DBI
• Under the PDBI project a number of awareness meeting on MGNREGA were held
in four cluster of the project area. Just after the meeting held at Kalakuchi more
than 300 Job Card holder applied for work and got work of dredging of Satirkur
sub Canal.
• As a result of consultation with PRI representatives, Panchayat did cleaning work
of Satirkur sub Canal under MGNREGA.
• Canal Management Committee (CMC) of Jaha cluster submitted public
memorandum to DC, Nalbari to make a solution of Baralia bandh problem.
Fortunately the DC ordered the Circle officer of Pachim Nalbari, Barkshetri Circle
to do detail survey on the issue and to submit him the report. Process is going on
• A number of canal dredging works have been planned under MGNREA at
Pagladiya cluster.
• In Diring cluster of Baksa a protection wall was constructed by the Panchayat
(known as the Village Council Development Committee, VCDC) after the
Installation of the Improvised sluice gate in Balakata Dong (canal) of Narayanpur
village.

8. Sustainability
• The initiative has restored the ecological balance of the area
• Community involvement, consciousness and motivation increased to
maintain the balance.
• A strong network among primary stakeholders established to carry
forward all process and programmes.
• Social cohesiveness, awareness and common understanding on the
entire issues , linkages, causes and effects has been increased sufficiently
and it become a primary agenda in the society.

9. Replicability and Scalability
• Entire process can be replicated to other parts, having similar geographical
settings.
• Trust building process with different stakeholders and Initiating community
dialogue/ debate on key socio-economic issues
• Adopting Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) process with primary
stakeholders focusing primarily on livelihood issues, thereby formulate community
action plan and ensure active participation of all stakeholders to implement action
plan
• Assist bonafied partners in linking with formal development actors to ensure
support from development scheme/ Act etc
• Organize interface/ interaction programme with different development actors and
share action plan/ experiences
• Strengthen the cohesiveness among primary stakeholders/ form coordination
committee to implement community action plan

10. Impact/ Outcome
• Mainstreaming and renovation of the canals would again revive the natural
irrigation system and reduce the problem of water logging at the time of flood. This
will eventually reduce the gradual increase of poverty due to regular floods and
migration to other areas in search of alternative livelihood
• During 2009-10 more than 40 kms. of natural water bodies restored. In 2011-12
Total 46.33 Km of canal in 5 clusters has been restored as a result of which
18735.67 acres of land of 27000 household were benefited for which they got
84000 quintal additional production and their income was increased by Rs.2900/- in
a year. Total 108 villages have got direct benefit from this restoration work.
• Large group of farmers have been organised in a common platform to raise their
voices and to initiate community action to resolve common issues. Through the
formation of Jan Surakhya Samiti (Canal Management committee) and Cluster Level
Coordination Committee, community action initiated in different parts on the basis
of community action plan. Besides, 13 farmers club has been promoted, 9 Joint
Liability Group, 8 SHGs among female formed
• Artisans have found livelihoods in making products using water hyacinth (which
earlier regarded as a major threat since it absorbs sand and block water bodies)
• Reduced migration as well as other social issues such as school drop out, social
violence, conflicts etc, peace building process has initiated
• Increased average income @ Rs. 3000/-per family among at least 2000 families
from 22 villages of Nalbari district during this year, working on bamboo craft (used
for agricultural storage and process, fishing equipments etc)
• Networking and linkages with Govt. Line departments would benefit the farmers
through enabling to access the service and facilities

11. Community dredging the Katuria canal, Sathamou village under Pagaldia
Cluster based on the PVA action plan

12. Social and resource mapping and identification of problems during the
Participatory Vulnerability Analysis

13. After 20 years farmers would grow shali paddy after the restoration of
Pocha canal in Baralia cluster, Nalbari

14. Women leading the restoration work of a Dong (canal) from Baganpur
to Simlaguri , Baksa

15. Cleaning of Pocha canal in Baralia cluster , Nalbari district

16. A newly dredged sub canal (Meghajan) to irrigate paddy field ,
diverted water from Ghogra Canal in Pagladiya Cluster

17. A Canal after dredging by the community in Kalakuchi village under Jaha
Cluster

18. Earthen bundh to store and lift water

19. Farmers using water from canal in Nalbari

20. Farmers lifting water from canal

21. Lifting water to field using Pump

22. The concrete diversion bandh constructed in Uttar Diringapur village of
Baksa (Diverted to three direction)

23. Diversion Bandh (Under construction) at Arampur under Baksa
district

24. Water Control Gate in Pocha Jan linking Baralia
river

25. The Constructed Diversion Weir at Arampur sakha dong (canal), Baksa

26. The Improvised Sluice Gate installed at Balakata Dong (canal),
Narayanpur village, Baksa

27. Capacity building of rural woman through Skill development
programmes on water hyacinth based craft

28. Chiili cultivation initiated by woman farmers in groups, Baralia cluster
Nalbari

29. Farmers initiated chili farming in Baksa

30. SRI initiated by the farmers of Nalbari district under DBI

31. Inter cluster networking meeting

32. Thanks