CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD SECURIRY AND FOOD SECURIRY AND

POVERTY POVERTY REDUCTION IN REDUCTION IN

RAJASTHAN, INDIA RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Rajendra SinghRajendra SinghTarun Bharat Sangh’sTarun Bharat Sangh’s

ExperiencesExperiences

A Location Map of Arvari River Basin

Location Location of of Arvari Arvari RiverRiver

The Situation in

1985

1985 Degraded and barren land in the catchment areas of Arvari river & extended drought had forced people to migrate out of their villages.

WATERWATER harvesting structures taking harvesting structures taking shapeshape

Johads and dams are usually Johads and dams are usually

built on small tributaries uphill built on small tributaries uphill

and they directly benefit the and they directly benefit the

forests on the hill.forests on the hill.

Success of the first Johad inspired people to take up the building of Success of the first Johad inspired people to take up the building of more such structures – the connection between water and forests was more such structures – the connection between water and forests was

made and this alsomade and this alsoled to the revival of traditional rules.led to the revival of traditional rules.

In the past, forest ownership had been taken over by the Forest In the past, forest ownership had been taken over by the Forest Department, leading to alienation of the people and loss of traditions Department, leading to alienation of the people and loss of traditions of conservation – making it difficult to bring people together againof conservation – making it difficult to bring people together again.

BRINGING PEOPLE BRINGING PEOPLE

TOGETHERTOGETHER

WomenWomen were mobilized to were mobilized to actively participate in such actively participate in such efforts. Their self efforts. Their self confidence and several confidence and several initiatives helped in initiatives helped in reaching consensus when reaching consensus when decisions on major issues decisions on major issues were needed.were needed.

VillageVillage councils were councils were constituted with the constituted with the specific purpose of specific purpose of rejuvenating Arvari river rejuvenating Arvari river and protection of forests, and protection of forests, using historical and using historical and traditional practices.traditional practices.

COMPLETED COMPLETED STRUCTURES STRUCTURES ON ON ARVARI BASINARVARI BASIN

DDue to increased ue to increased recharge & recharge & controlled controlled discharge river discharge river ““ARVARIARVARI” is now ” is now PerennialPerennial..

Excess withdrawal of Groundwater

River Goes Dry:River Goes Dry: River is flowing:River is flowing:

- Increased groundwater Recharge - Less Groundwater Extraction

The Magic of The Magic of Arvari River Arvari River over 12 over 12 yearsyears

The river had The river had disappeared in 1940s, disappeared in 1940s,

and was revived in and was revived in 1997 through the 1997 through the

efforts of Tarun Bharat efforts of Tarun Bharat SanghSangh

AArvari, a small river rvari, a small river in Rajasthan state of in Rajasthan state of India after India after rejuvenationrejuvenation

YYearsearsof drought had of drought had caused it to caused it to become a become a monsoon drainmonsoon drain.

BENFITSBENFITS:-:- Water is made Water is made

available to cattleavailable to cattleand wildlifeand wildlife

More harvests per More harvests per seasonseason

Reduced migrationReduced migration Social issues of Social issues of

women and education women and education get more attentionget more attention

Increased awareness Increased awareness about theabout theuse of forest resourceuse of forest resource Only dry and dead wood is Only dry and dead wood is

allowed to be collected. No allowed to be collected. No person goes into the forest person goes into the forest with an axe.with an axe.

1985:1985: Very few people are motivated enough to work together in common Very few people are motivated enough to work together in common interest.interest.

1997:1997: It is difficult to keep people away from working for the It is difficult to keep people away from working for the common cause.common cause.

THE ARVARI PARLIAMENTTHE ARVARI PARLIAMENT

72 villages situated along 72 villages situated along

Arvari river are Arvari river are

represented.represented.

Rules are framed about Rules are framed about

issues of water issues of water

conservation and conservation and

utilization, and forest utilization, and forest

conservation.conservation.