Watershed Guidelines need Political Will

It has been really a substantial period that watershed programme has been discussed after its shift under PMKSY from the context of policy road map. I personally carried out field based study in 3 states namely Kerala, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan during the XII plan period and the impact of the shift from IWMP to PMKSY was not an easy one for the state government. Especially the projects were incomplete due to funding delays. Community lost interest and faith, CBOs were all disintegrated, PIAs had no funds for salaries which as you are aware all accumulated down to sustainability of watershed programmes and participation of the community.

I am glad that the recently RRA network and NRAA in the leadership Of Dr. Ashok Dalwai hosted a panel webinar with the draft committee who with their immense experiences are coming up with the new draft guidelines. But newness or changes will only be effective if it is able address the core aspects of sustainability and community participation.

Compartmental approach has been always the core of the problem in most of the State led development schemes including NRM and watershed development is no exception especially when it goes as CSS parallel to other schemes floated by several Ministries.

A lot depends on the political will of the key policy makers. Here I indicate PMO and NITI Aayog to be precise for inter -departmental collaboration, if they are willing to and are seriously committed with the ideal of watershed based rainfed area development. Otherwise, it will be merely an incremental exercise of reworking on the guidelines. 

The foundation and premise of the watershed development has to be completely amalgamated with the idea and vision of rainfed area development, only then it shall see success in terms of what is desired out of it. The integrated development of the area needs to be reemphasised as has been pointed out from the studies of previous committees on watershed. Work must focus on macro- watershed based development that covers both up and down stream communities. 

Again, emphasising and without reinventing the wheel, the guidelines must aim to address and have to be relevant to the current situation of rural development and condition in India including the COVID scenario. It needs to address the biophysical, geological, technical aspects apart from the production system and livelihood opportunity more seriously than before, for which huge funds will be needed. Community participation from both land owning and landless can be assured if funding is coming from various schemes to develop a given area. This is possible if untied dovetailing of funds is permitted where many rural development programmes meant for rainfed areas could be allowed to compliment one another, without any restrictions. The integrated area development will be an indicator of success for such dovetailing of funds. Discussion can be held on inter-ministerial/departmental level each ministry taking turns to hold the round table conference to discuss the progress. 

Further, It must also provide freedom to the state government to integrate and implement development with watershed approaches in rainfed areas. The placement of SLNA must be shifted to the power centre at state level as well, where key state level development decisions take place rather than placing SLNA with the Department of Agriculture or soil conservation. Same goes at the district level coordination, that can allow integration of programmes. 

Decentralisation is also the key, PRIs must be given a more active role, with PIAs only acting as a hand holding, capacity building and a facilitation agency for undertaking participatory concurrent monitoring of the programme. The community has to be kept at forefront at all times even if it means extending the period of Preparatory Phase or rather completely letting go of phase and rather undertaking work as per the progress of the community ’s capacity and its active participation. Activeness of community participation can be assessed concurrently and according to the development may progress. If it is macro watershed, there shall be a lot of facilitation that shall be required by PIAs. 

It will definitely require dedication and integrity by the PIA in all states but even if we are successful in some states it will definitely be worth a trail. 

It is important to promote crops like millet and oil and pulses whose production is declining due to stress on crops that fetch more revenue. Farmers growing these crops by allowing the moisture retention in their soil in the Rabi season must be given incentives to make oil and pulse cultivation lucrative. 

Pest and predator control mechanism , supplementary micro irrigation must also be put in place with the community and departmental support to support rainfed farmers and capitalise on the soil moisture in Rabi season. Guidelines must emphasise that states must encourage farmers to take up crops that suit rainfed conditions. Sensitisation of state government towards needs of rainfed area has become even more critical now than before, with soil carbon and water decline. So not just technical engineering but bio physical wellness also needs to be pushed hand in hand.