Raipur. With the aim of strengthening water conservation, rural employment and sustainable livelihood in Chhattisgarh, a special campaign for construction of livelihood dabri (farm pond) is being run through MNREGA under the 'Mor Gaon Mor Pani' campaign. Under this initiative, the construction work of more than 10,000 Aajeevika Dabri is progressing rapidly across the state.
This campaign has been implemented keeping the beneficiaries of the weakest section of the society at the center. Dabri is being constructed on the private land of the beneficiaries, thereby ensuring conservation of rain water as well as creating long-term sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Under the campaign, priority is being given to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural). Through this, housing and water resources based livelihoods are being strengthened in an integrated manner and the basic needs of rural life are being linked together.
Through this scheme, employment is being created on a large scale at the local level under MNREGA. Also, rain water harvesting is being promoted in an institutional and planned framework. Agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and other water based activities will be developed under departmental convergence through Livelihood Dabri.
Each livelihood dabri is being constructed in a standard size of 20 m × 20 m × 3 m. To ensure quality and long-term use of water, mandatory arrangements for inlet-outlet system and silt arresting chamber have been made.
Active participation of Panchayats and community has been ensured in this campaign. Dabri construction is being inaugurated in the presence of Panchayat representatives and villagers. Information about beneficiaries is being made public through open discussion at the Gram Panchayat level, so that transparency is maintained. Besides, the feeling of ownership is being strengthened by taking contributions from the beneficiaries.
Aajeevika Dabri is being constructed scientifically on 'Ridge-to-Valley Approach' through satellite based Clart App. This work is being implemented as a convergence package with convergence of various departments. In this, cooperation is also being received from other civil society organizations including PRADAN, TRIF, FES.
A target has been set to complete all Dabri construction works before monsoon. The maximum cost per livelihood Dabri has been fixed at Rs 3 lakh. This initiative is emerging as an effective and replicable model for empowering rural livelihoods through water conservation and creation of sustainable assets on private land.
