Water conservation: Nabard to help 1,00,000 villages before monsoon

The programme will cover both water-scarce and flood-affected areas in India

Ahead of the monsoon, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) will be reaching out to 100,000 villages with its water conservation programme. The Nabard will be working with villagers on better use of water for agriculture and household purposes.
 
Amid a drought-like situation in several areas, the Nabard targets to help farmers extend water availability and usage by at least two months. It also asked banks to provide advances to farmers if any demand comes for irrigation after the campaign.
 
“We will educate farmers and villagers about efficient use of water. Under the programme, Nabard-trained volunteers will go to the 100,000 villages across India and conduct water conservation programme in the gram sabha” said H R Dave, deputy managing director of Nabard.
 
Currently, the Nabard is providing training to 8,000 volunteers. The campaign will start next week and end in mid- June. These volunteers will select 11 people from each village and train them which in turn will create a force of 1.1 million for the programme.
 
India is dependent on rain water for agriculture and drinking water. There are several areas where ground water level has gone down.  Mostly,  after January or February, water shortage starts in villages.
 
Dave said, “We are expecting banks’ participation will enhance credit for private investments in the creation of water sources and its efficient utilisation. We have already asked banks to provide loan for micro-irrigation after the project. The Union government has allotted Rs 5,000- crore fund for micro irrigation.”
 
The Nabard will conduct a sample survey in about 100 villages across the country to study the outcome of the programme after the monsoon, and based on the result, it will extend it to more villages.

Tackling water woes

• The Nabard will be working with villagers on the better use of water for agriculture and household purpose
• Nabard also asked banks to provide advances to the farmers if any demand comes for irrigation after the campaign
• The Centre has allotted Rs 5,000-crore fund for micro irrigation
• India is dependent on rain water for agriculture and drinking water