Watershed Management For Sustainable Development

Even after six decades of independence the signifiane of Indian agriculture is over burdened with more people, more area, less economies, which is solidly depending on vagaries of monsoon. Government?s rule development has not made the desired impact on the lives of people. However, the degraded moonscape of Jhabua district became the setting for a major watershed development programme. This grew into other programmes of rural development. The poorest of the poor and reaping the benefits today. The objective is to trap every drop of rain. People have to demand nullahs, build tanks and watersheds to conserve soil people had to plant fruit bearing trees. Soon, there was grass for cattle and crops of different kinds. Anna Hazare and Ralegan Siddhi?s people got used to producing surplus water and began to build brick houses for themselves. The primary aim is to make water every body?s responsibility and to ensure that water management is not a centralised issue that the state has to deal with. All water comes from rain. Rain is decentralised. So is the demand for water. Why can?t we decentralise scientific supply? Farmers, NGOs, Self-Help Groups, Vana Samarakshana Samithis, Gra, Sabhas, State and Water Users? Associations have to participate enmasse for promoting integrated watershed development and water harvesters have to make India green for avoiding chronic droughts and famines.

A. Ranga Reddy (b. 1948), Professor, Department of Economics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, has created a multifaceted academic record- as an erudite scholar, versatile writer, ardent speaker, builder for institutions, oranizer of diaspora of academic programmes. He has published seven books on diversified areas like Rural Credit, Healthcare Services, Empowerment of Women, The State of Rayalseema, Management of Overdues, Dimensions of Crime and Corruption, presently Watershed Management, with value addition of monographs, major research project reports. He has published 80 research papers in leading journals and participated in around 120 seminars and conferences. He has travelled widely and visited Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France, Nepal, on different academic assighments. He is a life member and an active participant in ten professional bodies of national importance. He conducted more then ten national seminars and research methodology courses for upcoming scholars. For his distinctive achievements, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, honoured him with Meritorious Teacher Award on March 31, 2000.