D HAN Foundation has initiated its Vayalagam Tank fed Agriculture Development Programme in the year 1992 to work on water. The programme believes that local management of the tank system can be the only solution to the problem in the long run. The programme works on building nested institutions for their sustenance to ensure local management. The programme has moved from working on isolated tanks, to cascade- watershed, small scale water bodies, basin and now ‘Water’ as a unique tool for alleviating poverty. Tank-based watershed development is a distinct value addition of the programme. Tank rehabilitation as a component of watershed development paves the way for harvesting all the rain water within each watershed boundary.

Besides water conservation, the Vayalagam Agriculture Development Centres are working to raise land productivity to improve the livelihood of command area farmers by creating awareness about new farming and irrigation management techniques through Farm Schools, promoting seed farms to produce quality seeds and for bulk purchase of farm inputs to get the benefits of economy of scale.

Tanks and water conservation works have been carried out in 17 river basins covering around 100 watersheds. Through 6500 Vayalagams, more than 5000 water bodies have been rehabilitated to an amount of Rs.170 Crores so far. The tank works of DHAN has attracted a significant policy response from the government for evicting encroachments from small water bodies and their restorations. DHAN’s experiences have contributed significantly in crystallizing the thinking relating to the minor irrigation sector in the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans.

Greening watersheds in the tank based eco-systems

As the tanks and its cascades capture rains and prevent run-offs the watersheds became water positive paving the way for sustainable mixed farming comprising of appropriate cropping accompanied by livestock’s programme like dairy/Sheep/ goats/backyard poultry/inland fishery promotion etc., DHAN’s work in developing watersheds have evolved a new replicable model for NABARD and the governments.

Water Governance

The small /marginal farmers and agricultural labourers as the users of the tanks under institutional frameworks have developed capabilities of leadership in effective and efficient use of water. They are able to appreciate the concept of water budgeting/ water footprints vis-à-vis appropriate cropping systems. It is significant that they are now taking charge of larger governance of water in the ecosystems.

The Vayalagam community have celebrated World Water Day wherein new launches, impact sharing, and visioning exercies, etc were happened. The Vayalagam Foundation celebarated it as a grand festival by combining three events together. Vayalagam farmers from Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts have participated in the event. Basin association for Pambar kottakaraiar, Subbasin associations at Pambar, manimuthar and kottakaraiar were launched to strengthen the community led water resource development.

Ms.Dhruvi Shah, Executive Trustee and CEO of Axis Bank Foundation joined virtually and delivered the special address. She appreciated the farmers involvement on conserving the traditional water harvesting structures like tanks and ponds and effective management for improving their livelihood. Mr.Jaison, Mr.Rahulkulkarni and Mr.Solomon from AXIS Bank Foundation have also joined the event virtually. Mr.Vasimalai, Executive Director of DHAN Foundation, Madurai appreciated the AXIS Bank Foundation in his special address for the support through DHANA project ( joint initiative of DHAN Foundation and AXIS Bank Foundation) to rehabilitate around 1400 water bodies with the financial assistance around Rs.35 crore in the last ten year. Around 4.2 billion liters of additional storage was created through the project.