1. Welcome

2. GRAMYA VIKASH MANCHA
(GVM)
(A unified platform for
progressive contemplation)
Vision: “GVM envisages a peaceful, prosperous, egalitarian and exploitation free
society in every village”
Mission: GVM exist to empower the rural community particularly the
underprivileged and women to take control over the social institutions and to
improve their quality of life , thereby create a society where these people can live
with dignity
Address
NO. 1 BARDHANARA
P.O: DAKSHINGAON
PIN: 781350
DISTRICT : NALBARI
ASSAM , INDIA
PHONE: +91-3624-283740
Email: gvm_ngo@sify.com

3. Organisation Staff Strength
• Full time volunteers: 83
• Part time volunteers: 347
• Technical / Professional Consultant

4. Partners
• European Commission’s Humanitarian Office, ECHO
• Actionaid
• Jamsetji Tata Trust/ Dorabji Tata Trust
• Unicef
• National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development, NABARD
• Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS)
• Rashtriya Gramin Vikash Nidhi
• North East Development & Finance Corporation (NEDFi)
• North East Network (NEN)
• National Council of Rural Institute (NCRI)
• The Hunger Project
• Association for India’s Development (AID)

5. Details of the DBI Project
• Project Title: Promotion of Diversion based irrigation in
Baksa and Nalbari district of Assam
• Supported by: Jamsetji Tata Trust (SDTT)
• Implemented by: Gramya Vikash Mancha in collaboration
with the local partners
• Date of start and project period : From 1st March, 2009 to
30th March, 2010
• Total Project Cost: Rs. 59.30 Lakhs
• Project Area – Nalbari and Baksa District (BTAD) covering
180 villages
• Target Group: Farmers , Fisherman & excluded section of
rural areas in Nalbari & Baksa district

6. Objective & Strategies of the implemented
Project
Objective:
• The developmental objective of the project is “To improve
the quality of life of 50000 families from excluded section of
society in Nalbari and Baksa district of Assam within three
years “
Strategies:
• Protect natural water bodies and reduce vulnerability through
community mobilization
• Socio-economic upliftment through introducing effective use
of diversion based irrigation system

7. Undivided Nalbari district in Assam

8. Pagladia River Basin (Source: Geology department, GU)

9. Longitudinal profile of Pagladia
river basin (source: Geology Deptt. GU)

10. IRS LISS3 satellite image of
December, 2010

11. Project Area
5 Clusters in Nalbari & Baksa District
Cluste Name of cluster No. of villages Name of Dong/ Jan Dev. Block District
r No
1 Pagladiya 50 Ghogra Jan and Barigog Banbhag Nalbari
Cluster Maranadi jan and Barbhag, Pub
Nalbari and Barbhag
2 Saulkhowa 30 Nameri jan Pachim Nalbari, Nalbari
Cluster Madhupur and
Barskhetri
3 Jaha Cluster 50 Jaha Jan , Pub Nalbari, Pachim Nalbari
Garakhiya jan and Nalbari and
Beldow Jan Barskhetri
4 Barali cluster 25 Dokoha, Bala, Barbhag Nalbari
Sijua and Simalua
Jan
5 Diring cluster 25 Arampur Dong Baska Baksa
Balakata dong,
Trisankar dong,

12. Situation in Baksa
Where Water is much more precious than any other
element..like property, land and house

13. Situation in Nalbari
Where blocked canals filled with water hyacinth is a common scene &
decade long problem resulting acres of waterlogged and unused lands
of farmers

14. Major Activities planned & implemented to
reduce the problems under the project
• Community mobilization to Protect natural water
bodies and reduce vulnerability by using tools like
Participatory Vulnerability Assessment (PVA),
Community meetings, Networking & Advocacy
Programmes, Project Dev. Workshop, Media
sensitisation, Consultation workshops with different
stakeholders etc.
• Restoration of water bodies
• Installation of improvised sluice gate & construction
of Diversion Weir & Check Bandh
• Capacity enhancement among targeted community
by organising Need base Training and exposure
programme such as SRI, community farming, Product
making using water hyacinth

15. Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) with community
- PVA was conducted in each Cluster to get all kind of information of the villages like
Mapping of the villages, Socio-economic background, livelihood analysis, population
break-up, resources, different vulnerabilities, historical background, coping
mechanism etc. It shows the use, impact and problems in accessing natural water
resources.

16. Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) with community
- PVA was conducted in each Cluster to get all kind of information of the villages like
Mapping of the villages, Socio-economic background, livelihood analysis, population
break-up, resources, different vulnerabilities, historical background, coping
mechanism etc. It shows the use, impact and problems in accessing natural water
resources.

17. Community working in the Restoration of Katuria canal, Nalbari
- More than 40 kms. of canals / dongs has been restored in Nalbari & Baksa district by the
community
- Approx. 6606.2 Acre of agricultural land resumed for agricultural activities after long period
and at least 15, 000 marginalised farmers benefited directly

18. Restoration of Koita Canal, Chaulkhowa Cluster, Nalbari
- The pre existing canal is being restored as it was artificially earth filled and as this had caused
severe water logging in as many as 12 villages. As a result of this dredging, water logging has
drastically reduced and paddy fields got irrigation from the canal

19. The KOITA Canal after Restoration, Chaulkhowa Cluster, Nalbari
- The pre existing canal is being restored as it was artificially earth filled and as this had caused
severe water logging in as many as 12 villages. As a result of this dredging, water logging has
drastically reduced and paddy fields got irrigation from the canal

20. Woman in Baksa participating in the renovation of a dong (Simlaguri village)
- In Baksa the Dong system is the only source of water both for irrigation and also for household
needs. The Dong Bandh Committees have their own constitution for management of dongs
- 11 kms. Of dongs has been restored by the community to better the irrigation system

21. Community in Baksa participating in the renovation of a dong (Arampur village)
- In Baksa 600 Acre of Agricultural land is directly benefited by the renovation of dongs
(Canal)
- Rate of paddy production increased by 10% through the renovation of canals.

22. Community in Baksa participating in the renovation of dong (Simlaguri village)
- Cleaning of an almost dead canal in Simlaguri village. The dong could not be cleaned for last 15
years was cleaned by the community under the project

23. The situation since last 20 years….

24. Cleaning of a canal blocked by water hyacinth
- Cleaning of an almost dead canal by water hyacinth in Nalbari district. Water hyacinth is a
major obstacle for blocking canals in Nalbari. But now it has become a useful resource for the
farmers by getting trainings on product making from water hyacinth .

25. Cleaning of the Baralia Canal to reclaim
large agricultural land, Nalbari

26. Canal dredging work, based on PVA

27. A dream…towards reality..

28. Ghogra Canal…… the life line of farmers has restored

29. Restoration of a canal in Nalbari
- In Balikuchi and 5 other adjacent villages of Pagladia Cluster, restoration of canal
helped to irrigate 2000 bigha of lands
- paddy production raised to double by clearance of the waterlogged lands . Multiple
cropping has been started by group of farmers

30. Community working in the earthen irrigation dam
- The community building the earthen irrigation dam at Latima village under Pagaldia
Cluster
- 2 earthen irrigation dam built. It would help to irrigate 400 bigha of land of 8 villages.

31. Major activities implemented
Name of Activities Implemented Brief Description Significant
cluster Output
Diring Restoration of Water Dredging & 1970 HH and
cluster Bodies widening of 3093 Bigha of
Canal Total land benefited
Length – 11 Kms.
Construction of Sluice Total No. 1
Gate
Construction of Check Total No. 1
(Net) Bandh
Construction of Diversion Total No. 1
Weir
Training on SRI No. of
Programme - 1

32. Major activities implemented
Name of Activities Implemented Brief Description Significant
cluster Output
Pagaldia Restoration of Water Cleaning & 40 villages
cluster Bodies Dredging. Total (Approx. 3300
Length – 10 bighas of
Kms. land)
Construction of Sluice Total No. 1 2200 people
Gate will be
benefited
Construction of Irrigation Total No. 2 2800 Bigha of
Dam land will be
benefited
Training on water Total Programme 13 artisans
hyacinth –1 developed
Training on SRI No. of
Programme – 2

33. Major activities implemented
Name of Activities Implemented Brief Description Significant
cluster Output
Jaha Restoration of Water Cleaning & 40 villages
cluster Bodies Dredging. Total will be
Length – 13.5 benefited by
Kms. the cleaning
and dredging
work done
Formation and Total No. 1 Children are
development of children organised
Assembly
Project development Total No. 1
workshop
Training on SRI Total Programme
-2

34. Major activities implemented
Name of Activities Implemented Brief Description Significant Output
cluster
Chaulkhowa Restoration of Water Bodies Dredging of canal - 12 villages will
cluster 2.6 Km. have irrigation, also
2000 fisherman
would be benefited
Development of Milan Sangha

35. Major activities implemented
Name of Activities Implemented Brief Description Significant
cluster Output
Barali Restoration of Water Dredging of 4000 bigha
cluster Bodies canal - 5 Km. of land
benefited
Training on SRI
Total expenses Rs.
27,96,932.00/-

36. The Constructed Diversion weir (Low Dam) in Arampur Dong
- The Diversion Weir will help to irrigate 346 acre (1038 bigha) of land covering 5 villages
- Approx. 40 Man days saved by the construction of Diversion Weir at Arampur dong that
reduces the loss of labour of the farmers caused by frequent maintenance of temporary
Bandh
- Total Cost 6.2 lakh (Approx.)

37. Dong Bandh Committee working in the Diversion weir in
Arampur, Baksa district

38. The Sluice Gate installed in Balakata Dong, Narayanpur village
-The Sluice Gate will help to irrigate 426 acre (1248 bigha) of land covering 3 villages and reduce
the sand casting in the paddy fields carried by the river through the dong
- Approx. 30 Mandays saved by the installation of Sluice Gate at Balakata dong

39. The Check (Net) Bandh constructed in Bhutankhuti village
- The Check Bandh will help to irrigate 450 acres of land covering 2 villages and reduce the
vulnerability caused by the Flash flood of the bogachukia river
- Approx. 30 Mandays saved by the construction of the bandh

40. Training on water hyacinth

41. Training on Eco friendly product making from water hyacinth to woman
- Capacity Building of the rural poor is one of the major initiatives taken under the project.
Trainings has been facilitated on Eco friendly product making from water hyacinth which is
regarded as a waste material. Women are strengthened economically and earning from it.

42. Naba Prabhataloi Ek Jatra….

43. Training on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for farmers
- Capacity Building of farmers is one of the major initiatives taken under the project.
4 trainings organised for the framers of Nalbari and Baksa districts on SRI.

44. SRI initiatives taken by the farmers in Nalbari
- The increase in production has brought new hope for the farmers and more and
more farmers are now coming forward to take up SRI
- Cluster level Coordination Committees (CLCC) are formed among the farmers in
each cluster

45. SRI initiatives taken by the farmers in Nalbari
- As a first initiative SRI is initiated by 60 farmers in 72 bigha (24 Acre) of land in
Nalbari & Baksa district

46. Training on SRI and initiatives taken by the farmers for the first time in Baksa
- Capacity Building of the farmers by organising SRI Trainings and supporting them to apply it
to increase production
- SRI is initiated by 60 farmers in 72 bigha (24 Acre) of land in Nalbari & Baksa

47. Networking Meeting with representative of Clusters to review and plan works
- Networking meetings organised among the Cluster representatives and members of the
Cluster Level Coordination Committee
- Inter Cluster Sharing , Review , problem solving and plan for the work in each of the clusters
were the main objective of the Networking Meetings.

48. Media Sensitisation and Interaction programme (Photo: during field visit to Baksa)
-Media Sensitisation and Interaction programme was organised to sensitise the State level Media
representatives on the issues and problems regarding promotion of diversion based irrigation in
Nalbari and Baksa districts.
-The Media Representatives interacted with the communities in Baksa and Nalbari and highlighted
their initiatives, problems and traditional system of irrigation (dong) in the state and local Newspapers

49. Major challenges under the project
• Different situations in the upper (Baksa) and
Down stream (Nalbari)
• Different Power Groups
• Flood affected areas
• Different situations even across the villages of the
same cluster
• Inter village dynamics within communities
• Mainstreaming of the Canals in Nalbari is a
challenge as it goes through private lands of the
people
• Geographical location and poor transportation in
Baksa
• Changing environment, climate change

50. Realisation
• The PDBI Project has helped us to move one
step ahead for creating a peaceful society,
MOBILISE community in a common platform
for economic as well as cultural security,
challenge power group
• But, miles to go…….

51. Phase-II started, Networking meeting
on 6th Feb, 2011

52. Decided to strengthen the silent movement
for enhancing peace and prosperity through
PDBI Project

53. Thanks