Field Visit to Watershed Site

Field Visit to Watershed Site

The Department of Geography conducted a Field Visit to Tarun Bharat Sangh, Bhikampura, Thanagazi, Alwar on 2nd September 2013. Students from graduation and post graduation took active participation in the visit. Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Rajasthan which works in around 1000 villages of the semi-arid region of the state. The area lies along the foothills and main ranges of the Aravalis. TBS promotes the community driven decentralised management of the natural resources. It undertakes any activity when the villagers agree to contribute maximum in term of voluntary labour. An important factor inspiring villagers to participate actively in the process is the revival of their traditional water system. TBS seeks to bring dignity and prosperity to the life of destitute section of the nation through sustainable development measures.

Rajendra Singh, the Chairman of TBS, delivered lecture to students on watershed and development of TBS. Mr. Singh has been honoured by Asia’s most prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2001 for Community Leadership. Popularly known as “Waterman of India”, Rajendra Singh is also heading a national network of organisations working on water issues; Rashtriya Jal Biradari.

During a medical campaign to Kishori village, Rajendra Singh talked to an old man who said it’s not medicines but water which people in this village and other villages in Rajasthan need. Few words of this old man spoken to Rajendra Singh changed the path of TBS's approach towards development. They constructed ‘Johad’ with voluntary participation of villagers and it is ‘Johad’ which made TBS a champion in the sphere of Rain Water Harvesting. Till today, TBS constructed around 10,000 of Johads. The construction of Johad decreased the surface run off of rain water, increased recharge of ground water, revived River Aravari, increased soil moisture with many other socio-economic benefits.

Active involvement of the villagers has led to natural resources used as a regenerative input for various socio-economic and ecological developments. The impact of 25 years of tireless effort has brought about a significant increment from an officially marked “dark zone” to “a water surplus” zone. Gallery