The best watershed State award for the year 2016 has gone to the Masinanala Watershed of Nuapada district implemented by the Council of Professional Social Workers (CPSW), a leading NGO of Nuapada district involved in implementing the watersheds programme under WORlP and IWMP in Komna block since 2004.
The award was given at a function in Bhubaneswar during the recent Krishi Mahotsav.
The Masinanala Watershed, which covers Semelpali and Kalimati villages of Thikpali and Nuagam GPs are mostly inhabited by tribals. The people here were very poor, 29 per cent of them being landless and more than 50 per cent of HH falling in the marginal category. They witnessed severe drought and regular crop failures in the past, which forced them to migrate to Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in search of livelihoods.
In the year 2009-10, the two villages were selected for the watershed programme as per the geographical location as recommended by Odisha Watershed Development Mission.
Active participation of people and strong community mobilisation in the programme changed the way of life of the inhabitants. Distress migration was reduced; production and productivity was enhanced; and there was overall improvements in groundwater recharge and soil moisture regime increasing the income level of poorest households. Now, they are heading towards self-sufficiency and sustainability.
“Based on effective community participation, tangible overall impact on nature as well as on the community, this micro-watershed was awarded the best watershed award .This will inspire other Government agencies and civil society organisations to take innovative steps to motivate the rural community and reduce vulnerability,” said Nuapada CPSW project head Biranchi Mahapatra.