Ms.
Bharti Patel
on SVARAJ’s
Projects with
its impacts.
Svaraj is working
on a range of
issues that
directly affect,
particularly
the vulnerable
community. We
are looking
at how the development
that we are
currently undergoing
has affected
the poor and
vulnerable communities,
visa-vis their
livelihood,
access to water
as well as their
access to land.
So integrated
management of
water resources
to securing
their right
to water and
their right
to livelihood
are some of
the main projects.
Protection of
land, water
and forest is
done specially
by the community.
The community
is actually
taking charge
of their local
environment.
Being responsible
for the protection
of their environment
and actively
involved in
challenging
any action that
deprives the
local community
as well as the
local resource
to ensure that
they are protected.
Svaraj
has been working
on integrated
management of
water for the
last five years.
The impact is
too early to
assess.
But
we have seen
some fine and
really good
preservation
of the environment.
Ten thousand
farmers have
already converted
into organic
farming in Tamil
Nadu. We have
seen self-help
women groups
that have taken
up farming and
ensuring food
security not
only for the
family but also
income security.
At
the same time
protecting the
local resources,
trying to sustain
their livelihood
with in the
local resources
available. Many
of the households
in the city
called Dudbalpur,
have got rainwater
harvesting systems
placed, many
have their drinking
water needs
met by harvesting
rainwater.
