Common principles for watershed development from the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management

This deals with the common principles for watershed development at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management. For some time now the need has been felt to bring about convergence and harmonization in the implementation of various watershed development projects. However, this has not been possible so far as the aims and objectives of these projects are different and the watershed approach – because it is holistic, scientific and sustainable – has been adopted under these projects to achieve their varied objectives. The latter include development of degraded arable rainfed areas, desert and drought prone areas, wastelands, catchments of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone Rivers, reclamation of alkaline soils and ravine lands, shifting cultivation areas etc.

While some of these projects had a very specialized focus resulting in special norms as well as delivery mechanisms geared to meet those needs, the six major projects/ programmes, namely, National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA), Watershed Development in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDSCA), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP), Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP), Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) had elements of convergence and a considerable common geographical area of operation. Significantly, these six projects/ programmes also account for about 70 percent of funds and area under watershed programmes in the country.

The common principles deal with the following sections –

• Implementation Strategy
• Programme Content & Components
• Principles of Project Management
• Institutional Arrangements
• Capacity Building
• Financial Aspects
• Monitoring and Evaluation

The general recommendations provided at the end are -

• Applicability of Common Approach/ Principles: Common Approach/ Principles will be effective in respect of new watershed projects/ programmes being implemented by two Central Ministries, namely, Agriculture & Rural Development. However, for other Centrally Sponsored Schemes which address special problems through the watershed approach and have unique institutional arrangements to address those problems and significantly different programme content such as reclamation of alkaline lands and the inter-state projects of Flood Prone Rivers / River Valley Projects, separate approach and guidelines will be followed. The Common Approach/ Principles will however, be applicable to the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Watershed Development in Shifting Cultivation Areas albeit with higher unit cost norms as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
• Preparation of Detailed Operational Guidelines: Based on the Common Approach/ Principles each Ministry will prepare a Manual of Operational Guidelines for use of all institutions and agencies involved in the execution of watershed development projects. The Manual of Operational Guidelines will be made available in the local language to all implementing agencies.
• Orientation Courses for Common Approach/ Principles: Common Approach/ Principles include uniform cost norms, size of watershed, project cycle, institutional arrangements, mechanism of monitoring, review and impact evaluation, cost and benefit sharing, post-management and financial management aspects. Common Approach/ Principles should be universally adopted for implementation at the Project/ field level. To ensure orientation of all concerned personnel in the New & Common Approach it will be useful to organize workshops and training courses for Central, State and District level officials to arrive at common understanding about the principles, approaches and implementation strategies of the new dispensation.

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