Success Stories and Case Studies

This guidebook by UN-HABITAT, provides an overview of the principles and practices required for sustainable urban water catchment management. It deals with the principles and practices for better management of water resources which, in turn, will lead to general improvement in the health of the local population, food security, environmental protection and sustainable development. It states that it is necessary to develop enduring partnerships among the participating institutions and organizations in the catchment area.

Along side, policies, laws and regulations should be geared to provide an enabling framework as needed for formulation and implementation of action plans at the local level. The guidebook also comprises case studies from Australia, India, Latin America and South Africa to showcase the prospects of local action for water resources management.

Suresh Desai is a founding member of an Organic Farmers Club in Belgaum District of Karnataka, India. It has 400 members, some of whom are already growing crops organically, while others are in the process of shifting to organic farming.

Since completing his matriculation, Suresh has been caring for the family property of 4.5 hectares, in an area where today sugar cane is primarily grown. For nearly a decade Suresh, as the manager of the farm, followed conventional practices relying on external inputs in the form of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Just like most of the other farmers near Belgaum, he grew sugar cane, a high water-demanding cash crop, and tobacco.

The following four case studies, describe the work of Sahjeevan Trust and its partners, in organising drinking water, in participation with rural communities in Kutch, Gujarat, through the Pani Thiye Panjo program.

In one year the small village of Gadrata, Rajasthan earned 0.15 Million US$

The secret: Rainwater Harvesting

Seekar, Rajasthan, India

This is the success story of the small village of Gadrata and its hamlets (overall about 50-55 families) in the Seekar district of Rajasthan and how water means gold!

A few years ago Smt. Amla Ruia, Chairperson of Aakar Charitable Trust and a resident of Mumbai, Maharashtra, motivated and supported the villagers of Gadrata to build a Check Dam to solve their water problems. Until that time groundwater levels in their wells were in serious decline.

This document contains case studies from the work of Samagra Jal Vikash Samiti, Arghyam and Development Alternatives, in Rajpura, Kachipura, Pipra and Hastinapur villages of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, in organising drinking water and improving water quality of available drinking water.

Case Studies on Groundwater Management from Indiatogether.org

• The unique water tunnel of Sheni
• A stream resumes year-round flow
• Mining away the river
• A 'Gurukula' for surangas
• IN PICTURES - Surangas, manmade caves to tap underground water
• Don't dig down

This article shows how women are catalysts for advocating widespread improved sanitation and – at the same time – reap substantial benefits in a program promoted by an NGO called Gandhigram Trust. The empowerment of women and marginalized populations is a vital step in realizing gender equality – equal access, planning, and management – for water and sanitation.

Cyclone Aila hit the coasts of Bengal on May 25th displacing millions from their homes and livelihoods in the Sundarbans. AID responded immediately working with Baikanthapur Tarun Sangh (BTS), Mukti and Rights & Equity for All (REFA). Relief & Rehab efforts reached out to 150,000 people in 7 blocks of 2 districts in West Bengal.