Banda is one of the least developed districts in Uttar Pradesh. The district has an uneven terrain and the soil is porous. So rainwater runs off quickly and is not retained. Moreover, the pattern of rainfall is irregular. So the district suffers from recurrent droughts. The recurrence of drought also leads to loss of livelihood and poses hurdles to the economic development of the district.
Government programmes such as the Drought Prone Areas Programme and Swajaldhara have not been adequate to solve the issue of drinking water and water for irrigation. Yet, from 2019, the district claimed a sudden improvement in the water situation there.
How is this possible?
Nitin Singh and Angshuman Hazarika from the Indian institute of Management, Ranchi investigated.
They collected data on groundwater levels and other water resources in the district from different government departments and authenticated publicly available sources. The researchers found that Jakhni village, known earlier for water scarcity, now has abundant water all year round. Instead of the usual annual decrease, the level of groundwater in Jaspura village has increased by more than three metres and, in Tindwari village, by more than two metres.
How was this achieved?
The researchers interviewed people in the villages and other stakeholders such as government officials and NGO functionaries in the region. They found that the Collector (the District Magistrate) of Banda had spearheaded a movement for water conservation and management.
He introduced missions to save ground water and drinking water. And allocated funds available under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Field and Tank Scheme for addressing the water issues faced by the villagers. He created linkages between administration, the agricultural department, media, local NGOs, community leaders and villagers. The roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders were clarified at each point to provide transparency and accountability.
Meetings were held in panchayats and villages to spread awareness on water management and to reduce water conflicts. Thus, the district magistrate elicited commitment from the villagers to participate in activities for water conservation and management. He incorporated traditional methods for recharging wells and ponds, and provided the villagers with advanced engineering and technical support.
The villagers created rainwater harvesting structures, and new ponds, planted trees, used soil conservation methods and improved percolation to groundwater. In fact, besides labour, the villagers also contributed small amounts of money for achieving water self-sufficiency, facilitating the feeling of ownership of the efforts.
Their efforts were well rewarded. Ponds and water harvesting structures got filled in the following rainy season. Groundwater was recharged.
The new water resources had immediate impacts on food production and livelihoods as well as on economics. Changes in land use had an impact on the environment. Consequently, food production increased by 7% over two years There was a 5% rise in cash crops and 2% in non-cash crops.
Since water was available, modern toilets could be introduced. The lifestyle of the villagers, especially women, underwent a change: they did not have to spend the same amount of time and energy to collect water, as they had to, earlier.
Nitin and Angshuman, IIM Ranchi collaborated with researchers in Poland and the US to highlight the connections between water, land use, food and sustainable development in a recently published paper. To understand such development, they provide an academic concept: street level bureaucrat. The street level bureaucrat has not only power but also access to resources that can be put to use to meet local needs. If the street level bureaucrat can elicit the cooperation of NGOs and villagers, a lot can be achieved.
In the case of Banda, it was the district magistrate, under the Central Government, who played the role of street level bureaucrat. The street level bureaucrat could also be the Block Development Officer, under the State Government. If district magistrates and block development officers play their roles as street level bureaucrats, a lot can be achieved in a short time within the country.
Land Degradation & Development, 0:1–10 (2025);
DOI: 10.1002/ldr.5489
Reported by Nupur Sinha
BML Munjal University
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