Project Aravalli

Jitin Kollamkudy

The Aravalli hill system is one of the oldest in India◦ Serves as an important watershed for the area

and rivers like the Chambal, Banas and Luni.◦ Extends from Gujarat to border of Delhi

Deforestation led to overall degradation of the environment in the region

Water scarcity and floods become common In Rajasthan

◦ Most of the land in the Aravalli region belonged to the Forest Department.

In Haryana ◦ Most of the land of the Aravalli region belonged to

the community.

Project was launched to restore or regenerate the ecosystem◦ European Union offered financial help for the project

to the extent of 82 %.◦ The rest was to be borne by the Government of

Haryana Beginning was made by constituting Village

Forest Committees◦ VFCs and the village communities participated in the

preparation of plans for each village◦ Comprises of 9-13 members including village head.◦ 3 women from scheduled caste / scheduled tribes.◦ VFC’s should report to general council of village.

About 10.5 million seedlings were raised by 207 mahila nurseries◦ Over 55 lakhs were paid by the project as cost of

the seedlings.

Project authorities introduced cash incentive schemes to sustain the interest of the villagers◦ More than 41 lakhs have been disbursed to 184

VFCs as incentives. Traditionally the villagers had no restrictions

on grazing their livestock on community lands.

With plantations on these lands, grazing could not be allowed.

The issue was discussed at length and the consensus between village communities◦ VFCs and project officials was that instead of open

grazing, stall feeding would be followed

Different types of grasses and legumes were sown in the plantation areas.

Villagers interested in seed collection◦ They did not harvest grass till it was fully mature.

By the time the project came to a close (Project was launched in 1990 and continued till ’99), the Aravally region regained its lost ecosystem and glory.

By the time the project came to a close ,the Aravally region regained its lost ecosystem and glory

34600 hectares land rehabilitated. Supply of fodder increased from 750

quintals to 1400 quintals Employment to more than 1 crore labour

days. 38% of laborers were women. Incentive money. Increased yield of grass & other livestock. Use of improved varieties of seed.

Objectives Achieved

What measures would you suggest to restorethe differing ecosystems of Aravalli land inRajasthan & Haryana?

To implement control measures to reduce deforestation

To encourage afforestation To aware the peoples in Rajasthan & Haryana

about the consequences of this problem To encourage people in that area to plant more

trees To establish more projects to regain the differ in

ecosystem

Questions & Answers

The process of restoration is not one time action but

require sustain action in the initial years .what

indication are available from the text case study to

achieve the objective of sustained action?

Launch Aravalli project in order to encourage the

village women to start nurseries

Provides more financial assistances to mahila

nurseries to raise more seedlings and saplings

Establishing Village Forest Committees(VFCs):It

help in preparing plan for the project and also

encourage participation of local communities

Introduce more cash incentives scheme to

sustain the interest of the villagers(41 lakhs

have been distributed toward 184 VFCs)

We find significant role of women in environment protection, even women employment. Which global effort advocates such line of action? Give a few comments on this issue.

The women played an important role in solving the problems in Aravalli region. About 38% of the `total employment was engaged to women. Encourage women to participate in environment protection so it will help to attain sustainability in the country as well as in family

Thank You..