Rajasthan Rainwater HarvestIngredients for Success

Outside stimulation and facilitation

Non-profit organization went to a village to set up a clinic

Discovered water was a greater need

On village elder’s advice, helped restore traditional dams

Outside engineers helped plan

Strong democratic local institutions and enduring commitment of local leadership

Traditional village councils restored to manage johads

Representatives of all families decided by consensus

Dams rebuilt with village labor

Councils expanded cooperation to reforestation projects

Non-profit organization maintained leadership

Co-adaptation between social system and ecosystem

Revived traditional council focused on water supply

Council organized tree planting for fuel and forest protection

Ecosystem now provided for people and returning wildlife!

Women did household work, and children attended school,

instead of spending all their time carrying water and fuelwood

Letting nature do the work

Underground storage of rainwater provided year-round supply

With no expense for pipes, wells are filled and flowing

Rivers and streams revived year-round

Water seeps into the ground where it is stored without

loss due to evaporation: groundwater!

Letting nature do the work

Less crop irrigation needed because lots of groundwater

With groundwater restored they grew trees close by for fuelwood

Recovery of forest reduced erosion and kept water clean

Rapid Results

Well near first johad filled with water within a few months

Quick results inspired more dam building:

9 ponds holding 162 million gallons for Golpapura village

Dry rivers started flowing year round and all wells refilled

Seeing success, johads spread to 750 other villages

A powerful symbol

Johads symbolized village’s ability to survive and thrive

Tied rakhis (friendship bracelets) on trees as sign of protection

Non-profit organization’s leader symbolized the movement

Overcoming social obstacles

‘Water warriors of Rajasthan’ organized to defend resources

Sit-ins stopped state from tearing down dams and cutting trees

70 villages united to cancel state sales of fishing rights

Sued illegal miners draining and poisoning groundwater

Social and ecological memory

Elders remembered how to construct and maintain johads

Tradition of village councils and pitching in ensured success

Natural habitat adapted and provided for returning wildlife

Social and ecological diversity

Women made cooperatives to sell milk products, soaps, crafts

Children returned to school, bringing new skills to village

Farmers diversified crops, including sugar cane and potatoes

Building resilience

Forest maintained healthy watershed

Lots of groundwater maintained water supply through dry times

“Success breeds success” created a circle of positive effects

Village pride, commitment, & solidarity protected sustainability

Return of men strengthened community bonds and farming

Revived traditional council organized village to face challenges