The reconstructed tops of beries in the bottom of a pond. © Wells for India
The neck of a berie which is falling in. © Wells for India
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £5,000 in 2007/08.
Wells for India has been working with the poorest communities in Rajasthan since 1987. During 2007/08 we continued working with 12 NGO partner organizations, supporting 15 different projects. Our works are spread in three different regions of Rajasthan, the Thar Desert, Aravali Hills and Sambhar Salt Lake.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation funding was utilized in the Thar Desert on the Pabupura Drought Mitigation Project (PDMP) and Kolayat Watershed Project with GRAVIS – one of our partners.
Pabupura Drought Mitigation Project (PDMP)
The main activities carried out in 2007 were the construction of Taankas (underground ‘water-harvesting’ catchment water tanks) and Naadi (village ponds), de-siltation, establishment of seed banks, pasture land development, exposure visits and vocational training of the self-help groups and Village Development Committees. The funding helped provide a clean, sustainable water supply.
This project aims to provide availability of and access to safe drinking water, food, and fodder to all families and also make the people of the area self-reliant.
Kolayat Watershed Project
Funding from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation was utilized for the de-siltation of eight Beries (large underground ‘water harvesting’ tanks under water ponds). The project also plans to construct a centre for breeding Tharparkar cattle, an indigenous pure species best suited for arid conditions. This is very important since it can so raise the quality of essential cattle within the whole area.
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