Water conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district have gained significant momentum under the 'Mor Gaon Mor Pani' (My Village, My Water) campaign, simultaneously playing a key role in reducing migration by ensuring employment opportunities for the villagers. Under the 'Mor Gaon Mor Pani' campaign, the administration in Balrampur has carried out the creation of 2,500 Staggered Contour Trenches (SCTs) for the conservation of water.
The objective of this campaign is not just restricted to water conservation; instead, it is ensuring employment for villagers as a part of Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G), resulting in a reduction in migration. The contour trenches here in such a number are going to strengthen water security and harvest rainwater.
As a part of this campaign, the residents are being provided employment rights in their own villages. As a result, villagers who previously migrated to other states in search of work due to a lack of local opportunities are now strengthening their financial condition by working locally.
Around 1000 contour trenches have been developed at the village Sarima under Shankargarh Janpad Panchayat, located on a hill. Villagers working on this project shared that previously, under the MGNREGA scheme, both the wage rates and the number of working days were low. However, under the VB-G RAM G, they are now receiving higher wages, and their guaranteed working days have increased from 100 to 125. The move has stopped migration, allowing employment opportunities in their village.
Under the guidance of Balrampur District Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, effective and continuous work is being carried out toward water conservation in the district. In this sequence, under the Mor Gaon Mor Pani 2.0 campaign, large-scale construction of contour trenches is underway. The initiative aims to conserve every drop of rainwater, improve the groundwater level, revive water bodies, and protect the environment. This will not only fortify the district's water security in the coming days but will also provide a new impetus to agriculture and rural livelihoods.
To prioritise the conservation of natural resources, contour trenches are being built using scientific methods in challenging terrain across the district. Through these contour trenches, instead of being wasted as runoff, rainwater is absorbed into the ground, rapidly recharging the groundwater table. This also controls soil erosion and preserves soil fertility in agricultural fields.
According to Balrampur Collector Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, the work was initiated under MGNREGA and is now continuing under the VB-G RAM G scheme. Staggered Contour Trenches have been constructed with the aim of storing rainwater in hilly areas.
"The initiative will benefit the villagers in the future as water retained in these trenches will ultimately improve the level of groundwater. Moreover, it will be beneficial in the prevention of soil erosion," said the Collector.
He further elaborated that this is very important because 1,000 trenches have been constructed simultaneously, and the cost is very low. These trenches were constructed for approximately Rs 2,98,000 rupees. Since this is wage-based work being carried out under the VB-G RAM G scheme, the villagers are receiving higher wages, which can lead to greater benefits for the villagers through this small initiative.
Previously, we used to work under MNREGA, which offered 100 days of employment and a wage of Rs 261, said a villager, Abhimanyu. He further said that the Secretary and Engineer informed villagers about VB-G RAM G, which offers Rs 300 as wages and 125 days of employment, making the villagers very happy. On the Lamti hill in Sarima village of Shankargarh District Panchayat, villagers are constructing a Staggered Contour Trench (SCT), and this will store water during the monsoon as well as prevent soil erosion.
According to Vilas Devi, she previously went to Punjab for employment. After learning about the VB-G RAM G scheme, she is now working in her own village as part of the ongoing work under the scheme. The scheme has increased the number of employment days and wages. Now, the villagers are working in their own villages.
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