World Vision India and the Dawoodi Bohra community launched  “Project Rise Water Security Initiative” on Monday to increase the water storage capacity of five rural rain-fed villages – Sarkaghat, Chinchghat, Wadner, Jawahar Murzedi and Marthad in Yavatmal District of Maharashtra. This sustained project is expected to benefit over 900 families engaged in agriculture.
Speaking at the launch event, Sony Thomas, Director of World Vision India said, “Enabling communities to generate livelihood is an essential step towards the socio-economic development of a nation. The Water Security Initiative under Project Rise will usher in an implementing partnership and provide access to global best practices in watershed management. We are confident that the project will help in improving the livelihood and incomes of the farmers, the backbone of our nation, and pave way for a better future.”
The Water Security Initiative will bring about targeted investments in irrigation at the field level and will enhance access to water in the farmlands. Yavatmal district in the Vidarbha region is a chronically drought-prone region with unpredictable rainfall leading to a tragically high number of farmer suicides. This Water Security Initiative will also expand cultivable areas under assured irrigation through the construction of check dams. Integration of water sources and improving farm water usage are other important components of the project. Additionally as part of this initiative, regular capacity building and sensitizing sessions will be conducted for children, women and working members of the family.
Sadiq Jamaluddin, Project Rise spokesman said, “His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, has initiated various water security projects across rural India to ensure that more people have access to clean water. Watershed development is critical, as vast stretches of agricultural land are in rain-fed regions. This combined with land degradation and low rainfall reduces agricultural productivity.
The Water Security Initiative under Project Rise will help to promote an integrated development of farming areas through a watershed management approach and thereby contribute towards breaking the cycle of poverty,” explained Jamaluddin”
Project Rise is the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic initiative which strives to provide access to adequate nourishment, water, healthcare and sanitation that leads to a better quality of life. Beside the water security project in Yavatmal Project Rise also continues to engage with local communities in Govandi, Roha, Karjat and Panvel in Maharashtra to provide sustained food and water aids to children and families.
