Marathwada region

Marathwada has been reeling under drought condition since 2012. The region had faced several droughts in the past. It is a landlocked region dependent on South West monsoon. The rivers carry very little water as the summer approaches. All the reservoirs receive water during rainy season. Due to the failure of monsoon, many reservoirs are dry. No water can be supplied until next monsoon.
Along with surface water, underground water resource has also been affected. There is severe depletion in groundwater level in all the talukas. Primarily, farmers were using shallow groundwater. They were dependent on wells. With the acute shortage of rainwater in 2012-13, most of the wells went dry.
Because of this severe drought situation continuing for last four years, Marathwada became the graveyard of farmers. Total number of suicides crossed 4,000.

Being an Organization concerned with Rural issues, RSGS decided to put it’s foot in Marathwada in 2012 and commenced to work in Beed & Osmanabad districts. In a span of 3 years we started work in 95 villages with various initiatives and have established contacts in 400 villages through 2 full time resident representatives supported by local volunteers.
Our multiple Approach in Marathwada covered: Water management, Support to families of Farmers who committed Suicide, Organic Farming & productive techniques

S.No	Taluka	Villages Covered	Farmers Benefited	Farmland Area (acres)
1	Osmanabad	8	27	27
2	Umarga	24	61	61
3	Lohara	9	21	21
4	Tuljapur	13	40	40
5	Paranda	5	7	20
6	Bhum	5	3	15
7	Kalamb	2	2	4
8	Washi	5	7	20
	Total	71	168	208

In 2015, Maharashtra Government launched the project "Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan“ to make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019. The project involves deepening and widening of canals, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, work on nullahs and digging of farm ponds. The project aims to make 5000 villages free of water scarcity every year.
Being already present in the Region, effective 2016, RSGS undertook these projects in select villages in close harmony with local villages, concerned farmers & local Authorities.
The Table in the next slide gives details of work accomplished in 7 villages providing water availability to 295 acres of Farm land and benefiting 314 farmers. The work involved Construction of New as well as repair of old Cement Concrete Weir / Gabion Dams, Removal of Garbage from the Canals, Deepening & Widening of Canals, Continuous and Contour Trenching. of Garbage from the Canals, Deepening & Widening of Canals, Continuous and Contour

S.No	Tehsil	Village	Cost(Rs.)	Water Storage Copacity (Litres)	Water Storage Copacity (Litres)	Farmers Benefited
1	Osmanabad	Shelgaon, Tehsil Washi	2,000,000	23,500,000	110	80
2	Beed	Kumshi	50,000	700,000	5	4
3	Beed	Jeba Pimpri	1,200,000	103,500,000	80	70
4	Beed	Aher Wadgaon	950,000	630,000,000	50	80
5	Beed	Kanadi Badan	180,000	1,680,000	10	20
6	Beed	Dighol Amba	160,000	3,000,000	10	20
7	Beed	Dipedgaon	350,000	6,250,000	30	40
		Total	4,890,000	768,630,000	295	314

Marathwada Region (Beed & Osmanabad Districts)

Background

RSGS intervention

Accomplishments during 2012-2015

Accomplishments during 2012-2015

Jalayukt Shivar Abhiyan ( Water Conservation Drive)