Nita Ambani led Reliance Foundation (RF) aims at empowering the underprivileged sections of society in India. Their Bharat-India-Jodo program, often referred to as RF-BIJ, has been created to eliminate the gap between rural and urban India.
The foundation helps farmers by reducing the risks associated with farming, encouraging sustainable practices, and empowering them through self-help methods. One such case is that of the Amalidabara village in Netrang, Gujarat.
The first challenge
Under RF-BIJ program’s plan for the village, water management received the highest priority. The Village Farmers Association (VFA) decided that they would construct a check dam in order to efficiently harvest rainwater, which was later successfully constructed by them.
Amalidabara causeway
A causeway connecting two hamlets in the village was also in shambles, with damaged gates. The villagers of Amalidabara contributed Rs. 5,000 and the VFA invested Rs. 60,000 with the help of which new gates were purchased and installed.
Additional roadblocks
Although new gates were installed at the causeway, they began to leak. Several efforts were made to solve the issue; rubber and plastic tubes too proved to be ineffective. That is when an old lady suggested using grass and red soil to impede the leakage. The suggestion worked and the dam’s gates were successfully repaired.
Gates of the check dam
The previous two initiatives encouraged VFA to conduct repairs on a third project – a check dam. The gates of this dam were removed by villagers and utilized without permission. VFA successfully managed to recover all the ten gates of this check dam, thereby, reviving it.
Repairing the causeway gates enabled the dam to store over 18,000 cubic meters of water. This water is utilized by 200 families across five hamlets for irrigation and drinking purposes. Revival of the other check dam led to the successful storage of 23,000 cubic meters of water.
Allu Narayanamma
Another testament to RF-BIJ’s continuous efforts is the case of Allu Narayanamma, a resident of the GC Palli village in Andhra Pradesh. She owned three acres of parched land, of which half had a mango orchard and the remaining was used to cultivate paddy.
Nita Ambani led RF organized the residents of this village to form a VFA in 2009-2010 and encouraged each household to include a male and female representative. Narayanamma took keen interest in the opportunities offered by the VFA and received training in soil sampling, soil testing, and seed treatments.
Current scenario
With the assistance Narayanamma received from RF and her constant efforts, she was able to reap a harvest of 24 quintals per hectare as opposed to the previous 16-18 quintals. Her income rose from Rs. 850 to Rs. 16,450.
Her land was transformed into a highly fertile one, resulting in high yields of pulses and other grains. She also went on to get elected as the Vice President of the VFA owing to her interest and hard work.
Summary
Reliance Foundation helps the villagers of Amalidabara in water management through installation of dams. It is also empowering individuals across the country by assisting them in farming. RF’s help and Allu Narayanamma’s participation in VFA allowed her to access better farming techniques and improve the productivity of her land.