Restoring Hope Through Water : Pond Rejuvenation in Kherwatikra, Jharkhand
In 2020, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, GRAM Association, in partnership with Barefoot College, Tilonia, brought new life to Kherwatikra, a small tribal hamlet in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand. Despite abundant rainfall, the village of 38 Munda tribal families struggled with chronic water scarcity. The reason? Rapid water runoff and a lack of infrastructure to capture and retain rainwater.
At the heart of the intervention was the revival of the village’s decades-old pond, Gudibandh Talab, which had fallen into disrepair over the years — filled with silt, unable to hold water, and contributing to falling groundwater levels.
Key Interventions
- Community Mobilization through ShramdaanVillagers came together to volunteer their time and labor, following strict COVID-19 protocols, to rejuvenate the pond — demonstrating remarkable unity and ownership.
- Infrastructure DevelopmentThe pond was desilted and expanded to 150x150x12 feet, increasing its holding capacity to approximately 6.5 million liters. Inlet and overflow channels were constructed, and embankments were fortified to minimize erosion and runoff.
- Environmental StewardshipFruit-bearing saplings were planted around the pond to strengthen soil stability and promote local biodiversity.
- Rural Employment During LockdownThe effort created short-term employment for 33 villagers (20 women and 13 men) over a 7–10-day period, providing ₹30,000 directly into the local economy when it was needed most.
- Sustainability Through Local GovernanceA ‘Jal Samiti’ (Water Committee) was formed to manage ongoing maintenance and promote responsible use of the water resource.
Impact at a Glance
- Community Mobilization through ShramdaanVillagers came together to volunteer their time and labor, following strict COVID-19 protocols, to rejuvenate the pond — demonstrating remarkable unity and ownership.
- Infrastructure DevelopmentThe pond was desilted and expanded to 150x150x12 feet, increasing its holding capacity to approximately 6.5 million liters. Inlet and overflow channels were constructed, and embankments were fortified to minimize erosion and runoff.
- Environmental StewardshipFruit-bearing saplings were planted around the pond to strengthen soil stability and promote local biodiversity.
- Rural Employment During LockdownThe effort created short-term employment for 33 villagers (20 women and 13 men) over a 7–10-day period, providing ₹30,000 directly into the local economy when it was needed most.
- Sustainability Through Local GovernanceA ‘Jal Samiti’ (Water Committee) was formed to manage ongoing maintenance and promote responsible use of the water resource.