PDFMission Suneharakal is the brand ITC-MSK postulates for positioning its corporate social responsibilities. It provided financial assistance for tank based water shed development, farm based entrepreneurship and capacity building to DHAN Foundation for implementation of project at Singampunari block, Sivagangai district. The over all objective of the project is to enhance socio economic condition of the poor marginal farmers through participatory rehabilitation and management of natural small scale water bodies i.e. tanks, Ooranies and uplifting the agriculture. The project outlay for three years from 2005-06 to 2007-08 is for Rs. 95,40,610. On successful completion of the project, it asked TATA-Dhan Academy, an academic wing of DHAN Foundation to carry out the impact study for shaping the future project and for strengthening the institutional collaboration.
The objective of the impact study was to assess the effectiveness of programme implementation, measure the outcomes of the project and to enumerate the leverage of the project in the Singampunari block. Project was implemented in 34 villages of Singampunari block in three years. One fifth of them (seven in number) are sampled out at random for this impact study. Randomisation and selection of villages were done on mutual consultation with ITC- MSK. Three tanks in the same location which have not been renovated are selected as control tanks.
Under tank system and agriculture development in the project, it is observed that the tank capacity is enhanced, ground water is recharged, availability of water for more months for head, middle and tail end farmers resulting in significant increase in yield and income. Judicial use of water suiting the agricultural needs shows the bankability of the tank as a water source. Besides, through capacity building initiatives on rice intensification technique and on facilitation of inputs for agricultural operation has resulted in reduction of expenditure and enhancement of yield and income.
On economic development, it is observed that there is an increment in man days of employment generated and increase in income due to the enhanced productivity of lands. It has formalised the indigenous saving and credit practices and has facilitated linkages with the banking system to access credit for the agricultural operation resulting in relief from money lenders who were charging exorbitant rates of interest and asset creation. The project has made the agriculture has a viable livelihood activity resulting in arresting migration.
Under institutional development, the project has enabled to organise the unorganised farmers, gave scope for building their leadership capabilities and has ensured collective action in tank system development. Community participation is observed in the form of contribution and has institutionalised their participation on the events of water days and institution to express their solidarity. Besides the corpus created in their institutions for sustenance, they have also leveraged funds from other mainstream, private actors in equal proportion and above all the project has brought out the change in their attitude on management of common properties.
Summing up, it is observed that there are significant differences in the renovated tanks when compared to non-renovated tanks. The project has immensely found relevant in the context of climate change and has become a model for corporate, NGO and public partnered traditional water bodies’ conservation project for show casing which will be nurtured for generations.