INDIA: SDB DROUGHT RELIEF PROGRAM
SUCCESS
by austraLasia correspondent in India
AHMEDNAGAR (India): 20th March -- A remarkable program by
Salesian Brother Alex Gonsalves is turning the tide of drought that frequently
sweeps across the Taluka region of the State of Maharashtra where a mere
15" of rain or less is experienced per annum. The Bosco Gramin Vikas
Kendra (BGVK) program was established in 1986 and initiated a pilot Integrated
Watershed Development Project at Dongargan Village in 1989. Within three
years adequate drinking water was made available throughout the year and a
second crop grown on 200 acres. People's lives have been transformed in
Dongargan. Success has motivated these people to improve farming
practices, acquire better breeds of cattle and poultry, promote adult literacy
and construct Gobar Gas Plants. Since then the programme has been
implemented in 3 more villages, namely Agadgaon, Ratadgaon and Bhoire
Pathar. The work is now in progress in 4 more villages. The plan, if
sufficient help, financial and otherwise, is found, is to extend the programme
to 17 more villages touching a total of 25 by the year 2010.
This is very much a good news story from a land that often has
to record stories of drought, despair and even violence. Readers of
AustraLasia can see the project details for themselves by turning to http://bgvk.freeservers.com/ . They may
also wish to follow up this project and other activities by Salesians on the
Indian Subcontinent at Bosconet's asiapacific page http://www.bosconet.aust.com/asiapac.htm
