Projects
Water conservation project
Supported by Coca-Cola: Dhule district in Maharashtra faces the problem of water scarcity. To ensure all-round development by enhancing the income of villagers through Integrated Water Resource Management Initiatives, “Samriddh Gram Pariyojana” has been implemented in Higaon Panchayat of Shirpur Taluka of Dhule District, Maharashtra. The objective of the project was to create new infrastructure for water conservation – for increasing groundwater recharge and increasing agricultural productivity for enhancing livelihoods by raising the income of the poor (landless, small, and marginal farmers) through capacity building on techniques of less water-intensive agricultural-based interventions. Thus, the construction of 2 dams brought significant improvement in the quality of life among the rural and tribal families that make up the local population. Women were especially focused on their active involvement in Water User Groups and imparting training to them to enhance their decision-making and involvement while preparing the Water Security Plan for their villages.
Water Resource Management
Project Supported by HDBFS: The project Swajal was envisioned to create a roadmap for fluoride mitigation strategies along with the action plan for providing access to clean drinking water. Thus, through this project, we have implemented multipronged strategies where the initial action plan was to sensitize the community so that they can understand the key strategies that they can Adopt as a village for fluoride mitigation. We conducted meetings where the community was mobilized and Village Water Committees were formed. In the next phase, we carried out water quality testing, where the community identified the water sources. In the next phase identification of patients with fluorosis either with dental or skeletal fluorosis was done along with their sources of drinking water. Thus finally according to the requirements, the fluoride mitigation plan was developed for each village, and community participation was ensured through their active involvement right from inception planning till handing over the community assets for operation & maintenance.
Plantation initiative
With the help of Growing Trees organization: With land degradation and loss of productivity due to various factors, the relevance of land-use planning is more apparent. Emphasizing the real problem of the rural community, Haritika partnered with Grow Trees in the plantation of 30,000 trees in the rural community in Magarwara and Rajpura Village in Jhansi and Chhatarpur Districts respectively. The strategy adopted was a plantation of the right local tree species like Sagwan, Aaola, Citrus fruits, Ber, Karonda, Neem, etc in association with community involvement to address this socio-environmental challenge by reclaiming wasteland and degraded lands into forests. Overall, the plantation drive helped in improving the water table, checking top-soil erosion, increasing carbon sequestration potential, generating local employment with household-level participation in implementing and monitoring the project, and improving the ecosystem services.
Project Parivartan
Supported by HDFC Bank: The Mahakoshal region where we had intervened with the support of HDFC Parivartan Project. The challenge in the region was that the landholdings among the tribal families were mostly degraded and unsuitable for agricultural purposes. Their fields were either not being cultivated at all or when cultivated, did not yield adequate returns. Poor and unscientific farming practices are further worsening; the soil fertility and the fields are gradually being converted into wastelands. Lack of access to information on new and improved agricultural practices prevents any improvement in the situation. Haritika with the approach of creating assets through land-based activities focused on multiple approaches. With the inception, the focus was on creating more water conservation structures. In the next phase, quality seed variety was introduced with farmers being trained in practicing sustainable agriculture. Diversifying to horticulture crops and vegetables ensured additional income sources followed by adapting renewable energy demonstrations in the villages. Hygiene and cleanliness were ensured in the village along with supporting the education through BaLa Program incorporating holistic development in the target villages.
Building Homestays
Homestays with the support of the MP Tourism Board: With the support of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Ladpura Khas Village in Orchha was inaugurated as the Pariyatan Gram - where Rural Homestays are promoted. Along with the Homestays other initiatives like skilling of pottery makers to make terracotta toys were also done. Also, e-rickshaws operated by women members from Self Groups are operating to promote Orchhha as a safe destination for tourism. Thus Haritika is working in 6 Villages in Madhya Pradesh with active support from the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board for promoting Rural Homestays. The core objective is to ensure better livelihoods for the natives by diversifying their income and earning extra livelihoods through homestays. Promoting safe and discrimination-free sites for women tourists and also showcasing the rich culture and tradition of the Bundelkhand region.
Cluster Facilitation Project
Funded by the Ministry of Rural Development Uttar Pradesh: In the Cluster Facilitation Project Haritika is facilitating the effective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS scheme in 2 Blocks in the Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh. The objective of the partnership includes addressing the poverty in the Aspirational District/Backward areas with a multi-pronged strategy of leveraging the synergies of different flagship programs of the Central and the State Governments in convergence with MGNREGA through better coordination, planning, and implementation. Facilitating the Government Department in harnessing the full potential of MGNREGS by creating greater awareness about the rights and entitlements of MGNREGS, improvement in timely wage payment, improvement in participation of SC/ST and other marginalized sections of the community, improvement in gender representation, etc. Incorporating GIS tools for comprehensive watershed planning along with the focus on the enhancement of quality asset creation with a sharper focus on rural livelihoods. The creation of individual assets can enhance the income of rural households.
Water and Sanitisation Project
Supported by Just a Drop Foundation: Establishing reliable, safe, and sustainable water supply for the community and school up until 2040 by constructing 3 tanks of 40,000 liters with the provision of household tapped water in HHs and stand-posts. Further rehabilitating existing defunct hand-pump and constructing hand-pump premises at locations agreed with VWSC. - Providing individual twin pit latrine cum bathroom and other simple assets with 2 model families including proper design of soak-pit. - Rehabilitating 100 existing government-built latrines by adding twin pits, diversion chambers, and rural pans. – Hygiene education and awareness training for the whole village + CLTS (Community-Led Total Sanitation triggering). - 1 No. Handwashing platforms for school children at source points and set up of school drinking water points. - Promoting Village Environmental Actions by planting 3000 trees in the village with the provision of fencing of 500 meters.
Multilayer Intervention in agriculture
Funded by Give India: On the verge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haritika worked on multilayer intervention as the solution to this problem. We have worked on Prevention Support, Immediate Food Security & Sustainable Livelihood options through advocacy for Food Security. For Prevention measures, Mask, Sanitizer & Awareness, and the construction of a handwashing platform for better hygiene, and support while for immediate Food Security, we will try to converge with PDS, etc. Our Initiatives will be spread across themes Theme 1: Prevention and Awareness Support intended during the pandemic stage with the distribution of prevention kits and awareness generation. Theme 2: Connecting Migrants with Government Schemes Theme 3: Sustainable Livelihood and other Supports with District Administration intended for Sustainable Livelihood through Government Livelihood Schemes.
Water conservation project
Funded by HDBFS: Water scarcity, exacerbated by factors like droughts and erratic rainfall, poses a significant challenge to societal development, particularly in regions like Bundelkhand, India. This scarcity impacts agriculture, industries, and livelihoods, necessitating a comprehensive approach to water resource management. Adopting a watershed management strategy, including rainwater management and afforestation, is crucial to addressing water scarcity and ensuring potable drinking water, agricultural productivity, and sustainable livelihoods. Integrating water management with environmental conservation and community development is key to tackling complex water scarcity challenges. The “Water Conservation Project in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh,” launched in 2023-24 with support from HDBFS, has shown promising results in addressing water-related issues. Phase 2 of this project aims to build on these successes, expanding water conservation initiatives to benefit a wider demographic and enhance water resource sustainability in the region. Collaborative efforts and proactive measures are essential to ensuring water availability and overall well-being in water-stressed areas. The proposed project aims to achieve sustainable water resource management, enhance agricultural productivity, restore ecological balance, strengthen community institutions, and promote water security and conservation in the targeted villages of Bijawar Block, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. The specific goals of the proposed Project are: - To create new infrastructure and revive existing water management structures for increasing groundwater recharge and improving water use efficiency in agriculture. This involves constructing check dams, and ponds, renovation of existing farm ponds, and other water storage facilities to capture and utilize rainwater effectively. - To ensure sustainable groundwater management by implementing sustainable practices for groundwater conservation and protection of aquifers, focusing on adopting the Community-based Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. This includes measures to monitor, regulate, and enhance groundwater levels, particularly in the project watershed area. - To enhance the capacity of the community through the formation and strengthening of village institutions for facilitating better land and water governance and through training programs and awareness campaigns focused on water security, conservation, and sustainable land management practices. - To Augment groundwater resources to support the livelihoods of marginalized communities, especially in dryland areas, through the adoption of a comprehensive package of water conservation practices and to contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable water use.
Climate Impact Partners
Climate Impact Partners’ initiate with us to plant more than 1cr Trees in the next 5 years: CIP Project Co and Haritikaeco have partnered on a project to deliver afforestation, reforestation, revegetation, and sustainable agriculture across at least 19,350 hectares. The project aims to generate 3,200,000 VERs and involves planting 11,600,000 trees within five years. The pilot phase, funded by Climate Impact Partners Limited, involved planting 600,000 trees between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
Project Udaan
Funded by LTIMindtree: UDAAN project will be initiated for the 13 villages Bhatyagar and Baxwuha Block, District Damoh and Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) aims to improve the quality of rural community and life of tribal 13 villages of Bhatyagar and Baxwuha block of District Damoh and Chhatarpur by sustainable livelihood enhancement through Natural Resource Management and Integrated Village Development. The project aims to empower marginalized communities in Damoh and Chhatarpur District aspirational districts of Madhya Pradesh and to improve the Livelihoods of the communities through an integrated model also focusing on the challenging landscape of Bundelkhand. These districts are chosen due to critical factors exacerbating the plight of the local population, including water scarcity, unpredictable precipitation, undulating terrain, unreliable irrigation, limited resource access for farmers, and adverse climate change effects on agriculture thus putting a negative impact on quality of life, the project targets two specific blocks, of Damoh and Chhatarpur, aiming to address water scarcity and make availability of water and Increase the water table, surface water more remunerative, empower women, and, rural livelihood, and quality of life especially education, Health & Nutrition challenges in both aspirational districts.
Past Projects
Wadi development project
At present HARITIKA is working as CFT (Cluster Facilitation Team) an initiative of the MP government, at five blocks of Madhya Pradesh in close coordination with MPSRLM (Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission) and MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Here in the CFT Project along with empowering women members to play the role of change agent in the implementation of MGNREGA, we are also working to enhance the livelihood opportunity of women SHG members by acting as a catalyst in creating assets through MGNREGA provisions. Other than with the support of NABARD in Baran District of Rajasthan & with the support of Coca-Cola India Foundation in Dhule District of Maharashtra, we are working on the Watershed Development Programme.
Climate Impact Partners
Climate Impact Partners’ initiate with us to plant more than 1cr Trees in the next 5 years: CIP Project Co and Haritikaeco have partnered on a project to deliver afforestation, reforestation, revegetation, and sustainable agriculture across at least 19,350 hectares. The project aims to generate 3,200,000 VERs and involves planting 11,600,000 trees within five years. The pilot phase, funded by Climate Impact Partners Limited, involved planting 600,000 trees between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
Project Udaan
Funded by LTIMindtree: UDAAN project will be initiated for the 13 villages Bhatyagar and Baxwuha Block, District Damoh and Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) aims to improve the quality of rural community and life of tribal 13 villages of Bhatyagar and Baxwuha block of District Damoh and Chhatarpur by sustainable livelihood enhancement through Natural Resource Management and Integrated Village Development. The project aims to empower marginalized communities in Damoh and Chhatarpur District aspirational districts of Madhya Pradesh and to improve the Livelihoods of the communities through an integrated model also focusing on the challenging landscape of Bundelkhand. These districts are chosen due to critical factors exacerbating the plight of the local population, including water scarcity, unpredictable precipitation, undulating terrain, unreliable irrigation, limited resource access for farmers, and adverse climate change effects on agriculture thus putting a negative impact on quality of life, the project targets two specific blocks, of Damoh and Chhatarpur, aiming to address water scarcity and make availability of water and Increase the water table, surface water more remunerative, empower women, and, rural livelihood, and quality of life especially education, Health & Nutrition challenges in both aspirational districts.