How this US-based NRI makes a difference to his native village in Maharashtra
The setting was rustic. Next to a streaming canal stood a large gathering comprising 500 villagers of Halgara, bureaucrats, policemen, and reporters. Some of them were huddled under the shade of a large mango tree on a hot summer morning. The day was May 28, 2017.
The crowd was attentive as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, addressed the gathering. “We have seen many heroes in movies who can change the world in merely three hours. I had thought that was all imaginary. But today, I am delighted to sit in front of you all and tell you that everyone here is a hero,” proclaimed the Chief Minister as he looked at the beaming faces in the crowd.
Since 2015, the residents of Halgara village had started a silent movement with The Art of Living to be ‘free’ (Swavlambi) from drought. This movement had reached epic proportions during April-May 2017. The entire village rallied in support of The Art of Living’s water conservation work.
Let’s start at the beginning
Halgara is a village in Latur district of Maharashtra that was struggling from water scarcity for the past 15 years. During the summer months, 12-15 tankers would be the only source of water for the villagers.
Though there were no rivers that flowed through Halgara, streams would form during the monsoon. What if this precious resource of water could be stored?
- creating a 2 billion liter water storage from zero by building a 20-km canal and de-silting 0.45 million cubic meters of silt.
- building other structures to revive and store water:
- the villagers created 3 gabin check dams
- repaired 6 existing check dams
- constructed 10 farm ponds
- planted 5000 new trees
- built 800 soak pits for water conservation
Impact of the water conservation project:
- Groundwater levels increased, filling up wells and ponds
- Silt removed from the streams was used to cover fields, making it more fertile
- Farmers could now harvest double the quantity
- Created self-confidence and a sense of self-sufficiency
- Economic propensity, reducing potential migration from village to cities
These water conservation efforts culminated on May 22, 2017, when everyone in the village- from the schoolboy to the housewife to the grandpa of the family – united to work. The day-long, seemingly impossible mission was successful.
Back to the roots
Sitting next to the Chief Minister under a mango tree were two unassuming guests. A simple old mother and father whose eyes were moist with love and pride as they watched their son far away in the USA, corresponding enthusiastically with everyone in the village through Skype.
“A mango tree bears fruits, provides shade because its roots run deep. I am very happy that the people in this village remain true to their roots, no matter how far they travel,” said the Chief Minister. He was referring to Datta Patil, the catalyst of the village’s community movement.
Datta Patil
“It is amazing to see how Datta Patil, successfully working in Yahoo, has still not forgotten his roots. Despite being so far from the village, he did not leave his village,” added Mr. Fadnavis.
Patil, a non-resident Indian working in Yahoo's office in Sunnyvale, California, was driven to make his drought-stricken native village of Halgara, water-sufficient. He took a month-long sabbatical to immerse himself in the village community and inspire the locals to work on the project. Supported by The Art of Living, Overseas Volunteer for a Better India and Yahoo Employee Foundation in the USA, Patil created plans to build a canal and structures to store water.
“I was surprised by the positive response of the locals. Everyone - from a little child to the housewife to the senior-most person - was involved in creating the gabin structure and in the mission to making their village drought-free,” shares Patil.
Long-distance dedication
When Patil returned to California, he continued to inspire the village community. “Patil would be on the phone, even if it were 2 am, making sure the work was getting done and following-up with everyone. His drive to make a change is amazing,” noted Himanshu Kalra, one of the key leaders of The Art of Living River Rejuvenation projects.
Patil inspires the Indian community living aboard to champion his cause. Over the last two years, Patil has raised funds with the support of his company, colleagues, and friends.
In two years, Patil visited the village intermittently and inspired the locals. “I thought if someone who resides so far away and is a respected person comes from abroad comes to work for our village, we should also do something to contribute,” shared a local farmer of Halgara.
Source: The Art of Living Bureau of Communication
