Umsatai Village

 

 

 

1.    Ground Truthing

Dated: 19th October 2018

On 19th October 2018 the District Project Management Unit (DPMU) team met with Shri. Sunidakut Dkhar, the village headman to interact & gather information regarding the state of the village. This village was suggested by the BDO of Khliehriat C&RD Block..

       

Case Findings

1. There are 65 HHs.
2. There are three springs which the local community hugely depend on and they are far from the village.
3. Dry barren land can be seen almost everywhere in the village.
4. Broom cultivation is practiced by the village community.
5. Forest fire is common in these parts.

2.    Sensitization Programme

Dated: 16th January 2019

The sensitization programme took place on the 16th January 2019 at the Community Hall of Umsatai village. A total of 44 participants attended the programme.

The Assistant District Project Manager gave a brief introduction about Community Led Landscape Management Project. He spoke on the issues and problems faced by the farmers and villages in regards to water scarcity and water quality in Meghalaya, in spite it being the state which receives the highest amount of rainfall in a year. He also expressed the concern of how other natural resources such as air, soil, etc. have been affected at a very large scale. He explained the different components of the Project which will help the community in understanding and managing the different landscapes in the village.

The Program Associate, Environment Management explained on the effects of coal mining, its effect in the fertility of the land/soil and the solutions in making the area fertile again by planting specific plants such as lemon grass, etc. The official also spoke on the drying up of various water sources in the village and expressed the importance of preserving and maintaining them by introducing several methods like planting trees, digging contour trenches, etc. As most of the water bodies in East Jaintia Hills District are affected by coal mining, the official explained on how these water bodies can be treated by setting an example of a successful intervention of the Moolawar stream in MukhaIalong.

The Assistant District Project Manager also highlighted the approach and steps which the village have to follow once they accept the project. The first step is signing of the Citizen’s Green Charter followed by the formation of Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC) which will be constituted by the Village Dorbar. After that the EOI and VGA will be signed simultaneously probably during the PRA and CNRMP preparation.

The Program was followed by an interactive session to answer the doubts and questions of the villagers.

 

2.1.        Signing Of Documents

After the programme, the village headman and secretary along with two witnesses signed the EOI, VGA and Citizens Green Charter. They arranged a meeting between the village leaders and the community before electing the executive members of the Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC).

 

2.2.        Formation Of The VNRMC

The Formation of the Village Natural Resource Management Committee was done in a public meeting in the presence of the entire village after the sensitization program was conducted. The community itself chose the President, the Secretary and the other executive members of the Committee.

 

3.    Opening Of Bank Account

The opening of the bank account was initiated after the village signed the EOI (Expression of Interest), the VGA (Village Grant Agreement) and the Green Charter.

 

The Accountant of CLLMP East Jaintia Hills District trained the Purchasing and Procurement Committee of Khliehriat C&RD Block including members from Umsatai Village on matters relating to Accounts and Book Keeping on the 13th July 2019 in DRDA Conference Hall, Khliehriat EJHD.

 

       

 

4.    PRA Exercise

The PRA/CNRMP exercise aims to incorporate the knowledge and opinions of the community in the planning and management of development projects and programmes.

PRA exercise at Umsatai Village took place on the 23rd March 2019. Around 56 participants attended the program.

The Assistant District Project Manager gave the introduction and spoke about the different activities that the participants had to take part during the programme. The Program Associate, Environment Management, spoke in brief about the CNRM plan and the different types of interventions. A group of participants interacted and helped her collect data based on the environmental template. With the help of this group, she was also able to identify the different sites of intervention. The Asst. Manager, Social Management, gathered the remaining group of participants to help him gather baseline data based on the social template.

   

Findings based on the information gathered from the participants during the PRA/CNRMP exercise

1. Main agricultural produce is Paddy.
2. The 65 HHs highly depend on firewood as a source of fuel.
3. Drinking water is limited over a period of 3 to 4 months during the winter season.
4. Two types of forest ownership: Community & Private.
5. There are four community forests.
6. The springs which are present in the village needs rejuvenation.
7. Training on Land productivity, Springshed management and Community Nursery is necessary for the village community.
8. No disputes/constrains encountered within the village community or with any neighbouring villages.

 

Priority Interventions required based on the PRA Exercise:

1. Rejuvenation of the three springs through activities such as afforestation and contour trenches.
2. Afforestation, bio-fencing and fire line control in the community forest.
3. Community nursery for endemic and fruit trees.
4. A dugout pond for collecting rain water.

 

5.    Development Of The Community Natural Resource Management Plan (CNRMP) For 1st Phase

Proposed Intervention	Name of site	Land Ownership	No of HH expected to benefit	Priority
Community Nursery	Lumdiensata	Community	65	Medium
Soil and Water Conservation	Wahlumluber, Lumdiensata	Community	65	High
Springshed Development	Wahlumluber, Lumdiensata	Community	65	High

 

Training

Training on Springshed Rejuvenation and Inventorisation

The training was conducted in Umsatai village on 4th December 2019 for the members of the VNRMC and VCF’s which fall under Khliehriat C&RD Block, EJHD. The Manager Water Resources SPMU along with the DPMU team facilitated the training. The training aimed to enhance the participants on management and treatment of springs.