HUL, DHAN Foundation and NABARD launch water conservation project in drought prone Gundar Basin

The project aims to renovate over 250 irrigation tanks with farmers’ participation in the drought prone Gundar Basin. The project will directly benefit over 20,000 small and marginal farm families and thus contribute towards both environment as well as enhancing livelihoods.

This project is based on a unique ‘Partnership model’. HUL will invest about Rs.5 crore of the project cost with equal contribution from NABARD. One of the unique features of this project is that it would be implemented by organising farmers, landless labourers and women into an association at each tank level. They will contribute 10% of the renovation cost. The direct stake of the farmers in the project will ensure that the benefits of the project are sustained in the long term. The technical & implementation supervision would be facilitated by DHAN Vayalagam Tank Foundation.

This project would help the village communities to organise and undertake repair and renovation of tanks, create endowments for future maintenance and sustain tank based agriculture in Madurai, Sivagangai, Virudunagar and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.

Prominent among those present at the launch event included, Mr. Sridhar Ramamurthy, Chief Financial Officer, HUL, Mr. C.K. Gopalakrishnan, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Mr. M. P. Vasimalai, Executive Director, DHAN Foundation, Mr. Vasavalingam, Leader, Vayalagam Movement, Ramanathapuram, and Mr. A. Duraisamy, Leader, Vayalagam Movement, Madurai, among others. Over 300 farmers were also present on the occasion.

Speaking about the project, Mr. Sridhar Ramamurthy, CFO, HUL, said: “Water is a very precious resource. Our partnership with DHAN, NABARD and farmers, we believe, can make a big difference to the lives of people living in Gundar Basin. ”

Mr. M.P Vasimalai, Executive Director, DHAN Foundation said: “It is a creative water partnership to enhance livelihoods and ecosystems of small and marginal tank farmers of rainfed Gundar Basin; a new pathway for renewal of water bodies on a scale with long term alliance of community, state, NABARD, HUL and DHAN Foundation; benefits farmers from drought prone Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar and Madurai districts”.