True Story Of The Jalgram Jakhani

– the Model-Jalgram as Declared by NITI Aayog

–Wonder of Water in Drought-stricken Region

● Tillan Richhariya and Krishna Kalki

The National Institute for Transforming India (popularly known as the ‘NITI Aayog’), the policy think-tank of the Government of India, has released Composite Water Management Index 2019. This first-of-its-kind report declares Jakhani, a village under the district Banda of the drought-stricken region of Bundelkhand, as the model for entire country— because the collective endeavor for water-conservation has there been taken place following just the traditional way. It includes the views and assessments of the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh, the NITI Aayog Vice-chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar, the NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, the Jal Shakti Secretary UP Singh, the Advisor to the NITI Aayog for Water and Land Development Avinash Mishra, the Rural Development Secretary Dr Amarjit Sinha, and several other peers in this regard.

Following the footprints of Jakhani, declared as the Model Jalgram by the NITI Aayog, more 1050 water-stressed villages of the country are also announced to be developed as the Jakhani-like jalgram. Jakhani has now set a vital example for the country. How this water-stressed village under the district Banda of the drought-stricken region of Bundelkhand has transformed itself— this now attracts the world; and Jakhani has thus emerged as the matter of case-study. To study the whole process of this world-shattering transformation, the scientists as well as agriculturists are coming Jakhani from various parts of the world, right from Israel to Nepal. And, the domestic scholars— coming from Telangana, Dewas (MP), Maharashtra, and even from local Banda University— are also now moving toward Jakhani.

Once grievously affected by the drought, here in Jakhani the water level has now come upward as much as on just 20 feet from the ground. Not only five old ponds are today brimmed with water, but also several new ponds are dug— those too are now filled with water after the rainy season. Situated in the Mahua block just 14 kilometer away from the district headquarter of Banda, this village is populated with around 3200 persons. Having approximately 2172 bigha agricultural land, the village is enriched with 33 wells, 25 hand-pumps, and 6 ponds.

How this happened

Under the leadership of Uma Shankar Pandey, a social-worker from Jakhani, almost 10-15 years ago few awake persons of the village formed the ‘Sarvoday Adarsh Jalgram Swaraj Abhiyan Samiti’. The samiti started to make people aware of conserving water. Along with this, the water earlier being wasted flowing from the village-house-gutters had then been directed toward the farms through the newly made drainage-system. This water reached the farms, so began to be utilized.

Water-logging occurs in the farm where exists ridge, and tree on the ridge

“We did nothing new,” tells Uma Shankar Pandey, an eminent social-worker of Jakhani, “we only revitalized the olden system.” He tells: when the traditionalist soil-son harbola farmers worked in their farm, they constructed ridge there. We were acquainted with this fact that if the water was to be logged in farms, it could only be achieved because of ridge. Whichever farm has ridge, and also tree is grown on the ridge, the water must be logged there. And wherever the water is logged, the basmati rice will easily be cultivated in that farm. It will on one hand ensure income-growth whereas upward the groundwater-level on the other.

Nowadays, in village Jakhani, even the poorer-than-poorest farmer cultivates paddy (rice) costing Rupees 50 thousand. One, who had once no money to pay-back the lender, owns today lakh-of-rupees of own in the bank-account. Here even the undersized peasant, who has mere three bigha farm, possesses tractor. There is only one harvester machine in entire Banda district, and that too is owned by Mamoon Khan― a peasant from this very village.

The region of Bundelkhand which throughout the year has been in news for various dreadful problems like migration, starvation, poverty, illiteracy, and the water-crisis as much disastrous as the bringing of potable water from Delhi to Bundelkhand using goods-train had to be executed. In that very catastrophic region of Bundelkhand, a 15-year-long collective endeavor following traditional way for water-conservation occurred in Jakhani of district Banda has set an example on the dais of country by storing water in the village and by preventing mass-migration from there.

No grant taken from government

Neither any grant was taken from government in the course of this collective endeavor for water-conservation, nor utilized new machine-run technique― rather peasants, youths, unemployed-persons of the village themselves picked-up the spade, offered their time, provided selfless labor under shramdan, constructed ridges, prevented the water of village from being drained out, vitalized the water of village, emerged their village as the first jalgram of country, and thus inspired 1034 jalgrams of the country to come into existence. In order to study this traditional process of water-conservation as used by the peasants of Jakhani, a team of experts in hydrology sent from the government of Israel, the World Water Resource Group 2030, and the senior officials of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Central Groundwater Board, Water Resource Department of Uttar Pradesh are for several years discussing on as well as researching in the methodology used by the people collectively in Jakhani for conserving the water and preventing the mass-migration. The experts are now following the footprints of Jakhani and applying this Jakhani-model in the country for attaining the goal that was visibly achieved in this village. Even though the farmers of Jakhani have no formal degree, no proper education, their method of water-conservation― ‘khet ke oopar med, med ke oopar ped’ (ridge on the farm, tree on the ridge)― in the draught-stricken region of Bundelkhand is nevertheless evidencing them to be more educated even than the researcher of any university.

Result of collective endeavor

Rural peasant literally follows the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was delivered by him in 2014 about water-conservation stating that ‘khet ka pani khet men, gaon ka pani gaon men’ (the water of farm should be retained in farm, and the water of village should be stored in village). That’s why the peasants of this village stood with the national thought of Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister (Late) Atal Bihari Vajpayee stated that the third world-war would be battled for the sake of water. Getting on the sentence of Atalji, the farmers and youths of Jakhani attempted the best on their behalf so that the third world-war couldn’t take place in the name of water― at least in their village. Spending thousands-of-crore under the head of water-conservation couldn’t achieve what is attained by the farmers of Jakhani without paying out a single paisa on the issues of water-conservation and mass-migration― it could have only been possible because they are traditional researchers and highly educated in real sense as far as the social tradition is concerned. Whichever state in India is suffering from water-calamity, they are now contacting the farmers of Jakhani as well as the workers of Jakhani-jalgram aiming at the solution on the concept of collective endeavor. It is, of course, the outcome collective endeavor that the farmers of Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalon, Chhatarpur, Chitrakoot, Tikamgarh― all from Bundelkhand region― constructed ridges in their thousands acre land on the cost and labor of their own― for, they all have been motivated by the achievement of Jakhani. Anyone can observe this all at any time. The firelight of ridging lit in a tiny village of Jakhani has during 15 years reached several states and district of the country― and that too without any publicity and promotion.

Message of Prime Minister for water-conservation

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi messaged about water-conservation through ridging in his letter written to the village-chiefs of the country. In June 2019, the central government constituted an independent ministry on the issues of water that is named Jal Shakti Ministry. On the 6th day of July, just four days after constituting this new ministry, Jal Shakti Secretary visited Jakhani to have an eye on the Himalayan task for water-conservation. Having observed the collective endeavor for storing water in traditional way apart from the mode of cultural-practices and bridling over the mass-migration, he even declared that this village was esteemed as the Jal-teerth (water-pilgrimage) for the Jal Shakti Ministry of the government of India. And also, he then announced that the Jakhani-experiment for water-conservation would be applied in whole of the country as a model. Sarvodaya-activist Uma Shankar Pandey, the key-leader of this water-conservation campaign and also the convener and motivator of this Jakhani-Jalgram, tells: the inspiration in this regard came from the bhudan-movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, the thought from Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the guidance from traditional hydro-scientist Anupam Mishra, the lesson of self-dependence from Didi Nirmala Deshpandey,the foundation from Gandhi’s gram-swaraj (village-independence), the technique from Dr Avinash Mishra― and right from 72-year old local peasant Ali Mohammad to young-one Nirbhay Singh, Ashok Awasthi, Raja Bhaiya Verma, Suraksha Pandey, Premchand Verma, Shanti Kushwaha, Mamoon, Rashid, Rambali Singh, Santa Rajput were in frontline who themselves picked-up spade, selflessly spent their labor, constructed ridges for water-conservation. Since then the caravan sped up; and hundreds of villagers picked-up spade, carried bamboo-baskets, enriched Jakhani with ridges― and, thus they tagged this village as the first-ever jalgram of the country in the short span of mere 15 years.

People visit Jakhani taking it as an example

Jakhani is now an example for collective and composite spirit too. Traditionally 30 wells, 6 ponds and 2 drains are situated here. Even in the peak-summer-month of June, all of those have such upward  water-level that the governmental as well as non-governmental officials who work on water issues visit this village taking it as an example. Eventually, how did the water-level come here so upward, and from where? It is in fact the result of collective endeavor, with composite spirit, for water-conservation which is taking place here following traditional mode-and-means. Almost 20 years ago, most of the youth population of this village had migrated to cosmopolitan cities of the country seeking for their bread-and-butter. The village was then evacuated, almost abandon― but since the advent of water started knocking the village due to water-conservation drive, as many as 165 young migrants came her back and they all are now earning their livelihood by being benefited with the water-conservation and cultural-practices in accordance with traditional way. They are now joyfully living with their parent, brothers, sisters and all other family-members. No one of them is now job-seeker; they are themselves boss, provider. Some young-men are engaged in farming, some cultivate vegetables; some earn by animal husbandry, some by mild-products; some hold sericulture-farm, some sell fruits― this all is the outcome of water-conservation. It’s nothing but the friendship with the water-god that the youth population of this village now conducts various types of business of their own. Even the survival was once difficult on the basis of farming, but nowadays they being the ideal farmer are providing employment to the youths of surrounding villages. This very is the blossoming of caliber!

Jakhani conceptualizes jalgram, government forms 1034 jalgrams following the footprint

The then President APJ Abdul Kalam said on 25-April-2005 in Vigyan Bhawan (New Delhi) addressing to hundreds of delegates from different voluntary organizations that India was severely suffering from water-calamity, so we would have to develop our village as the jalgram. Renowned social-activists like traditional hydro-scientist Anupam Mishra, (Padma-vibhushan) Nirmala Deshpandey, famous social-worker Mohan Dhariya, Anna Hazare etc were present there. The then union minister for rural development and other senior administrative officers were also participating in that workshop. The suggestion of Kalam emerged as the firm-commitment in the mind of a Sarvodaya-activist Uma Shakar Pandey who was also attending the 3-day-long workshop. He even on dais furnished his consent to develop the village Jakhani as the jalgram with the permission and consultation to be made by Anupam Mishra, the notable author of the ground-oriented book on water-issue titled ‘Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talab’ in the ground-level language Hindi. He then committed to develop Jakhani, an insignificant village of the drought-stricken region of Bundelkhand, as the jalgram even if the struggle in this regard prolongs up to half a century. If there is allegiance along with commitment in a praxis, means come automatically. Up to almost 15 years he struggled, carried out labor, borne the sufferings; he on one hand faced taunts from negative-minded people— but, on the other, he being resolute kept his work continued toward achieving the goal of developing his village as the jalgram on the concept of water-conservation. Neither afraid of insults, nor he accepted honors. He kept up correspondences with the governments in Delhi, explained roadmaps; many a time unheard though, he nonetheless kept his endeavors on in the public-interest. Someone would listen to you— even if on future occasion! Finally, the Modi-government sworn in office; the suggestion of jalgram was thoroughly explained— starting from 2014 to 2016— to the then union minister for water-resources and senior officials, then the meetings took place, files ran; and, at last, the government recognized the Jakhani-model of jalgram under their campaign named ‘Jal Kranti Abhiyan’ despite unexhausted protest raised by so-called water-activists, AC-habituated corporate funding-agencies that grant huge amount in the name of NGO. Following the line of Jakhani-model, government selected 2 villages in each district of the country for developing those as the jalgram— at present, there are 1050 jalgrams under the Jal Kranti Abhiyan are displayed on the website of the ministry of water-resources. A tiny firelight lit in Jakhani thus procreates jalgrams in the country. Nothing is impossible, this Jakhani proves— provided that there are patience, commitment, allegiance, and the spirit of struggle.

Jakhani inspires surrounding farmers too

Water-conservation by constructing ridges, which ensures a lot of benefits in cultural-practices too— it obviously inspired farmers of the surrounding villages. Just following traditional way, the farmers of the village Ghurauda constructed ridges in 500 bigha land on the cost, labor and resources of their own, whereas the farmers of the village Saheba performed this work in 400 bigha land; in the village Jamrehi it is done in 800 bigha land, whereas the farmers of  the village Bansada-khurd-bujurg started making ridges in 400 bigha land five years ago. Like Jakhani, the water-level of wells and ponds in these villages is going upward. Succeeded in preventing the mass-migration, these villages are also now producing basmati rice, vegetables, milk etc. Being inspired by Jakhani, the peasants of 50 more villages have so far started constructing ridges in their thousands bigha land— and, outcome of those too can be observed now.

Success-stories of migrant young-men who came back

Jakhani, which was once so water-less village of the drought-stricken region of Bundelkhand that used to be identified by its youth-migration, is now being known for their coming back. Young-men like Shanti Kushwaha, Gulab Rajput, Shyamlal Meede, Lal Rajput— all from Jakhani— are today ideal farmers and cultivating vegetables. Ram Milan Awasthi, Nirbhay Singh, Ram Kishor, Raja Bhaiya Verma, Auranzeb are engaged in animal husbandry and known for producing milk. Sahil Rashid, Lala Mansoori, Rehman Khan, Babu Singh are recognized for their sericulture-oriented farming carried out in the deep ponds of own which were created by the water-conservation, whereas youths like Pushpa Verma and Premchand are acknowledged for goat-rearing. Young-men like Raja Bhaiya, Hari Ram Kushwaha are today spinning also on the Gandhian charkha and keeping the Gandhiyan-thought alive in the village. Mamoon Rashid cultivate 500 quintal basmati (paddy) rice as the ideal peasant, whereas Ramsevak Prajapati farmed 400 quintal, Nirbhay Singh 300 quintal, Ashok Awasthi 200 quintal, and Ali Mohammad, Suraksha Pandey and Rambali grew 100 quintal each. Youths like Uma Shankar Pandey, Chandrakant, Ram Milan, Rajju Khan cultivated hundreds of quintals wheat. In Jakhani, there are several peasants of this kind who are themselves writing their success-story by cultivating huge amount of farm-products following just the traditional way of cultural-practices and committed to the water-conservation that actualizes all their dreams without any support from the government. Cultivating wheat, gram, oilseeds, pulse etc is the matter of so ease for the farmers of this village. Even a tiny farmer of mere four bigha land here owns the tractor purchased against the down-payment made in cash. In the subzi-mandi situated at the district-headquarter of Banda, the vegetables like snake-gourd, okra, eggplant, ridge-gourd, onion, tomato, chili cultivated by the farmers of Jakhani are on the topmost in demand. It is obviously because of maintaining purity in their products that the basmati rice cultivated by the farmers of Jakhani is recognized with extraordinary esteem in the grain-markets. During initial days, total 110 quintal basmati rice was cultivated by ten farmers of Jakhani— and that too with facing much difficulties. Keeping in view the monetary benefit of basmati rice, the farmers of Jakhani stored water in their farm by raising ridges— and, as the end-result, they only last year produced 25000 quintal basmati rice from such a notoriously drought-stricken region of Bundelkhand. Apart from this, 16000 quintal wheat was ideally produced by the young farmers of Jakhani who themselves once went away from the village blaming that their farms are out-and-out unproductive. With the advent of water, they are now providing jobs to the unemployed and needy farming-laborers of surrounding villages— at present, as many as 1700 laborers of such kind are working in the farms of this village. Along with providing jobs to the farming-laborers of surrounding villages, now the farmers of Jakhani are also making them familiar with several practical tricks of the cultural-practices related to plowing, harrowing, sowing, replanting of paddies, harvesting, ridge-making etc.

Ridge-making: the oldest tradition of India for water-conservation

Ever since in India the human-beings required meal, our ancestors would have invented. The land would have then been identified by them for growing the ingredients to be used in meal. And thereafter they would have tilled the land to make it farmable. In this course, the water would have been required to irrigate the crops. Since then the technique of ridge-making would have been formulated in order to conserve and store water in the farm. This is the traditional and accepted-by-all method for water-conservation which requires no technical knowhow nor any sort of modern scientific knowledge. Such water-logging prevents farm from the losses caused by the deficiency. Land-notching flows away the soil-nutrients from the farm― and it is the ridge that prevents this land-notching, which retains all the soil-nutrients in the farm and thus provides it conventional organic energy naturally. Constructing ridges not only prevents the soil of farm to be spoiled out, but also gives fresh feeding-items to be used by animals which can easily be grown up there. It might be addressed by different colloquial terms in rural areas of India like medbandi, hadbandi, nakabandi, chakbandi, gherabandi― but the basic concept behind all of those is same: the crop of rice can only be cultivated if the water is prevented and stored in the farm.

Ashok Awasthi, member of jalgram samiti at Jakhani, tells: our ancestors used to raise ridge to preserve water in the farm, and grow fruitful, shady and medicinal plants on that. I too have grown the trees like stone-apple, drumstick, hardwood, bengal-currant, lemon, indian-gooseberry, and guava which cast less-shadow over my farm. Apart from keeping environment unpolluted, these trees ensure extra income too by giving timber and fruits.

Ali Mohammad, member of jalgram samiti at Jakhani, tells: on the ridges our forefathers used to grow the crops like pigeon-pea, green-gram, black-gram, flaxseed, mustard which require less water and are grown above the ground-level. Following this way, we are now cultivating crops even on the ridges.

“Barren-land can also converted into productive one by making ridges on the forms,” claims Ashok Awasthi, member of jalgram samiti at Jakhani. He tells in this regard: the more water retains in the farm, the more productive the land becomes— and also the more productive is the farm, the better crop it produces by quality.

“Wherever in the country the problem of water-calamity is being faced, the ridges must be made there in the farm for going out from the grip of the problem,” suggests Nirbhay Singh, member of jalgram samiti at Jakhani. He tells: the only solution of the water-calamity is to conserve rainy-water; and this can only be executed by constructing first the ridges on the farm and thereafter growing tree on the ridges. 

• Seven women-groups are organized here in Jakhani targeting at the self-employment and self-dependence.
• The Banda University of Agriculture and Technology and the Reserve Bank of India are now helping the farmers by adapting the village of Jakhani.
• Out of total population of 2562 persons, there are 421 farmers in Jakhani— among them 61 are big-farmers, 265 are tiny-farmers and 43 are lease-holders. The total area of this village is 2472 bigha.  

Jakhani: Symbol of Hindu-Muslim harmony

Being enriched by all-round development because of the water-conservation, the village Jakhani is also a symbol of Hindu-Muslim harmony. Tomb of Turk Baba is situated in the village, where the maleeda made with clarified-butter taken from the milk of postnatal cow and buffalo is offered— no one in this village intakes such milk. Every member of each family, regardless their religion, still follows here this age-old custom. For centuries here exists a temple of God Narsimha, where such a platform (chabutara) is constructed which is the only one of its kind in entire Bundelkhand. At this very venue, the panchayets of inhabitants from Hindu and Muslim communities both are used to be taken place. In Jakhani, there is an age-old temple of Ratu Baba, who belonged to dhobi-family, a scheduled-cast in current terms. For centuries, people of every cast— whether Brahmin or Kshatriya or Vaishya, or from any other sect— use to worship Ratu Baba as the gram-devta (village-deity) on each-and-every auspicious occasion.

Several educational institutes open in village

After being legendary as jalgram, the picture facade of Jakhani has also been changed. Almost 20 years ago Jakhani was bitterly illiterate― but ever since the endeavors for water-conservation started and the village earned fame, running away of senior officials sped toward Jakhani which also resulted in the form of educational institutes established here in the course of time. Nowadays, in this tiny village, not only primary school and junior high school, but also government high school and intermediate college are being conducted― villagers are now in process of attempt so that a degree college besides an institute for technical training could be established. Children from several surrounding villages are today come Jakhani for studying. It is obviously a great achievement of the water-conservation drive.

Jakhani pioneers to paying MGNREGA-laborers in their account

Jakhani has credit to be the first-ever village in the country where the payment to the laborers working in MGNREGA, an ambitious employment-guarantee-scheme of the government of India, was started to be made directly in their account. As for experiment, the accounts of the laborers belong to Jakhani Gram Panchayet were opened in the Mahua branch of the nationalized Allahabad Bank― the purpose was to ensure that the laborers could receive ample price for their work and no middlemen could thus exploit them. This message was conveyed throughout the country and the system of paying the laborers through their bank-account started, which was initiated from Jakhani.

Jakhani-model impresses intelligentsia also

The Jakhani-model and the different but traditional and deep-rooted concept of its jalgram impressed the intelligentsia also across the country. Among them the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Vice-president Bharon Singh Shekhawat,  (Bharat-ratna) Nanaji Deshmukh, renowned social-worker Mohan Dhariya, the then Governor of Madhya Pradesh Ram Naresh Yadav, the then Governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik, the then Governor of Rajasthan Madan Lal Khurana, the then Chief Minister of Delhi Shiela Dixit are few to name. They called Uma Shankar Pandey, the convener of Jakhani jalgram, in order to understand this model as well as its modus-aperandi thoroughly― they whole-heartedly admired the jalgram of Jakhani-model, and declare it feasible to manage and eliminate the drought. The Secretary in Jal Shakti ministry UP Singh, DG Police (Technique) of Uttar Pradesh jal-guru Mahendra Modi, ADG Police of Uttar Pradesh Vijay Kumar, IG Police of Gwalior range of Madhya Pradesh Raja Babu Singh, VC of the Banda University of Agriculture and Technology US Gautam, Traditional Hydro-scientist Anupam Mishra, Advisor to the NITI Aayog for water and land development Avinash Mishra etc have been among those who from time to time visited Jakhani to have an eye on the process of water-conservation. The then Commissioner (Chitrakoot Dham) L Venkateshwarulu, the then District Magistrate (Banda) Yogesh Kumar, and the present District Magistrate (Banda) Hira Lal have conveyed messages to all 471 gram-panchayets of Banda to follow the Jakhani-model to ensure the water-conservation in their village. Almost all the officers of Banda district have visited here. The Director of Central Groundwater Board and the scholars who are researching in water-issues have been coming here regularly.

Thus said witnesses

The traditional experiment that the village Jakhani executed for the water-conservation without any government support is an excellent model for entire country in order to get rid of drought. This model ensures to retain water in the farm, which is stored by constructing ridges― and also it make sure the water of village to be preserved in the village-pond. This all can be actualized without the use of any machine nor any modern scientific technique.

―Dr Avinash Mishra, Advisor for Water and Land Development, NITI Aayog

I have visited Jakhani and observed the process of its model for water-conservation. I suggest that every village, where traditional water-resources are available and the storage of water is possible in huge quantity, should be developed as jalgram following the pattern of Jakhani-model.

―Bhairav Prasad Mishra, Former Member of Parliament, Banda-Chitrakoot

I was told about Jakhani. It is declared as the jalgram. An outstanding work for the water-conservation is done here― and that too without any government-support, on the basis of mere shramdan and community-cooperation. In order to eradicate the problem of drought, this Jakhani-model should be applied in other villages of drought-stricken Bundelkhand.

―L Venkateshwarulu, the then Commissioner, Chitrakoot

Without any government help under any scheme, the villagers of Jakhani clustered water in ponds and drains on the cost and labor of their own. In the course of  retaining the water, they constructed ridges on their farms at large level. That’s why the level of groundwater has now come upward, not only in this village but also in entire region. The jalgram of Jakhani is though situated in the drought-stricken region of Buldelkhand, but it is emerged as an example for all the villages across the country which are suffering from drought. The youth-population of Jakhani, who had once gone away from this village, has now come back here leaving their jobs in private sector. They are now farming in their native village. Conscious about the value of even a single drop of water, here the educated youth-farmers are now committed for water-conservation and they are in this course cultivating crops like basmati rice and wheat in large quantity.

―Hira Lal, District Magistrate, Banda

Our university adapted the village of Jakhani because of water and farming. All the facilities in this regard will be made available to the farmers here. Services of seed-scientists will be offered to them; resources regarding poultry-farming, animal husbandry, horticulture will be made available aiming at self-employment; ample training for establishing cottage-industry will also be given to the young boys and girls. Excellent work in the sphere of water-conservation has been performed in Jakhani. It resulted as the uplifting of groundwater-level that is visible here. Wells, ponds and drainages are now filled with enough quantity of water. For this extraordinary achievement this village is declared as jalgram. I personally visited this village. Youths are now being turned here toward farming. It is obviously a good sign for the future.

―Dr US Gautam, Vice Chancellor, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology

As far as the water-conservation is concerned, the village of Jakhani has now set an example for entire Bundelkhand region. Along with the scientists of Central Groundwater Board, we visited this village and observed how the villagers were constructing ridges on their farms of thousands acre― and that too without any money from government, just on basis of their own labor. Even during dreadful summer season, all the ponds and drainages are brimmed here with the water. For this incomparable achievement, Jakhani is declared as the model-jalgram.―SN Tripathi, Deputy Director, Department of Planning, Uttar Pradesh

The community-based endeavor— of ‘khet par med, med par ped’ (ridge on the farm, tree on the ridge)—performed by the villagers of Jakhani for the water-conservation just following traditional methodology and without taking any sort of grant or support from government is in fact exemplary. The government as well society should apply it following the footprints of Jakhani-jalgram in entire the country. For the ministry, this village is jal-teerth (water-pilgrimage). Coming to Jakhani is my fortune .

—UP Singh, Secretary, Jal Shakti, Government of India

Uma Shankar Pandey with Anupam Mishra, the motivator of Jakhani-jalgram

Enriched with the spirit of collectiveness and following just the traditional way, the villagers including youths and laborers prevented the drops of water in their village; and they thus made their village watered-one. Today the government as well society is stood with Jakhani. We must conserve the water on the land like Jakhani, if we need water. Water can’t be manufactured, but can only be preserved. The means come automatically, if the praxis is full of commitment, courage, sacrifice, allegiance, dutifulness, unity and the nation-serving-spirit. In spite of grand or support, the government and society recognized our system of the water-conservation— this is the great achievement of our work.—Uma Shankar Pandey, Convener, Jalgram