Extensive geographical coverage
65 watersheds across five districts in 2001–03, extending to Thiruvallur by 2005–06 — a comprehensive approach to watershed management across southern and northern Tamil Nadu.
Tamilnadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme
A state-sponsored programme in which Coodu Trust worked as coordinating agency with the District Rural Development Agencies and the Agricultural Engineering Department — restoring degraded wastelands across five districts of Tamil Nadu.
65
Watersheds, 2001–2003
5
Districts covered
9,062
People organised into area groups
5,860
Hectares planted, 2004–2005
The project
What this project set out to do
Project mission
A state-sponsored initiative to address ecological and agricultural challenges through wasteland development and sustainable management of natural resources — restoring ecological balance by conserving soil, water and vegetation.
Under the Tamilnadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme (TNCWP) Coodu Trust worked as the coordinating agency with the District Rural Development Agencies and the Agricultural Engineering Department. The 2001–02 and 2002–03 activity tables record TNCWP work in 65 watersheds across five districts — Nilakottai in Dindigul, Andipatty in Theni, Manur in Tirunelveli, Erumaipatty in Namakkal, and Tharamangalam and Kolathur in Salem. By 2005–06 the reports also record TNCWP work in Thiruvallur, bringing the programme to six districts.
Community institutions did the heavy lifting. A village development association was formed in each of the 65 watersheds, and 9,062 people were organised into area groups, 3,330 into user groups and 2,675 into self-help groups — the reports count participants, not groups. A specialised Trainers Training Manual was prepared for Nilakottai in coordination with Gandhigram Rural Institute and DRDA Dindigul.
Plantation was the programme’s largest physical output. In 2004–05 Coodu Trust carried out integrated plantation activities — summer ploughing, de-silting of percolation ponds, fodder development, nurseries and jatropha — on 5,860 hectares: Kanchipuram 2,100 ha, Salem 1,250 ha, Dindigul 1,135 ha, Tirunelveli 750 ha and Namakkal 625 ha.
The trust’s earlier published scheme breakdown puts the complete TNCWP programme at 127 watersheds in six districts of Tamil Nadu.
- Soil & water conservation
- Wasteland restoration
- Community institutions
- Capacity building
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Wastelands losing soil, water and vegetation
Rural communities on degraded lands face an eroding resource base — land that holds neither rain nor green cover cannot sustain agriculture or ecological balance.
Our response
Holistic watershed treatment
Integrated resource management — rainwater harvesting, horticulture plantations, drinking water supply improvements and plantation across 5,860 hectares to restore and re-green degraded wastelands.
The challenge
No local institutions to carry the work forward
Watershed treatment only lasts when villages have organised, trained groups of their own to manage land and water after the project team leaves.
Our response
Grassroots institutions at scale
A village development association in each of 65 watersheds, with 9,062 people organised into area groups, 3,330 into user groups and 2,675 into self-help groups — backed by training for the Watershed Development Team, elected representatives and group members.
At a glance
The essentials
- Scheme
- TNCWPTamilnadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme — state-sponsored. The 2004–05 report renders it “Tamil Nadu Comprehensive Wasteland Programme”.
- Period
- 2001–2006Recorded in the annual reports from 2001–02 through 2005–06
- Coverage
- 5 districtsNilakottai (Dindigul), Andipatty (Theni), Manur (Tirunelveli), Erumaipatty (Namakkal), Tharamangalam & Kolathur (Salem). Thiruvallur is added in the 2005–06 report.
- Community institutions
- 65 VDAsOne village development association per watershed, plus 9,062 people organised into area groups, 3,330 into user groups and 2,675 into self-help groups
- Our role
- Coordinating agencyWith the District Rural Development Agencies and the Agricultural Engineering Department; training manuals prepared with Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul
- Part of
- TNCWP all phasesThe trust’s earlier published breakdown puts the complete programme at 127 watersheds in six districts — a figure that does not appear in any annual report
Outcomes
What the project changed
Robust community mobilization
65 village development associations formed, with 9,062 people organised into area groups, 3,330 into user groups and 2,675 into self-help groups across all project locations.
Integrated resource management
Holistic watershed treatment — rainwater harvesting, horticulture plantations, drinking water supply improvements and 5,860 hectares of plantation that restored and re-greened degraded wastelands.
Get involved
Help restore degraded lands
Support watershed work that conserves soil, water and vegetation — and builds the village institutions that keep the gains alive long after the project ends.