The partnership between government and corporates dates back to decades. The bonding between the two has prospered on mutual cooperation, respect and support. The government looked upto industries for implementing socio-economic programs and the industries never shirked from their responsibilities.
Whether it has been pre or post independence era, it is so much true, the development in a nation can sustain only when both corporates and government work towards a common agenda of development.
I have seen this honour, commitment and enthusiasm in Rajasthan, where Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc, the State Government and Central Government are working hand in hand to implement various socio-economic development programs for the rural and under-privileged.
It was a bright sunny morning. I could feel the scorching bright sun indicating the arrival of summers in Rajasthan. Amidst all this, I also liked cherishing memories and this time, I was thinking of my visit in Rajasthan which had made me understand the meaning of successful, rather role-model partnership between government and industries.
Rajasthan is known for scarcity of water and one area that would have needed attention must be the agriculture & livestock development. In India about 21% of the GDP is contributed by its agriculture sector and about 72% of the population still lives in rural India. This makes it further essential to closely service and develop this sector.
In middle of my thoughts, I received a call from Urvashi – who I had met for my story on Shiksha Sambal Project in Bhilwara - the girl who was to appear for the 12th board exams. After a casual talk, I spoke to her about my thoughts on agriculture & livestock in Rajasthan. Urvashi gave me reference of her uncle, who is a farmer in Khatikheda village, Bhilwara. Urvashi said she may not be able to accompany me but she would inform her uncle about my visit tomorrow to village Khatikheda.
I reached Khatikheda quite early. Her uncle was waiting at the Village Community Centre and he informed me that BAIF – a non-profit organization, Government of Rajasthan and Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc are running joint programs for the benefit of the farmers. Rather these programs are spread across Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Rajsamand districts as well.
Urvashi’s uncle took me to Mr. Sawarlal, who is the Ward Panch of Khatikheda. Sawarlal Ji informed me that Khatikheda is a village of 50 families, wholly dependent on Agriculture and Livestock for their livelihood. The scarcity of water for irrigation and no veterinary hospitals in the nearby areas have always been a matter of concern for the villagers. But with the intervention of Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc, we have got the solution now, Sawarlal Ji said with immense satisfaction.
I wanted to see what Sawarlal Ji meant by solution. He took me to a beneficiary of agriculture development and water harvesting program, Shri Meera Baksh. Baksh Ji first showed me his lush green agriculture farm. I could see a smile of pride on his face and satisfaction of assured livelihood.
Baksh Ji then showed me a huge water tank which was connected with the terrace of his house through big pipes. This looked like water harvesting procedure. On my asking he informed, ‘initially I could produce hardly 10 quintals of crop in a year but once Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc have helped me construct this water harvesting system, I was able to save sufficient water during rains and after proper help from the company I am able to do multi-cropping and generate almost 30 - 40 quintals of crops in a year’.
Under the Private Partnership (PPP) Model canals have also been constructed in the village, Baksh Ji informed. Sawarlal Ji added that at some places Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc has also carried out other micro-irrigation & watershed projects like dry well recharge and construction of anicuts.
Sawarlal Ji also informed that training programs have been organized by BAIF and Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc in agriculture development which has helped in use of high quality seeds, rich manure and appropriate irrigation methods along with orchard development.
Baksh Ji gave me Guavas from his field to eat and said, ’Guavas of Khatikheda are very famous’. He stayed back for his work and we moved on.
I wanted to see what has been done in the cattle breed improvement in the village and Sawarlal Ji informed that there is an Artificial Insemination Camp running presently in the village and right now the doctor is examining the cow and her newly born calf at one of the beneficiary, Mahaveer’s house.
Mahaveer’s house was not far. I was delighted to see a small calf, must be just few days old, standing close to her mother who was protecting her. Sawarlal Ji introduced me to Dr. Jitendra Katyal who had come for the immunization of the new-born. ‘This calf has been born through artificial insemination that will improve its milk yielding capacity from current levels of 3-6 litres to 24 litres per day, thus increasing the income of the owner by about 70%’, said Dr. Katyal.
Mahaveer added, ‘We also receive 1500 kg of free fodder for the animals that has also helped in improvement of the breed and because of these cattle health camps there has been noteworthy decrease in the cattle mortality and morbidity rate in the village’.
Sawarlal Ji informed me that with the help of Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc and BAIF, the village also has a “Green House”. It came as a surprise to me; Green House in such a remote village ? The change in times has also brought change in the reach of technology.
Sawarlal Ji took me to the Green House – it is a place where saplings and plants are grown with the controlled sunlight in the pollution free environment. At the Green House, I met Mr. Jai Prakash Partani, Subject Matter Specialist. Mr. Partani showed me a lemon plant and nearby placed a special pot called ‘Gherd’, made from 75% of sand and 25% of soil. He informed that this indigenous system has been quite successful in curtailing the wastage of water and also ensuring sufficient water for the plant. The water in the ‘Gherd’ is filled once in a week and as it is placed at a distance of about one feet from the plant, it ensures sufficient water supply.
Sawarlal Ji and Mr. Partani became busy in their conversation on new crops and I enjoyed seeing the new saplings and the rural friendly technology.
Community is the one who is benefited from such efforts where large corporate like Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc and Government join hands and ropes in NGOs and non-profit organization for further support to implement community service programs.
The respect from community for the Government and Corporates is what is expected and which was seen in Rajasthan. It takes a large effort to bridge financial support and people involvement to implement mass scale community service initiatives. But when you see them happening successfully, it gives you immense inner satisfaction.
We may live where ever, but some where or the other, we are attached to our villages.
My journey will continue….
Shobhana Singh
