Rs 28 lakhs sanctioned from Integrated Tribal Development Agency helps build a check dam in Jhumuka Tribal Village in Rayagada

Jhumuka is a revenue village of Kutuli Gram Panchat of Rayagada district. 73 Schedule Tribe (Kandha) families inhabit the village and depend on agriculture and labour work to meet their day-to-day needs.

EKTA has been implementing IGSSS’s flagship SOUL project in this Gram Panchayat. With project support a Village Action team was formed which has actively worked for village development. In 2014, the VAT developed a village level micro plan which included construction of a check dam in Jhumuka for agriculture in the un-irrigated land, Land development activities and linkages with social security schemes. The villagers, led by the VAT advocated with the Gram Panchyat in the Palli Sabha for inclusion of the plan in the Gram Panchayat Action Plan. Although the Gram Panchayat approved the plans, the VAT along with PRI members and youth had to continuously follow up both at the Gram Panchayat as well as the Block office for nearly 2 years.

Finally in January, 2016, The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Rayagada sanctioned Rs 28 lakhs for construction of check dam at Jhumuka village through Gram Panchayat.

Nearly 40-50 villagers found work in the construction of the check dam. The work has taken 42 days to complete and people received Rs 140 per day as the daily wage. This Check Dam will help irrigate about 30-35 acres of land for cultivation thereby benefitting not only Jhumka village but also the nearby Minapai village.

The Jhumuka VAT members are happy with their success and are motivating other villages to follow their example.