Tribal Women in Sustainable Development through Watershed Programmes in Vidarbha

The present participatory research was conducted among the Gond tribes of Vidarbha. For centuries, due to lack of political participation, depletion of forest wealth, degenerationof their economic system and the aridity of their land these tribes, especially the women, became the victims of exploitation. Community Action for Development (CAD), an NGO working with the tribal women, convinced them that watershed programmes implemented with people's participation had an inherent quality and strength to alleviate their poverty. The women of ten villages participated voluntarily to achieve this goal. They jointly took decision to dig a number of small ponds and construct numerous check dams to store rain water. The joint endeavours gradually helped them to realize that improved ways of water management could be imparted through folklore, songs, riddles, proverbs, etc. The watershed programmes in all the villages became means to harness their resources and realize their felt needs. It also helped them to develop a sense of unity, power, dignity and self-reliance. The watershed programmebecame a tool for the tribal women to take control of their social milieu which affected their lives. The process provided them with an opportunity to empower themselves.