Water Conservation Transforms Baiga-Dominated Village Indripani

Pond built under MGNREGA resolves water scarcity, creates livelihood opportunities through fish farming

Raipur, Oct 2025: Water conservation initiatives have transformed the Baiga-dominated village of Indripani in Durjanpur Gram Panchayat, Bodla block. A pond constructed and deepened under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has not only solved the village’s long-standing water scarcity problem but also opened new avenues for livelihood generation.

Indripani, a hamlet located about 3 km from the Durjanpur Gram Panchayat headquarters, is home to 65 families belonging to the particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) Baiga community. The area had long suffered from severe water shortages, making daily life and farming difficult. Recognizing this, villagers proposed deepening an existing pond during a Gram Sabha meeting, which was later approved under MGNREGA. The project was completed on time with collective participation from villagers, who received their wages directly into their bank accounts.

Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) were also involved in the project, receiving fish seeds from the Fisheries Department to begin fish farming. Despite challenges such as the hilly terrain and limited land availability, villagers and field staff successfully executed the project.

The pond, constructed at a cost of ₹9.8 lakh, generated 5,084 person-days of employment, with ₹9.65 lakh paid as wages. The structure now retains rainwater that once flowed away unused, ensuring water availability year-round.

The Boodi Mai Mahila Self-Help Group has begun fish farming, earning around ₹23,000 so far. The Fisheries Department supplied 28 kg of fish seed, helping women gain financial independence and contribute to their families’ needs.

Residents now cultivate crops throughout the year, thanks to improved irrigation. What was once a parched village is now thriving—with reliable water, sustainable livelihoods, and stronger community bonds.

Villagers say the project has improved their standard of living, turning Indripani into a model of rural transformation through water conservation and collective effort.