Activities within the grant and expected impact:
Under the project, Drought Proofing in west Rajasthan, the Trust has collaborated with MHSCT to create lasting solutions by evolving technological and organisational innovations for the integrated development of drought prone areas.

Project Sahyog, as it is also called, has a four-pronged approach, with the following activities:

	Water resource development
	Agriculture diversification
	Animal husbandry
	Income generation

Initiated in September 2002, phase I of Project Sahyog ended in February 2007. It significantly enhanced the lives of people in 16 villages in Balesar block of Jodhpur district, over a four and a half year period.

During this period, 18 water-harvesting structures having a storage capacity of 19.5 million cubic feet (MCFT) were constructed with one-third community participation.

In addition, four anicuts were constructed through the irrigation department, as part of MHSCT’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Balesar panchayat. These interventions have helped in groundwater recharging, improving groundwater quality and meeting the increasing demand for drinking water and irrigation.

Data collected from various open wells, tube wells and hand pumps directly affected by these water-harvesting structures show an average rise of 22 feet in groundwater level.

Despite the monsoons failing in 2002, 2004 and 2005, the cluster of villages continues to enjoy adequate availability of drinking water in their wells and hand pumps. To supplement safe drinking water, 31 hand pumps were installed with a community contribution of 25 per cent; six pucca open wells and seven tanks, with a total storage capacity of 0.29 million litres were constructed with 33 per cent community contribution. 2,557 households have benefited through these interventions.

As the main occupations of the people in the project area are agriculture and animal husbandry, the Sahyog project has tried to improve the quality of both. As many as 491 households, have directly benefited from agriculture interventions. The project also organised 79 veterinary camps, bringing down the mortality rate to zero. Overall, 3,824 households benefited directly from phase I.

Analysis of impact data indicates the following, briefly:

	Average household level annual income under all heads increased by 40 per cent (from Rs20,912 before project interventions to Rs29,350 at the completion of Phase I)
	Increase in average income due to agriculture per household has been Rs1,733 (83 per cent increase)
	Increase in average income due to animal husbandry per household has been Rs932 (54 per cent increase)

Subsequently, the Trust commenced operations of phase II of Project Sahyog. This focuses on drought proofing in 29 villages in the Balesar block of Jodhpur district, west Rajasthan, through ground water recharging, supplementing drinking water, and diversifying and sustaining livelihoods.

Activities revolve around enhancing water, food, fodder and livestock security. Out of the 29 villages, 16 are old and 13 are new. 8,000 households are expected to directly benefit from the phase II activities.

Specifically, an increase in income of 50 per cent can be expected in all project villages. Income in old villages should increase from Rs29,000 per household to Rs43,500, while in new villages, it should increase from Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 per household.