GAZALA PAUL, 56 AHMEDABAD: MAKING VILLAGES SELF-SUFFICIENT
“If I can save water at the individual level by using water sparingly and not allowing others to waste, that is the beginning,” says Gazala Paul. But she has been doing much more than that. Since establishing Samerth Trust 20 years ago, she has built an organisation of 65 people that now works in Kutch and Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. Based in Ahmedabad, she has a Master’s in conflict resolution and coexistence from Brandeis University, Massachusetts, US and has dedicated herself to the conservation of rainwater by supporting construction of ponds, wells and rain roofwater harvesting structures. The salinity in the ground in Kutch makes the water undrinkable and harnessing the rainwater is the only option. This results in distress migration to cities and towns to work in hazardous situations and also affects the education of children.
ACHIEVEMENT: The villages where Samerth has supported water conservation work are now able to grow two crops a year. More than 80,000 people have benefited in Kutch and Chhattisgarh over the last 20 years. Of particular satisfaction to Paul is when girls do not have to miss school due to shortage of water and toilet facilities and when village after village says that due to the regular water supply now families can buy tractors and motorcycles and their children can be educated.
THE WAY FORWARD: Water management needs community participation. Development projects require a combination of hydrogeology and local knowledge.
