Coping with Climate Change in Rajasthan
Bringing hope by sustainably managing natural resources
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KARAULI, India - As far as the eye can reach this limitless rocky terrain, the vast expanse of Barki village, perched atop a mountain, is devoid of any dense vegetation despite being locally called ‘daang’ (a forest area).
A bush here, a tree somewhere, is all that can be seen in the village. For decades, people of remote Barki village in Karauli district in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan would lock up their homes in the summer and leave with their cattle due to water scarcity.
The village, however, worked painstakingly to cater to its water needs by harnessing rainwater to improve its socio-economic conditions. Local NGO Gram Gaurav Sansthan supported the villagers and implemented soil and water conservation methods such as Pokhara and paras (earthen dams).
This ensured increased agricultural activity on the rocky terrain and water availability to the last mile. UNICEF has been a knowledge partner of Gram Gaurav Sansthan since 2023, strengthening elements of climate change and environmental sustainability.
“As the rainwater depletes in January or February every year, people would migrate to other villages. Many villagers used to travel a long distance every day to fetch water. Women and men don’t work in the mines anymore.
“But the situation has changed now. Water availability in the villages has stopped people from falling into the trap of poverty and rescued them from developing silicosis. Now, people work in their fields. There is enough milk, food, and water,” said Jagdish Gurjar, secretary of Gram Gaurav Sansthan.
The intervention has also helped end women’s water woes by ending their daily travel for water, aiding in children’s well-being. It promoted sustainable practices backed by solar power to enable irrigation and forest conservation. The use of renewable energy sources has also contributed to addressing climate change and achieving environmental sustainability.
“The pond water has helped us grow food and fodder. Earlier, people used to do mining work, but now most of them are involved in agricultural activities in the village. Even children miss school as their mothers have to fetch water from a long distance, but now, they go to school daily. The children's health has also improved as there is water to drink from a common tap post and to meet their cleanliness needs,” said Krushna Kumari Meena, 25, a Barki resident.
She said their water needs were met with the intervention of Gram Gaurav Sansthan, who had worked tirelessly along with the villagers to preserve the rainwater in the pond. The initiative has been possible with the active support of the village youth, who have used traditional wisdom to enable water management, making the community self-sufficient and resilient to climate shock amid the soaring temperatures in Rajasthan.
Rakesh Meena, another Barki resident, 34, said all village youth had helped create the mud dams along the pond to preserve the rainwater. A youth group has been formed in the village, which actively participates in the upkeep of the water body.
One of the villagers who has become an agent for change in Barki and paved the way for others to create livelihoods in the village is Gopal Meena, 75. In his small two-room house, the porch is stacked with gunnysacks of homegrown mustard seed and wheat.
“Distress migration (in Barki) has significantly reduced because of the water conservation-related interventions,” said Murari Mohan Goswami, Gram Gaurav Sansthan's mentor.
Traditional water harvesting sources played an important role in ensuring water availability in remote places. In Rajasthan, UNICEF, along with the government and local NGOs, has been working to ensure water availability to the most underprivileged section of society. The focus is especially on making water available through government schemes to women and children who come from backward areas.
UNICEF continues to focus on addressing climate change through a blend of local and innovative practices to achieve environmental sustainability, along with equity and gender, for lasting change for the most vulnerable communities.
