| By Indian Express,
on 14-01-2010 00:49
|
 She had no formal education beyond Class V and was married off at age 12, but
for her sheer leadership qualities and dedication for saving water as a natural
resource and other green initiatives, she has become a role model for the youths
in Bihar.
Aptly called the green lady of Munger, Jaya Devi is now a crusader of
green cause in both her native Munger and neighbouring Jamui district.
A pioneer in the self-help group (SHG) movement in the region, her
efforts, so far, have converted more than 50,000 hectares of barren land into
fertile territories with various seasonal agriculture produce.
A chance encounter with social worker Kishore Jaiswal, a former student
of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, had transformed her life forever.
The
entire region of Dharara Kol block and nearby five blocks were remote and
without enough drinking water, irrigation and electricity, but after a meeting
with Jaiswal, Jaya Devi took up the idea of taking the rainwater harvesting and
watershed management initiatives to people of the region.
Later with ‘shramdaan’ for four days by members of all family, villagers
of Saradhi, Kareili and Khopapa built their first watershed management structure
of the block.
NABARD and district administration also chipped in with help and now the
block is home to six watershed management structures with a collective capacity
to irrigate over 50,000 hectares of land.
The success stories of Munger spread to nearby Jamui whose people started
working on watershed management.
For the crusader water was not the only issue.
With ample support from the villagers and community leaders, Jaya Devi
has also taken initiatives on restoration of degraded ecological conditions of
wastelands, plantations, promotion of tree and cattle-based agriculture,
pollution control, limiting grazing, farm bunding and a mission against felling
trees.
A born leader, Jaya Devi was also helped by organisations like the Art of
Living Foundation and Red Cross.
Though her region is Naxal-infested, she had never encountered any
problem with the ultras either.
Felicitated by MS Swaminathan Foundation and Jamsedji Tata Virtual
Academy for Rural Prosperity and NABARD, Jaya Devi was here to address members
of National Service Scheme during the 15th National Youth Festival on KIIT
University campus as part of the Suvichar camp.
Definitely, she would be an inspiration for youths of Orissa where
irrigation water is still a distant dream in many pockets and farmers suffer
when the monsoon is erratic.
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Last update : 14-01-2010 00:49
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