Recasting Citizenship for Development - File UPI

152 CHHAYA DATAR
reasonable and would not be that difficult to obtain. The need for water
is a myth; judicious use could bring down the quantity of water required
for such plantations. However, there were stronger negative responses
with respect to the availability of water than there were for the availability
of land. The main demand was that water first be assured for any landrelated
activity, and only then could any new programme be conceived.
Some of them showed willingness to fetch water, if available, by using
pitchers. But water does not exist. A borewell or ordinary well has to be
the first priority. This cannot be done with the loan available through the
SHG, as it is a big amount.
Without an assured source of water it would be difficult to search for
water and then we would be forced to get a pitcherful of water for each
plant and do the watering. Without a close source of water, we may have
to hire a bullock cart and get a barrel for watering the plants. It would be
too costly an affair to keep the plants alive during the summer period.
We don’t have water for drinking and so how can we ask for water for
plantation. In many villages women depend upon tankers to fetch water
and then how can one think of getting water for plantation.
To get a tanker of water is itself like a battle everyday and we have to wage
so many conflicts. To nurture an orchard is a dream for us.
Even if there were a plantation of jatropha, it would require some water
at least for the first two years.
Some women narrated their experiences of planting mango trees in
their fields. They were willing to water them by carrying water physically
from a distance everyday. Even then, the plants did not survive. They
realised that it was not easy to nurture a plantation.
As you suggest we can take loan from the SHG for arranging a pipe-line,
but it takes three to four years to start getting profit from the orchard,
then how can we repay the loan in time. There is a rule of repayment in
time otherwise we need to pay fine.
We do understand that we can make a facility of some storage and thus
get water to be used during summer. But tanker water is too costly and
where can we get that kind of money?