Testimonials from the

	Community
	Case Studies

When the Lift irrigation scheme was first set up, fights broke out over water distribution. Everyone wanted water at a particular time and farmers would block each other’s water delivery channels to capture the most for their own fields. Since there was no one nominated to control the channels, managing the scheme was very problematic. Eventually, no one paid their dues and we had electricity arrears for more than one lakh rupees. The power supply was cut off and then the pump sets failed because we knew nothing of machinery maintenance.

- B Govind, Farmer, Reddy Nayaka Thanda LI scheme Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh (September 2005)

With the defunct LI schemes being revived, things started looking up for this hamlet. This is a tribal hamlet and not much attention was paid to us by the village panchayat. But at a meeting of LI farmers’ societies from across the state at Hyderabad, it was I who represented the village, showcased the success of the LI scheme and our hamlet, and now people are visiting us to see our work and how we run the LI scheme. The village panchayat too has begun to consult us for the village matters.

- G Sreenu, President of the Reddy Nayaka Thanda LI scheme Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. (September 2005)

We have finally started paying back the moneylender. Before the revival we had to take loans just to keep our households going. Thankfully, those days are past. I have started sending my children to school now and this year I am going to rebuild my hut into a one storey cement house. Thanks to Naandi our lives are changing.

- B Nageswara, water distributor, Reddy Nayaka Thanda LI scheme Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. (September 2005)

Chinna Nanchari Jarparla, Kandukuru village, Jaggayyapeta mandal, Krishna district

Kandukuru LI scheme was commissioned in the year 1994. About 270 acres of ayacut is irrigated in this scheme and farmers used to grow ID crops under this scheme.

A small farmer Chandappa, owned 3 acres of land and grew crops by using the water from this scheme. After handing over the scheme to the society by the IDC, farmer’s society managed the scheme for sometime and due to many reasons, the scheme became defunct in the year 2001.

Our farmer Mr Chandappa lost hope in the scheme and migrated to Bangalore in search of livelihood. In Bangalore, he stayed in a tiny hut with his family, in a remote place shown by the contractor. The contractor used to take Rs 15 as commission for getting him work. He suffered a lot without proper sanitation and water facilities in the hut.

In 2004, when Naandi took over the revival of the schemes, he came back to his village and along with other farmers started cultivating chillies and cotton in his 3-acre land. Now he earns an income of about Rs 20,000.

Current Living Status:
After the revival of the scheme, the living status has been changed:

• Migration for livelihood has been stopped.
• Met minimum livelihood needs.
• Proper health and education.
• Proper identification.

(Documented in July 2006)

Rangayya, President, Lift Irrigation Scheme I, Koilakuntla, Kurnool.

The IDC started the LI schemes in 1998 but left the work unfinished. There was no water for cultivation. Many farmers sold their land, as there were no returns. The amount of debt increased month after month. Farmers were migrating to bigger towns in search of employment.

Today, our incomes have increased by 25 per cent. The farmers in my village are like any other entrepreneur, managing and auditing accounts. This was something we were never familiar with until Naandi came in. 

In 2003, Naandi Foundation started the LI schemes. Earlier not many people believed what Naandi said but now more than 500 farmers are benefiting and 90 per cent of them are women. From my village alone a total of 680 acres are part of the project (350 acres under scheme I and 330 under scheme II). A variety of crops like paddy, cotton, jawar and sunflowers are cultivated. In the future we are planning to cultivate paddy with less water.

A lot of people who migrated have come back. Our land prices have also gone up. Now I have come to Hyderabad to meet the CM. I got his approval and signature to get water connection from a lake nearby.

The entire village is grateful to Naandi. I personally have a very good relationship with Naandi Foundation. Naandi has given livelihood opportunities to hundreds of farmer families. Every farmer in the village is making a profit and we are able to afford a watchman for our farms and also additional workers.

(Documented in July 2006)