Aim and approach
Reduce the vulnerability of rain-scarce regions by conserving soil–moisture, augmenting water, diversifying livelihoods, and creating durable community assets on a watershed basis. Planning follows a ridge-to-valley sequence so that upper catchments are treated first to arrest runoff and erosion.
Area selection
Blocks/tehsils with low and erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, fragile soils, sparse vegetation, and poor irrigation are identified; treatment units are micro-watersheds (typically 300–700 ha) aggregated into project watersheds.
Key physical works (drought–proofing)
• Soil and moisture conservation: contour bunds, graded bunds, field trenches, terracing on slopes, vegetative barriers (vetiver/napier), mulching.
• Runoff moderation & recharge: check dams, nala/earthen bunds, gully plugs, percolation tanks, recharge shafts and farm ponds.
• Water harvesting & storage: roof-top and surface harvesting with community tanks; command development for equitable distribution.
• Afforestation/social forestry: block plantations, shelterbelts, avenue and homestead planting; silvi-pasture on commons for fodder security.
Agriculture and livelihoods
• Dryland agronomy: drought-tolerant varieties; short-duration millets, pulses, oilseeds; intercropping and crop diversification; in-situ conservation (tied ridges, furrows).
• Horticulture on bunds/wastelands: mango, guava, citrus, ber, custard apple; horti-pasture models.
• Livestock & fodder systems: breed improvement, stall-feeding, fodder plots, fodder banks; small ruminants and backyard poultry to smooth incomes.
• Water-use efficiency: micro-irrigation (drip/sprinkler), farm ponds with lift sets, more crop per drop.
Institutions, participation and equity
• Community-led implementation: Watershed Committees, User Groups, Self-Help Groups and Gram Panchayats plan and execute works; social audit and participatory monitoring.
• Benefit-sharing & maintenance: clear rules for grazing, water turns and produce; creation of Watershed Development Fund for upkeep of assets.
• Inclusion: livelihood grants/credit linkages for landless, women's SHGs and marginal farmers (goatery, tailoring, NTFP value-addition).
Programme evolution and convergence
Legacy DPAP/DDP (Drought-Prone Areas Programme/Desert Development Programme) converged into IWMP and now the PMKSY–Watershed component; works commonly align with MGNREGA for labour-intensive activities, with technical inputs from line departments (agriculture, minor irrigation, forestry).
Salient design principles to quote
(i) Watershed saturation (treat entire catchment) (ii) Ridge-to-valley sequencing (iii) People's participation & social audit (iv) Asset creation with maintenance fund (v) Livelihood diversification alongside natural-resource works (vi) Convergence and cost-sharing between Centre–State–community.
Outcomes expected
Reduced runoff and erosion, higher groundwater levels and baseflows, stabilised yields in dry years, increased cropping intensity and fodder availability, and strengthened community resilience to drought.