NAME: Mansa
Ram
LOCATION:
Chalawan, Darlaghat, Himachal Pradesh
OCCUPATION:
Retired Subedar Major in the Indian Army
Mansa Ram is 75 and supposed to be retired – living
the relaxed and quiet life. But as an avid agriculturalist, water
conservationist and the President of the Village Development Committee, Mansa
is busier than ever! A retired Subedar Major of the 14 Dogra Regiment, Mansa
retired from service in 1997 and has spent the last 25 years transforming his
farm and village - and it all started with water. With a multitude of water
issues in the area, Mansa has been a driving force behind the Village Watershed
Development Committee and has transformed the water situation on his own
property – advocating interventions to other farmers in the area.
• WATER – With limited water and infrastructure, Mansa was initially forced
to carry bucket loads of water to his farm to water plants. He constructed a
small percolation pond near his farm for irrigation, and laid micro irrigation
in his orchard with support from ACF. Going one step further, he installed an
RRWHS and as a result he has converted 7 bigha of land from wasteland into
productive horticulture land. He has also made it possible to access the
government’s lift irrigation drinking water scheme and install irrigation
systems in two villages.
• ROADS –
With no road into the village, he took up the cause - lobbying the panchayat,
and even the Chief Minister for help. He donated his own land so that a road
could be made, and when the road finally came, so much development happened in
the community that today everyone has ‘pukka’ houses.
• VILLAGE
DEVELOPMENT – As an army officer with a lot of discipline, he saw how ad
hoc and laid-back everything was in his village. He catalyzed the formation of
the Village Development Committee to identify problems and prioritise works,
and became an advocate for projects to the Government. With the local Panchayat
very far away, his efforts resulted in a sub panchayat office being built just
half a km away. He has also acted as a catalyst in forming a Women’s Group and
a Community Centre in his village.
• SOLAR
FENCING – Mansa’s property, along with other farms in the area, was
vulnerable to wild animal attacks, and so much lay dormant as a result.
Monkeys, wild boars, deers, peacocks and other birds often attack, destroying
crops and infrastructure. To solve the problem, Mansa installed solar electric
fencing to keep animals off the land. With 4.5 bigha of land now protected,
Mansa planted an orchard of 250 apple saplings.
Mansa Ram feels happy and relaxed that he has
achieved so many things. He spends his Sundays in the field with his
grandchildren, but whenever Monday comes around, he rolls up his sleeves and
gets to work. “Till my body allows me, I’ll continue farming and juggling my
social work,” he said. “It’s what helps keep me going in life!”
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