For years, we passed through Palaskheda village and witnessed the struggles of its farmers. Low crop yields made it difficult for them to earn a sustainable livelihood, and many continued to live in kachha makaans.
India is an agriculture-based country, yet many farmers still struggle to build a pakka makaan for their families. One of the primary reasons is inadequate income caused by irregular crop yields and the ongoing water crisis.
Nivrutti Palve was one such farmer. He lived in a kachha makaan until JalTara transformed his farm. As his income doubled following the project's implementation, Nivrutti fulfilled his dream of building a pakka makaan. In a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, he named his new home JalTara, acknowledging The Art of Living's support in transforming the lives of farmers like him.
Surviving on a Minimal Income Before JalTara
Not long ago, Nivrutti Palve lived with his elderly mother in a kachha makaan in Palaskheda village. Farming provided barely enough to support his family. Excessive rainfall led to severe waterlogging, damaging his crops and making cultivation increasingly difficult. As crop losses mounted, so did the challenges of sustaining a decent livelihood.
A Turning Point through the Art of Living JalTara Project
Nivrutti's prospects changed when Palaskheda became one of the four villages selected for the JalTara pilot project. The Art of Living JalTara Sevaks encouraged him to participate, and recharge structures were built on his farm.
Soon, stagnant rainwater began percolating into underground aquifers through these recharge structures instead of accumulating on the fields. Groundwater levels increased, ensuring water availability throughout the year while eliminating crop losses caused by waterlogging. With improved farming conditions, Nivrutti was able to cultivate more and increase his income.
Overjoyed by this transformation, he finally built his dream pakka makaan in Palaskheda. In his own words:
"Not too long ago, around 90% of the houses in the village were mud houses, but today around 70% of the houses are made of concrete."
Not only did Nivrutti improve his crop yield and build a concrete home, but he also named it JalTara as a tribute to the project that transformed his life.
JalTara has brought prosperity to Palaskheda, improving the livelihoods of farmers who have adopted The Art of Living's water recharge approach. Across India, many farmers continue to face similar challenges, where waterlogging and inadequate groundwater limit agricultural productivity and income.
The Art of Living JalTara Project is emerging as one of the country's most effective water conservation initiatives. Already making a significant impact in Maharashtra, the project aims to expand across India.
JalTara's vision is to reach 1,00,000 villages and build 5 crore recharge structures over the next five years, helping solve the country's water crisis through simple, scientific groundwater recharge interventions.