Bhainsamunda village in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district embarked on a remarkable journey in September 2023. Under the aegis of the Village Development Committee (VDC) and supported by Gram Vikas, the village began transforming their communal pond into a thriving hub for community-owned fisheries.

Jai Narayan Kumura, a 41-year-old Bhainsamunda resident who wears the dual hats of a farmer and a teacher, shares, “Our village pond began to lose its vitality in the summer of 2000. It served us in different ways – from irrigating fields to washing clothes and bathing our cattle. Watching it slowly dry up was like witnessing the loss of our village lifeline.”

The village’s struggle to rejuvenate the pond saw many turns. Approaches to the MLA bore no fruit, and it was not until 2020 that the Bhainsamunda VDC, involving seven active Self Help Groups (SHGs), took a decisive step. They approached the Sarpanch, only to learn that the pond’s private ownership by three residents – Mayadhar Munda, Gauranga Bhui, and Kia Kisan – was a hurdle in securing public funds for its renovation.

In a pivotal 2023 meeting, orchestrated by Gram Vikas, the VDC and SHG members gathered the entire village to address this challenge head-on. The VDC proposed a solution – the owners could donate the pond to the committee, enabling the mobilisation of funds for its restoration and the establishment of a fisheries enterprise. The potential of this enterprise to fuel the village’s development was palpable.

Mayadhar Munda, one of the pond’s original owners, recollects his thoughts, “The pond lay there, a wasted resource. We could not afford to restore it ourselves. Handing it over for the village’s betterment seemed like the right thing to do.”

The community’s spirit soon turned into action. With a budget of ₹2,00,000 sanctioned under MGNREGS by the Sarpanch, 50 village residents, employed at a daily wage, plunged into the task of restoring the pond. Over two weeks in May 2023, they deepened the pond to 15 feet, significantly more than its initial depth of 5 feet. The entire village buzzed with activity.

“The transformation was not just physical,” explains Narottam Dhurua, a VDC member. “As we landscaped the pond’s periphery and planted trees, we were creating new spaces for the community to gather for rest and connection.”

When the monsoon arrived, the pond, now a symbol of the village’s resilience, brimmed with life-giving water. Gram Vikas provided 1000 fingerlings to kickstart the fishery, marking the beginning of a sustainable livelihood venture for the community.

Narottam Dhurua outlines the vision, “The income from the fishery will support our Pipe Water Supply operations and other village development initiatives. Surplus income will be kept in the VDC account for future initiatives. It is a step towards self-reliance.”

Upendra Kumura, a 38-year-old farmer with a 1.5 acre farm adjacent to the pond, reflects on the broader impact. “You see, this pond is not just a body of water. It’s a lifeline for us. When it fills up with the monsoon rains, the water seeps into the earth, recharging the groundwater beneath. This replenishment is vital. It keeps the soil in my farm and the surrounding areas moist, which is crucial for growing our crops.”

“And there’s more to it,” he continues. “During those harsh dry spells, when there are no rains, this pond becomes our lifeline. We can draw water from it to irrigate our fields. It is a dependable source that sees us through the year. For farmers like me, it is not just about irrigation. It is about hope for better yields and a stable income.” 

The story of Bhainsamunda’s pond is a testament to the power of community action and collaboration, of rural communities navigating the challenges of sustainable water management and livelihood creation.