Community Oriented Water Management Movement

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA-

nardep

 - a spiritually oriented service mission to translate into action the vision of Swami Vivekananda of a Glorious India.

- is centered on the noble thought that Service to Man is Worship of God and serves the nation through 200 branch centers throughout the nation.

 Character building EDUCATION Culture-based Service-oriented RURAL DEVELOPMENT YOGA as a Socially relevant way of life Invigorating PUBLICATIONS

nardep for Sustainable Development

 Commonly known as VK - nardep, this is an Integral project of Vivekananda Kendra Endeavoring to promote indigenous Traditional Science and Technologies, supplementing them with the modern ones. Organizes demonstration, Awareness Camps, Seminars, Workshop and Publications.

 Shelter Construction Technology Water Management Farming Practices Indigenous Health System Renewable Energy Inner Sustainability

 Arch Foundation Economical and Strong Rat trap bond Best Masonry work for walls Compressed Earth Blocks Best substitute for bricks Flyash bricks : Recycling waste to wealth Cost effective filler slab roofs Ferro-cement channels for roofing Arches and Corbels Vaults and Domes Recognized by Tamil Nadu Government as center of repute in cost-effective construction technology Ferro-cement door and window shutters Brick Jalis and ventilators.

Technologies developed and disseminated

Vermi compost

Living water

Azolla

Pancha Gauvya

BGA

Enriched compost

Bio-Formulations: Fish-Amino

Conservation, Revival and awareness creation in traditional medical knowledge base like the endangered Nadi & Marma systems.. Promotion of local medical resources by creating home herbal gardens and promotion of herbal formulations through local self-help groups of rural women.

 Search for alternative energy resources in a de-centralized way has led to the development of Shakthi Surabhi Kitchen waste based blue-flame revolution

VK-nardep: a pioneering contributor in traditional water management structure revival & modern technologies for water conservation

Renovation of Oorani capacity : 57.5 lakhs litres Location: Thattankudiyirupu

Disturbing World Trend

Disturbing Indian Trends

VK-nardep: Reviving traditional water bodies with community participation

Oorani renovation with community participation : 80 lakhs litres Location: Shamakulam

Renovation of traditional tanks at Kanyakumari district.

VK-nardep: Synthesis of tradition and technology in water management

Recharging and sustainable use of ground water for rural communities in arid areas Earliest introduction of house roof based rain water harvesting in Ramnad area A highly acclaimed handbook on rainwater harvesting and water management technologies

VK-nardep: 2012: Creating Water Harvesting Structures for Community Use

Grey Water Treatment & Rain Water Harvesting Workshops: Models

Workshops have been conducted for college students, community groups etc on c on grey water treatment and rain water harvesting systems with exposure to live models.

VK-nardep: nationally acclaimed name in the field of water conservation

VK-nardep received Bhumi-jal Samvardhan Puraskar from Govt of India in 2007 for its work in preservation of ground water in Ramnad district

Swami Vivekanandas Association with Rameshwaram

After his conquering tour to the West Swami Vivekananda was given a rousing welcome at Rameshwaram. Here Swamiji unveiled the Vedantic conception of real worship.

This project is a dedication that concept of Vedantic worship of serving the Godhead in all humanity

A sustainable renovation and management scheme for the network of traditional water harvesting systems in the Rameshwaram Teertham area
Ecological Benefits Socio-Economic Benefits

Cultural Significance

Ecological benefits
Ground water re-charge Rain water harvest Aquatic Bio-diversity conservation at local levels Hygienic conditions Installation of floral and herbal gardens maintained by local communities

Socio-Economic benefits
Local community as stake holders in a water democracy Better Hygienic conditions leading to better living conditions Livelihood and career opportunities created for local populations particularly economically weaker sections Development of local economy due to pilgrim inflow

Cultural Significance
Creating awareness through the embedded legends in local traditions Using the legends to increase pilgrim inflow Using the legends to make the local populations feel connected to the water resources and its management with reverence

Teertham : Water Bodies

Ponds: 11

Wells: 4

Sea Bathing Enclosures:1

The Methodology
Step 1: A complete documentation of each teertham: cultural, social & ecological dimensions. Step 2: Awareness creation regarding each teertham, for the local communities Step 3: Revival of the teerthams with community participation. Step 4: Promotion of eco-pilgrimage of the teerthams. Step 3: Revival of the teerthams with community participation.

The Teerthams chosen

The Condition

The work commences 27 Jan 2013

The work started on the day of arrival of Swami Vivekananda to Rameshwaram in 1897, after his triumphant visit to the West. The key note address was delivered by Sri.K.Nandakumar IAS, the collector of Ramnad district.

A depressing sight of cultural illiteracy and ecological devastation

The Hanuman Teertham : Initially very polluted water body with disintegrating walls and inlets highly tampered: thorny bushes all around: Hard work over the last two months have recovered the important as aspects of the teertham as a community asset and water harvesting structure slowly become visible.

The salient features of the Teertham : like the inner pond becomes visible; old cultural components come out and slowly the Teertham gets a renovation

Renovation continues

Draupadi Teertham

The Draupadi Teertham: Already the Teertham has shrunk into a small petrified pond. Extremely polluted The adjoining structures cracking De-silting work going on.

Renovation continues