India: Short films freeze long-term solution to drought
Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), a not-for-profit NGO working in the field of watershed development and adaptation to climate change, has made the films to chronicle the success of its watershed projects in two villages in the in drought-hit Marathwada region, reports The Indian Express.
The 4.48-minute film, The Battle for Water - A Drought Story from Marathwada-Kasarwadi, and 4.39-minute Making Drought a Memory - Kachner Tanda, both in English, were shot in May.
"Besides afforestation, various small and big bunds (dams) were made of mud, cement and rocks to stop wastage of rainwater. Even on the mountains, measures were taken to collect rainwater so that watertable goes up," says J R Pawar, executive director at Sanjivani Institution for Empowerment and Development (SIED), a sister concern of WOTR.
Because of this, villagers had enough water in handpumps and wells to sustain themselves during the drought in the state, added Mr Pawar.
In the opening scene of The Battle for Water an old man from Bantakli village says: "In 1972, there was water and no food. Today, there is food and no water. Our animals are suffering more than us. Around 300 animals have been sent to chavanis (community animal shelters). Kasarwadi is just two km from here; they don't need water tankers."