Department of WasteLands Development
 
CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEME (CSS) :
1. Integrated Wastelands Development Programmes (IWDP) :
IWDP is a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which grant-in-aid is provided from the Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, for development of wastelands on watershed basis. This is one of the major schemes implemented by the Department.

Objectives: The basic objective of this scheme is to take up integrated wasteland development based on village/micro-watershed plans. These plans are prepared after taking into consideration the land capability, site conditions and local needs of the people to fulfill the following objectives:-
  1. To increase productivity of the land.
  2. Create employment opportunities
  3. Raise rural incomes and living standard
  4. Reduction in migration from rural areas
  5. Increase in water table in the area
  6. Restore ecological balance and overall environmental improvement

 

 

 

 

 
Gariphema village community constructing link road under Entry Point Activity (EPA) of IWDP in Kohima District Project-IV
Salient Features :
  • Development of wastelands through people’s participation
  • Empowering rural masses in decision making
  • Low cost locally available technology
  • Active involvement of  Village Councils/Village Development Boards
  • Greater role and active implementation of/by Self Help Groups, User groups, Women’s Groups and Stake Holders
  • Post project maintenance through self contributed Watershed Development Fund
  

 

 

Nursery raised by self helpgroup in Asangma Village  (MOKOKCHUNG DISTRICT) under IWDP.

ZANGNA Self Help Group members of Mhainamtsi village at work. The group has been formed under the aegis of IWDP in Kohima Dist. Project-III
Activities : Within the watershed area any of the following activities can be taken up as per land capability, suitability and actual needs of the watershed communities.
  • Land development, in-situ soil and moisture conservation measures – terracing, bunding, vegetative barriers etc.
  • Drainage line treatment by vegetative and engineering structures.
  • Development of small water harvesting structures.
  • Afforestation.
  • Plantation crops, horticulture, silvi-pasture
  • Pasture development.
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A division structure and irrigation channel constructed under IWDP at  Longsa Village, Wokha District
Coast : The cost norm for the projects sanctioned prior to 1st April 2000 was Rs. 4,000/- per hectare for integrated treatment of gross watershed areas, which was 100% grant from Govt. of India. However, the cost norm has been enhanced to Rs. 6000/- w.e.f 1st April 2000 with the cost sharing between the Central and State Governments in the ratio of Rs. 5,500:Rs. 500 per hectare.  This amount is divided amongst the following project components subject to the percentage ceilings mentioned against each :-
i Watershed Treatment/ Development Works/Activities. 80%
ii Watershed Community Organization (Financial assistance to SHGs and Entry Point Activities) . 5%
iii Training. 5%
iv Administrative Overheads. 10%
Total 100%
Instituational Arrangement :
  • State level Watershed Programme and Review Committee.
  • District Watershed Development Advisory Committees.
  • District Project Officers (Project Implementing Agencies).
  • Watershed Development Teams.
  • Watershed Associations.
  • Watershed Committees.
  • User Groups.
  • Self-help Groups.
         A four year old Gamari (Gmelina arborea) plantation at Nzhü in Wokha District taken up under IWDP
Equity :
  • Women’s participation.
  • Greater access to income  generating opportunities.
  • Sharing of benefits by the  community
  • Assets for the weaker sections of the population.
  • Employment opportunities for landless and weaker sections.
End results :
  • Improved productivity of watersheds
  • Improved availability of timber, fuel- wood and fodder.
  • Increase in water table in the area.
  • Reduction in migration from rural areas.
  • Improvement of economic status of the people.
  • Restoration of ecological balance and over-all environmental improvement.
Since 1993-94, 20 IWDPs, 3 under the old guidelines and 24 under the new guidelines have been sanctioned to Nagaland State.

IWDP is well accepted by the people of the State as activities under IWDP easily fit into the system of jhum cultivation without necessitating any drastic change. It is hoped that dependence on jhum practice will be greatly minimized and the project will not only improve the socio-economic condition of the rural people but will also bring about overall improvement in the environment.

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