A Drought Relief Program for Maharashtra

The affected region (expanding as we speak)

Effects of drought at various levels

• Physical – Thirst, sanitation, irrigation, etc.

• Emotional– Stress, repeated exposure to the harshness of nature year after year

• Existential– Doubts in people’s minds, questions about worthiness of a water-

deprived life

More than 2 crore people are sufferingOver 11,000 villages affectedOver 50% crops destroyed in 3500 villagesLivestock dying

The Aid so far

• State demand Rs 1800 crores• Central grant Rs 1200 crores

The Initiative

A holistic plan

• Art of Living plans a 3 step intervention:– Step 1: Spiritual– Step 2: Short term– Step 3: Long term

Step 1: Spiritual Intervention

• Engaging people’s spirit directly– Making people aware of their own resilience in such a crisis. – Use a mass contact medium such as prayer meetings to spread

awareness about various things people can do to go through the crisis

Step 2: Short Term Interventions

• To provide water tankers in non-government aided areas– 1 Water Tanker = Rs 3,000 per day– This will be able to cater to 3,000-5,000 people in 3-4 villages

• Providing Syntex tanks of 2000-5000 litres to keep water potable and contamination-free– One 2000 litre Syntex tank = Rs 10,000– One 5000 litre Syntex tank =Rs 25,000

Step 2: Short Term Interventions

• Forest water recharging in Osmanabad Taluka – Recharging 20 water bodies in next 2 months – Forest recharge per Taluka would cost around 1-2 lakh rupees for next

two months

• Cemented water tanks which would serve as water reservoirs for cattle to be built– Construction cost of 1 cattle tank = Rs 3,500

• Constructions of drinking water facilities called Pyau in cities in 10 places– Infrastructure includes 6 pots of drinking water and one person – Cost per Pyau= Rs 3,500– Per 10 Pyau = Rs 35,000

• Awareness rallies with school children promoting water conservation

Step 2: Short Term Interventions

Step 3: Long Term Interventions

• Deepening of existing water bodies by de-silting.• Repair of check dams• Kolhapur Types (K.T) Weir Gates• Replenishing water in existing bore wells

– Replenishing cost per bore well = Rs 5,000

• Rooftop water harvesting – Cost per 500 sq.ft. rooftop = Rs 5,000

• Water harvesting using continuous contour trenches– Cost per village for contour trenches = Rs 5 lakh per km

• Installation of bio sanitising ecological treatment plant in every house for treating sewage water– Cost per plant in one house = Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000

• Awareness campaign for water harvesting and efficient use

Step 3: Long Term Interventions

The Other Side

• You are a business owner• The people out there are your consumers

Associate with them at the level of their concerns

• On every Rupee of your brand that a consumer buys, donate X paise for the Maharashtra Drought Relief

Indians for India

• This way, Indian consumers of all shapes and sizes will automatically contribute to the cause

• And adequate awareness will be generated about an issue that otherwise might become a page 7, 20 col cm news item

How could you help

• Cheque in favour of – Account name-VVKIMAB– Account number- 037601000060– IFSC- ICIC0000376– Nariman point branch

80G will be provided for amounts greater than Rs. 5000

Thank You