SRIJAN - Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action � India

Renovation of Wells Very Useful for Rural Communities

Renovation of traditional wells has improved safe water access, sanitation, and safety in villages. Community participation and low cost repairs revived neglected wells and reduced risks. Linked with water conservation, the initiative also strengthened groundwater levels and livelihoods. Read Article

Jaitpur project shows how climate-resilient farming can strengthen rural livelihoods

Building climate resilience while strengthening small farmer's livelihoods in rural Uttar Pradesh. A community led model combining natural farming, water conservation, and renewable solutions. Read Article

Slow but steady shift: How natural farming is gaining ground in a UP village

Natural farming can succeed among small farmers only when it protects their livelihoods. Experiences from Lamaura village show that with crop diversification, reduced input costs, and local support, natural farming can be economically viable. This emerging model combines sustainability with income stability and resilience for small farmers. Read Article

Small Farmers Are Also Planting Fruit Orchards

In rural parts of Madhya Pradesh, small and marginal farmers are moving beyond traditional cropping to establish fruit orchards. With low cost techniques, better use of natural resources, and community support, this shift is improving incomes while making farming more sustainable and secure. Read Article

Natural Farming is winning in Lamaura, slowly but steadily

In Lamaura village of Mahoba district, small farmers are gradually shifting toward natural farming. By balancing income security with healthier practices, they are rebuilding resilient farms-slowly, but with confidence. Read Article

Salaiya Maaf-A Village Facing Many-Sided Problems Finds Effective Solutions and New Hope

In Salaiya Maaf village of Mahoba district, land that once struggled to grow crops is turning productive again. Through community effort, sustainable farming, and water conservation, families are rebuilding livelihoods, dignity, and hope. Read Article

A Solar Pump That Changed the Lives of Farmers in Karauli’s Daang Region

In Karauli’s drought-prone Daang region, farming survives amid water scarcity and unreliable electricity. This story shows how solar irrigation pumps are helping small farmers especially women secure livelihoods and farm with dignity. Read Article

Bundelkhand's water heritage being saved

Efforts to restore Bundelkhand’s traditional water systems are helping villages improve water availability, support farming, and preserve local heritage through community participation. Read Article

A Tale of Two Villages that Gives Hope

From Water Scarcity to Sustainable Abundance: How Community Efforts Revived Shyampur Once struggling for drinking water and livelihoods, villages in Karauli have transformed through rainwater conservation, natural farming, and women-led initiatives. Read Article

From barren land to cultivation: A story of change in Karauli district, Rajasthan

Water conservation and community-led initiatives have transformed Shyampur from a water-scarce village into a productive agricultural area, reducing migration, easing women’s burden, and improving livelihoods, while in nearby villages like Garhi, despite continued hardship, small natural farming efforts supported by SRIJAN are helping vulnerable women sustain hope and work towards better livelihoods. Read Article

The Role of Vegetables in Combating Malnutrition

Vegetables play a vital role in improving nutrition and addressing malnutrition by providing essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. The article highlights how promoting diverse vegetable consumption and natural farming practices can strengthen food security and improve community health, especially among rural and vulnerable populations. Read Article

The mustard revolution in Rajasthan: Where women hold the key

A women-led, farmer-owned mustard processing initiative in Karauli, Rajasthan shows how natural farming and local processing can bring real change at the village level. It helps farmers earn fair incomes, access healthier edible oil, and keep valuable by-products within their own communities. The effort offers a practical, climate-resilient way to reduce import dependence while strengthening rural livelihoods. Read Article

Jashpur Collector Inaugurates HDFC's Holistic Rural Development Programme to Empower 5,000 Families in Bagicha Block.

The HDFC's HRDP project was launched in Bagicha to support 5,000 tribal families across 20 villages. The initiative aims to strengthen livelihoods through sustainable agriculture, water resource management, and upgraded community infrastructure over the next three years. Read Article

Dang Initiative Can Open Up an Exciting New Path for Progress of Oilseed Farmers in India

India has a strong tradition of oilseed farming that can provide healthy, climate-resilient edible oils and sustainable livelihoods, but this potential has weakened due to declining local systems and rising imports. A women-owned farmer producer company in Karauli, supported by SRIJAN, is reviving natural farming–based oilseed processing. Through local, farmer-owned processing, the initiative ensures fair prices, shared profits, better nutrition, and environmental sustainability. Read Article

A farmer in MP’s Tikamgarh District shows the way for creative and climate change-resilient farming

Climate change-resilient farming is sometimes depicted as a burdensome process. However, Saroj Kushwaha, a woman small farmer of Pathari Village in Tikamgarh District, Madhya Pradesh, has been practising it and has succeeded in reducing the burden of fossil fuels on her farm, besides improving soil conditions, in the process boosting the nutrition, health and prospects of her family, while increasing her net income. Read Article

New Development Initiatives that add to the existing strengths of rural communities

New development efforts are most effective when they respect and strengthen the long-standing practices of rural communities. Experiences from Karauli show that initiatives aligned with traditional knowledge help farmers improve livelihoods without disrupting local resilience. Read Article

A Development Project that Could Progress Well and Enthuse People in Difficult Times and Tough Conditions

SRIJAN’s one year initiative in Bamaur, Jhansi is driving major improvements in water conservation, livelihoods, and community participation. The project is steadily building confidence and long-term resilience among rural families. Its efforts continue to bring visible, positive change to the village communities. Read Article

Villages Overcoming Difficult Conditions to Find Hope

With wells drying up and rainfall becoming unpredictable, Kudri village struggled with shrinking water availability. Through SRIJAN’s support, the village has created new water storage, adopted natural farming, improved goat-based livelihoods, and strengthened women’s leadership, bringing steady improvements in both farming and community resilience. Read Article

Some Small Farmers Are Struggling Courageously to Respond Well to Climate Change but They Need More Help

In Bundelkhand, many small farmers are falling into debt after extreme rains destroyed their crops, but a few like Balchandra are coping well through natural, diversified farming. With SRIJAN’s support, he stays debt-free, earns throughout the year, and shows how climate-resilient farming can work. Read Article

Water Conservation Emerging as the Strongest Source of Climate Resilience for These Villagers in Jhansi

In Jhansi’s drought hit villages, SRIJAN’s check dams, dohas, farm ponds, and tank desilting have become a new source of hope by restoring water, raising the water table, and reviving farmland. These community-led efforts are helping small farmers recover from crop losses, reduce migration, and build long-term climate resilience. Read Article

20-point Emerging Model That Shows A Lot of Promise for Small Farmers

SRIJAN’s innovative 20-point model supports small farmers through natural farming, water conservation, and community participation. By reducing input costs, improving soil fertility, and enhancing nutrition through home-grown produce, it helps build sustainable livelihoods while protecting the environment and strengthening rural self-reliance. Read Article

Water conservation in villages of Madhya Pradesh can improve life within a relatively short time

A number of water conservation steps were initiated in the Nadna village of Shivpuri district (Madhya Pradesh) to save a good part of rainwater in the village. These initiatives have also supported in increasing the overall water level in the village and it is possible to get more water easily from wells and hand-pumps. Read Article

Improving Livelihoods based on Better Care of Goats

SRIJAN team in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh initiated better care of goats and improved livelihoods. A lot of emphasis had been placed on training of selected rural women (also known as Pashu Sakhis) to provide basic health care to goats in villages. Read Article

Women in Remote Villages Mobilize to Check Fast Spread of Alcoholism

In several villages of Bali block in Pali district of Rajasthan inhabited by the Garasia tribal community, increasing number of self-help groups had been organized , particularly involving women to resolve issues such as rising effects of alcoholism, child marriage and violence against women. Read Article

Rural Women Groups in India Combine Economic Progress with Social Reform

In Bali block of Pali district (Rajasthan), women from Garasia tribal or adivasi communities have been pooling their savings on a regular basis every month which have led to a significant improvement in their economic and social security. Read Article

Experience of Suhagpura Villages in India Shows Water Conservation Must Get the Highest Priority

SRIJAN was successful in bringing about significant relief to people of Suhagpura village of Pratapgarh district in terms of reducing conditions like water scarcity, and improving water access through recharge and moisture. Besides, also supporting in improving the water level for existing traditional wells and hand pumps. Read Article

Improving Livelihoods and Nutrition, Protecting Environment in Remote Villages

SRIJAN supported the poverty-stricken Meena Adivasi community of the Kalyanpura village of Pratapgarh district in Rajasthan by developing natural farming methods which has in turn led to reduced expenses and increased self-reliance. Read Article

As Heat Waves Intensify in India, These Inspiring Examples Show How Small Budget Efforts to Conserve Water Made Big Contributions

Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. Read Article

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