“Thottiyapatty SEVAI/FdnF Watershed makes running water walk”-Dr.K.Govindaraju

Thottiyapattty SEVAI/FdnF  Watershed project

Thottiyapatty SEVAI/FdnF watershed is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valley. Thottiyapatty watershed carries water "shed" from the land after rain falls drop by drop, water is channeled into soils, groundwater, creeks, and streams. Water is a universal solvent, affected by all that it comes in contact with: the land it traverses, and the soils through which it travels. The important thing about Thottiyapatty watersheds is: what we do on the land affects water quality for all communities living downstream. Thottiyapatty watershed restores the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water.  The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table.  This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area.  415 hectares of barren land in the high elevation area has been converted as vegetative, productive and comprehensive Food production region in dry belts of Thogamalai Block of Trichirappalli Region of Tamilnadu. The denotified tribal population of Thottiyapatty produces food and surplus is being marketed and children attend the schools and women eat adequate balanced diet and this watershed of Thottiyapatty shows the way for the rest of the farmers of this region of Kallai hills of Trichirappalli Region. -Govin