One per cent inspiration
After the Gujarat government realised the failure of its water harvesting programmes between 1997 and 2000, it turned to civil society groups (CSGs) for solutions. There are some outstanding efforts of CSGs and individuals in Gujarat that have not only inspired the government to change its approach but have also provided ways and means to bring about awakening among the people.
One truly remarkable story has been that of Mathurbhai Savani, a diamond trader now based in Surat who hails from Khopala village of Bhavnagar district's Gharda tehsil, and of the Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust (SJT), an organisation instituted by Savani and like-minded people in October 1999.
Moved by the acute water crisis in his native village, Savani set about understanding the problem. He realised that there was too much dependence on groundwater and rainwater was going untapped. He visited Raj-Samadhiyala village and interacted with the village head, H B Jadeja (see