The Bundelkhand region of central India is the hotspot of water scarcity, land degradation and poor socio-economic status. The Parasai-Sindh watershed, comprising three villages and covering nearly 1,250 ha, was selected for developing a benchmark site in Jhansi district. From 2012 onwards, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) along with local community has successfully implemented watershed interventions in this area.

• Construction of 6 check dams and 15 farm ponds
• Renovation of 60 existing structures
• Recharging of 100 wells
• Field / Contours in 8 locations

• Created a storage capacity of 100 million litres of water
• Cropping intensity increased up to 30%
• Increase in ground water level by 2 to 5 meters
• 100 acres of land made cultivable resulting in extra source of income up to Rs.20,000 per acre