- Welcome to the Pradeepan Foundation
- Pradeepan, Borgaon Jean
District Betul Madhya Pradesh
- 460001, Madhya Pradesh
pradeepan_05@yahoo.com
- Working Hours
Mon-Sat:9.30am to 7.00pm
Child-Centric Environmental Sanitation and Water Supply Project
Welcome To PRADEEPAN Foundation
# Environment Conservation & Climate ActionOverview Key Activities
- Land and water conservation work in 35 villages, benefiting over 1,015 farmers and covering 2,500 hectares.
- Construction of check dams, farm ponds, wells, and sandbag dams to improve groundwater levels.
- Distribution of seeds to 2,000 farmers and organic farming awareness for 8,500 farmers.
- Plantation of 25,000–30,000 saplings across 200 villages and development of 200 community Environment Volunteers.
- Conservation of local seed varieties through seed banks in 20 villages.
1 Environment Conservation & Climate Action
Watershed Development – Pradeepan Organization
Bhimpur Block, Bhainsdehi Tehsil, Betul District, Madhya Pradesh
Pradeepan began working in 1995 for the holistic development of tribal communities in the Bhimpur block. The region is rocky, rain-dependent, and resource-poor, leading to poverty, hunger, malnutrition, migration, and high child mortality rates.
The organization focuses on strengthening livelihoods, food security, and environmental balance through the conservation and enhancement of land, water, forests, and agricultural resources, with watershed development as the core approach.
At the start of the program, nearly 85% of tribal families were forced to migrate for livelihood. Families depended on moneylenders charging extremely high interest rates, and children suffered from malnutrition and poor access to healthcare. The organization worked to ensure food security by preventing black marketing and ensuring fair access to government schemes and Public Distribution System (PDS) benefits.
```- Ensured continuous functioning of Anganwadi centers and distribution of nutritional supplements to pregnant women and children (3–5 years).
- Facilitated vaccination programs and connected malnourished children to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC).
- Ensured payment of minimum wages and linked deprived families with government schemes.
- Formed women’s groups to promote leadership and community participation.
Using a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), the organization assessed village resources and developed a comprehensive plan in collaboration with Oxfam India Trust. The Rural Integrated Development program was approved for 10 villages, focusing on land improvement, soil bunding, water harvesting structures, and gully plugs.
```Support was also received from CASA, UNDP Small Grants Programme, and the Canada High Commission (ICCO–SIDA) for soil and water conservation initiatives.
```2 Land and Soil Conservation
- Bunding and contour bunding carried out on 2,500 hectares with participation of 1,015 farmers.
- Implemented across 35 villages, reducing runoff and soil erosion while maintaining soil moisture.
- Resulted in improved productivity of both Kharif and Rabi crops.
3 Water Conservation & Resource Development
- Construction of 10 small check dams in 10 villages to improve groundwater levels.
- Deepening of 5 community ponds to increase water availability.
- Construction of 10 open wells to address drinking water needs.
- Installation of 20 temporary sandbag dams for monsoon water retention.
- Improved drought resilience and agricultural stability.
4 Afforestation & Forest Conservation
- Plantation of 25,000–30,000 saplings across 200 villages.
- Environmental awareness campaigns conducted in 200 villages.
- Training of 200 Environmental Friends from local communities.
- Orientation of 50 Forest Protection Committees.
- Promotion of community forest conservation through Forest Rights Committees (FRC).
5 Sustainable & Organic Farming
- Promotion of low-cost, sustainable agricultural practices.
- Distribution of seeds to 2,000 farmers.
- Awareness programs on organic farming for 8,500 farmers.
- Construction of 200 NADEP units, 200 vermicompost units, and 1,000 earthen compost units.
- Under MGNREGA, Kapila Dhara wells increased irrigation and Rabi crop coverage.
6 Local Seed Conservation & Self-Reliance
- Establishment of seed banks in 20 villages.
- Conservation of 7–8 quintals of local seed varieties (wheat, chickpea, paddy, kodo, kutki).
- Seed banks for both Rabi and Kharif crops in 17 villages.
- Creation of village funds to reduce dependence on moneylenders.
- Each village fund maintained between ₹60,000 to ₹1,00,000 for emergencies and development needs.
7 Child-Centric Environmental Sanitation & Water Supply Project
(Implemented with support from UNICEF Bhopal – Year 2000)
```In the year 2000, Pradeepan implemented a large-scale Child-Centric Environmental Sanitation and Water Supply Project in the Bhimpur Block of Betul District, Madhya Pradesh, with technical and financial support from UNICEF Bhopal. The project was designed as a comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) intervention to improve public health outcomes for children, women, and tribal communities through sustainable sanitation practices, safe drinking water access, and community-led behavior change.
The intervention covered the entire Bhimpur Block, including 54 Gram Panchayats and 154 villages, making it one of the most extensive block-level sanitation initiatives in the district during that period.
```7.1 Project Rationale & Objectives
Bhimpur Block is predominantly tribal, geographically remote, and historically underserved in sanitation and safe drinking water infrastructure. Poor hygiene practices, unsafe water sources, and open defecation contributed to high incidences of water-borne and sanitation-related diseases, especially among children.
- Promote personal, household, and community hygiene practices through structured awareness and behavior change communication (BCC).
- Improve sanitation coverage and sustained toilet usage, not just construction.
- Ensure safe drinking water through protection and maintenance of water sources.
- Build local capacity and community ownership for long-term sustainability.
- Strengthen institutional convergence with government departments.
7.2 Key Interventions & Activities
Hygiene Promotion & Community Awareness
A large-scale hygiene promotion campaign was conducted across all 154 villages using participatory approaches such as door-to-door outreach, community meetings, school-based activities, folk media, IEC materials, and training programs. Focus areas included handwashing, personal hygiene, safe water handling, household cleanliness, and environmental sanitation.
Drinking Water Source Sanitation & Protection
Existing water sources—hand pumps, wells, and community water points—were improved through platform construction, drainage correction, chlorination, and regular maintenance, significantly enhancing water quality and reducing contamination risks.
Capacity Building of Local Sanitary Masons
Local youth were trained as sanitary masons to enable low-cost, technically appropriate toilet construction, ensure skilled labor availability at the village level, and generate livelihood opportunities.
Toilet Construction & Usage Promotion
The project emphasized sustained toilet usage through follow-up and household counseling, helping communities transition from open defecation to safe sanitation practices.
Cluster-Level Sanitary Marts
10 Sanitary Marts were established at cluster levels to provide easy access to pans, rings, pipes, and sanitation hardware, strengthening the local supply chain and reducing dependency on distant markets.
School Hygiene Clubs & Village Sanitation Committees
- Formation of School Hygiene Clubs to empower children as change agents.
- Establishment of Village Sanitation Committees for planning, monitoring, and maintenance of WASH facilities.
7.3 Institutional Convergence
Strong coordination was established with the Health Department and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. At the district level, PHE functioned as the nodal agency, providing institutional legitimacy and technical oversight.
7.4 Participatory Micro-Planning (PIP)
For each Gram Panchayat, a detailed Project Implementation Plan (PIP) was prepared and presented to local leadership. These micro-plans outlined toilet construction targets, drinking water source maintenance, timelines, and roles, strengthening accountability and community ownership.
7.5 Project Management & Human Resources
- 154 Village Animators (one per village)
- 10 Cluster Coordinators
- 1 Project Coordinator
- 1 Accountant
- 1 Project Director
7.6 Budget & Duration
- Total Budget: INR 40 Lakhs
- Project Duration: One Year
- Coverage: 54 Gram Panchayats | 154 Villages
7.7 Long-Term Impact & Sustainability
The project established sustainable sanitation behavior, improved access to safe drinking water, and strengthened community institutions. Pradeepan continues to work on WASH issues in nearly 50 villages even today—without external funding—reflecting strong community trust and long-term commitment.
7.8 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation
- Improved access to safe drinking water.
- Promoted adequate sanitation and hygiene practices.
- Reduced open defecation through community-led behavior change.
- Strengthened community capacity for operation and maintenance.
SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-Being
- Reduced water-borne diseases.
- Improved child health and nutrition.
- Strengthened preventive public health measures.
SDG 4 – Quality Education
- Formation of School Hygiene Clubs.
- Improved school hygiene environments.
- Promoted life skills and health education.
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- Improved privacy and dignity for women and girls.
- Reduced time burden for water collection.
- Promoted women’s participation in community decision-making.
SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
- Training of local sanitary masons.
- Strengthened local micro-enterprises through Sanitary Marts.
- Promoted community-based livelihoods.
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- Improved access to services for tribal and marginalized communities.
- Reduced disparities in water and sanitation access.
- Ensured inclusion of vulnerable households.
SDG 11 – Sustainable Communities
- Promoted environmentally safe sanitation.
- Strengthened community institutions.
- Improved environmental health at village level.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
- Strong collaboration with UNICEF, PHE, Health Department, and Gram Panchayats.
- Strengthened civil society–government convergence.
- Established a scalable and replicable partnership model.
