Ambakhoda

Gula Ralu, 90, is the eldest resident of Village Ambakhoda
in district Jhabua. According to him, two Renerations of
people reside in the villages: his generation, which:has t
seen the jungle, and the next one, which migrates in tpe
absence of the jungle. But, in recent times, he admits that
he is noticing a 'big change' in the village. "People are no
longer migrating in search of work. I was told that a
villager even managed to spend Rs 50,000 on his son's
wedding," he says.

Till 1994, the village used to see a migration of
500-odd people every year for a period of four to six
months. Women were left behind to look after the
livestock. For fodder, they had to travel up to Ratlam, 50
km away. When watershed development started under
the Rajiv Gandhi Mission (RGM) in Ambakhoda in
December 1997. The village's 764 livestock population
was starving for lack of fodder. Its 92.40-hectare (he) agricultural land was yielding just a few kg of wheat and
corn. During monsoon, the soil run-off rate was so high
that it ruined agricultural land.

But, in just one year, RGM has done what had eluded
villagers for years. With the construction of Hathipahwa
watershed, the availability of grass has gone up. There is,
in fact surplus grass, which means more income. Wells in
the village have more water. People have already started
installing diesel waterpumps. Ambakhoda is witnessing a
social change as well. Villagers have prohibited the
consumption of liquor, stopped stray grazing and banned
felling of trees.