Extensive geographical coverage
By 2004 the programme was active in 47 watersheds across five districts — a significant operational scale and a comprehensive approach to watershed management throughout Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme
A state-sponsored programme delivered by Coodu Trust in coordination with the government departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry — restoring degraded wastelands across five districts of Tamil Nadu.
47
Watersheds covered
5
Districts covered
65
Village development associations
9,062
Area groups formed
The project
What this project set out to do
Project mission
A state-sponsored initiative to address ecological and agricultural challenges through wasteland development and sustainable management of natural resources — restoring ecological balance by conserving soil, water and vegetation.
The Tamil Nadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme (TNCWP) was implemented by Coodu Trust between 2001 and 2005, with the Trust acting as the primary implementing agency in close coordination with government departments including Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry. The programme was rolled out across five key districts — Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli, Namakkal and Salem — and by 2004 was active in 47 watersheds, a significant operational scale.
Community institutions did the heavy lifting. Across all project locations the programme established 65 Village Development Associations, 9,062 Area Groups, 3,330 User Groups and 2,675 Self-Help Groups — grassroots bodies through which rural communities on degraded lands manage their own soil and water. A specialized Trainers Training Manual was prepared in Dindigul to anchor this capacity building.
These verified figures cover the 2001–2005 initial phase. Across all its phases, the complete TNCWP programme covered 127 watersheds in 6 districts of Tamil Nadu.
- Soil & water conservation
- Wasteland restoration
- Community institutions
- Capacity building
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Wastelands losing soil, water and vegetation
Rural communities on degraded lands face an eroding resource base — land that holds neither rain nor green cover cannot sustain agriculture or ecological balance.
Our response
Holistic watershed treatment
Integrated resource management — rainwater harvesting, horticulture plantations, drinking water supply improvements and extensive plantation activities to restore and re-green degraded wastelands.
The challenge
No local institutions to carry the work forward
Watershed treatment only lasts when villages have organised, trained groups of their own to manage land and water after the project team leaves.
Our response
Grassroots institutions at scale
65 Village Development Associations, 9,062 Area Groups, 3,330 User Groups and 2,675 Self-Help Groups formed — backed by training for the Watershed Development Team, elected representatives and group members.
At a glance
The essentials
- Scheme
- TNCWPTamil Nadu Comprehensive Watershed Programme — state-sponsored
- Period
- 2001–2005Initial phase of the state-sponsored programme
- Coverage
- 5 districtsNatham & Nilakkottai (Dindigul), Periyakulam (Theni), Shenkottai & Tenkasi (Tirunelveli), Erumaipatty (Namakkal), Tharamangalam & Kolathur (Salem)
- Community institutions
- 65 VDAsPlus 9,062 Area Groups, 3,330 User Groups & 2,675 Self-Help Groups serving rural communities on degraded lands
- Implementing partners
- Coodu Trust (lead)With government departments — Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry
- Part of
- TNCWP all phasesThe complete programme covered 127 watersheds in 6 districts of Tamil Nadu
Outcomes
What the project changed
Robust community mobilization
Hundreds of community-based organizations formed — 65 Village Development Associations, 9,062 Area Groups, 3,330 User Groups and 2,675 Self-Help Groups across all project locations.
Integrated resource management
Holistic watershed treatment — rainwater harvesting, horticulture plantations, drinking water supply improvements and extensive plantation activities that restored and re-greened degraded wastelands.
Get involved
Help restore degraded lands
Support watershed work that conserves soil, water and vegetation — and builds the village institutions that keep the gains alive long after the project ends.