Projects
Venumadhuri adopted a village named Ramanwadi in Maharashtra.
Watershed development
Under the guidance of Venu Madhuri, villagers worked together to construct mud dams for irrigation that were over 40 feet long and 15 feet high.
In Phase 1, over 3000 feet of pipeline was built.
In Phase 2, over 9500 feet pipeline was built to carry water from a stream deep in the forest to the farmlands.
Villagers contributed cash and labor. The land under perennial irrigation doubled, with 40 families benefiting from the project.
Community Impact
Equipment was freely distributed and training imparted to over 18 families in green living through traditional techonology: cow dung fertilizer, urine slurry, traditional horticulture, and vermicomposting. As a result, the following benefits were realized:
Personal Impact
- Relief of household women from drudgery of fuel wood collection (on average 3 km daily)
- Freedom from indoor air pollution
Agricultural
Eco-friendly, affordable fertilizer for fields
Ecological
Conservation of 93.6 tons of fuel wood per year due to 18 cow dung (gobar) gas plants
Genetic
Preservation of indigenous breeds of cow due to their appreciation in value
Universal
Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 169.2 tons (equivalent to 18 families burning fuel wood for a year)
Animal husbandry
A full time veterinary and vet clinic was set up.
Education
Along with academic instruction to village students, there is emphasis on value-based and vocational training.
Cottage industry
Men are trained in handloom and bamboo craft, women in making papad and stitching.
Food
Every day 40 school children are served hot, nutritious meals. Once a month a feast is served to the whole village.
