Here’s the story of Dr Sonali Shinde – Pani Panchayat
When the well is dry, we know the worth of water
Benjamin Franklin
About 70% of the Earth’s surface is water-covered and as long as there is water, there is life.
We are all aware of this reality, yet, how many of us actually protect and conserve our natural resources?
We know that due to global warming and climate change, the water levels across the world have reduced, leading to drought-like conditions in many regions.
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Most of rural India depends on farming as a source of revenue. Farming depends on rainfall as a regular supply of water, which has now become unpredictable.
Maharashtra is one State where nearly 60% population is into agriculture. Some areas are successful and rich in agricultural yields while most are suffering due to shortage of water.
Yes, the government is trying its best to solve these issues faced by local farmers but as citizens, we need to step in and support where possible. And this role was played dedicatedly by Dr.Sonali Shinde.
Sonali was greatly influenced by the work her parents did and moving towards the social sector was a natural transition.
A proud daughter of Shri Vilasrao Salunkhe. He worked for various initiatives of equitable distribution of water, promoting education and mass awareness.He also provided guidance to the state on issues related to water and also stood strong on what he believed was right. He won the International Inventors Award, Sweden in the year 1985 for rural technology initiatives. In 1986, he won the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for meritorious social service.
Dr Sonali is deeply influenced by her mother too, Smt. Kalpanatai V. Salunkhe. A social reformer in her own right, she is ably continuing the noble work towards the fulfillment of the dream of empowering the rural poor and enabling them to achieve their right to water – the right to life.
Dr. Sonali has a strong lineage and educational background to support the responsibility she took over.
She was always fascinated by the lure of ayurveda and how to heal through natural processes using natural products. She went in-depth and mastered what her calling was.
She is an ayurvedic doctor with post graduate diploma in Panchakarma. She is actively involved in running ayurvedic clinics at GGP , medicinal plantation, training therapist , value addition and processing of various medicines. She has been invited to Germany, France , Brazil to promote Ayurveda. Bachelor in Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery in1995 from Sumatibhai Shah ayurved college Hadapsar Pune.
Amongst her achievements, there are many more, like she completed her Yog –Ayurved Padvika from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. She did her specialization in Kerala panchakarma & massage therapy for a duration of 6 months at CNS Chikitsalayam, Kerala and did her basic course in Yog at Iyengar yoga institute. Post graduate proficiency in Panchakarma and Diploma in Preventive Cardiology in Ayurved at Madhavbaug Institute of Medical Education & Research. She has completed a certificate course in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources And Nature Conservation from Ecological Society.
Dr. Sonali Shinde is the Managing Trustee of Gram Gourav Pratishthan which was initiated by Shri Vilasrao Salunkhe.
Gram Gourav Pratishthan (GGP) was established as a charitable trust, at village Naigaon, lies in the severely drought-prone region of Purandar Taluka, near Pune, Maharashtra. Ever since it has been the backbone to various development and projects carried out by Pani Panchayat.
Gram Gourav Pratishthan (GGP) has been working for sustainable, equitable and integrated water management (surface and groundwater) by the local community to stabilize and enhance the agriculture – based economy and provide productive employment in the rural area of Pune district since 1974. GGP has implemented 54 small community lift irrigation schemes in Tehsil Purandar of Pune district and also in the tribal area of Junnar – Ambegaon – Khed of Pune district under tribal sub plan since 2004.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which provide a framework to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity, came into effect in 2016. Over 22 years ago, GGP started working on a similar set of goals with village communities in the Purandar taluka of Pune district.
Their three focus areas are Water security, Safe and nutritious food and health and education.
Working on ground and seeing the actual conditions of the drought stricken farmers led them to establish the Pani Panchayat Project.
The Pani Panchayat movement evolved during the rehabilitation work after the disastrous drought of 1972. Vilasrao Salunke was able to convince and motivate farmers of Naigaon village of the drought-prone Purandhar taluka of Maharashtra, to collaborate in harnessing their water resources to protect from future drought situations. Since then, village watershed development has been the prime focus of GGP.
The Pani Panchayat model of Watershed development is governed by principles laid down to pursue the greater common good of the village. Their model goes beyond water security. They place equal emphasis on equitable distribution of water, consideration of the landless peasants, community participation in the program and rejuvenation of biodiversity and ecosystem services within the watershed. For this, the focus is on social, financial and technological planning for a holistic development of the watershed region and sustainable water resources.
In this journey, they have partnered with several national and international organizations and their learning experience of the last 45 years has now turned into their competency. They believed that the Pani Panchayat philosophy and experience must be disseminated in society, and with this intention, GGP started the Training Centre at Khalad. Here, farmers can stay on campus and acquire training in watershed development techniques. Furthermore, they conduct a systematic Watershed Development Program for rural colleges, which is delivered in a highly engaging classroom-multimedia-case study-practicals format.
Water has to be treated as a common property resource with all villagers having equal rights and access to it”- this was their mission.
Dr Sonali is actively involved with her mother Kalpana Tai in identifying projects, coordination and successful implementation. Motivating farmers and youth empowering women and various training programs at the center are her highlighted activities.
She coordinates between various corporates who would like to do social work through corporate social responsibility. She is developing a holistic farming system through the use of organic farming based on scientific techniques as a very successful remedy to the economic and ecological crises endangered by the Green revolution.
GGP has been working with neighboring villages around the training center at village Khalad Tal Purandar to develop a “Panchckroshi” model based on local resource mapping,(land,water,energy),planning for food security for the local Community and marketable surplus with assured price and gainful employment for the local youths through livelihood multi skill training.
Goal Behind The Project
1. Drinking water for the villager’s throughout the year,
2. To stop the soil erosion,
3. To recharge ground water level,
4. Fodder availability,
5. Protective irrigation for fruit cultivation.
Like her father always said, every effort must be taken to guide those on ground. Health and nutrition has been a priority so conducting experiments in organic farming with local farmers continued on their own farm. Dr Sonali has resolved to be free from pesticides, fertilizers and any kind of chemical usage on farms, which led them to innovate in organic practices.
Gram Gourav Pratishthan has accumulated a rich experience of over 45 years in watershed management in Purandhar taluka of Pune district. Dr.Sonali and her dedicated team have been experimenting with various techniques, trying innovative measures and collaborating with various organisations, to achieve desired goals. At this juncture, she believes that they should disseminate their knowledge for the benefit of the society. This is important as the problem of water scarcity and management cannot be solved by any stakeholder alone. Their goal is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge to students, villagers and NGOs who wish to contribute their efforts in reducing the water shortage in rural India.
Dr Sonali, taking her parents mission forward, got deeper into solving environmental issues. The team at GGP actually got into Forest Regeneration at Village Chambali called Devrai. Devrai literally means God’s Forest, which is considered sacred by the village communities around such forests. Such areas are protected on the basis of folk knowledge and traditional ancient practices.
“A nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”Franklin D Roosevelt
Rebuilding this Devrai as per their objective was a huge feat.
Chambali village has a demarcated grazing land of 182 hectares. However, the tree cover on this land is sparse and almost the entire land is barren. Efforts were made over years by the government as
as well as NGOs for afforestation, but never succeeded. Due to arbitrary plantation and no preventive measures for its growth, the saplings planted never survived. The total land of the village comprises of
1400 hectares, of which only 186 hectares is covered with forest. A group of Gram Gourav Pratishthan(GGP) volunteers, while
hiking across the hills in Chambali village in Purandar Taluka,were alarmed by the vast expanse of barren land in the vicinity of the village. They saw potential in developing at least a little part of this land into a lush green region. GGP consulted the villagers and identified Devrai as an appropriate measure to regenerate forest on the barren lands of Chambali village.
Dr Sonali has dedicated her life to taking all these initiatives forward. Today , she has been practicing ayurved & panchakarma since 1996 and has successfully treated several chronic cases with ayurvedic medicines, panchakarma & massage therapy. Popular demand led her to the training of local & international students in ayurved. She has also assisted in setting up ayurved centers in Germany & France.
She has traveled extensively and visited Europe, U.S.A. Brazil for the propagation of ayurved. Brazil centers have been inviting her for consultancy for the past 7 years, for conducting workshops in ayurvedic nutrition, Women health. Revenue generation and demand led to export of ayurvedic medicines, massage tables to Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Mauritius. She has also done research work for one of the first CD roms in ayurved “Total Health”.
Dr. Sonali was invited to talk on Pani Panchayat Model in 43rd Water Talk by National Water Mission , Ministry of Jalashakti , Bharat Sarkar. She coordinates with Government officials, education institutes, CSR partners , villagers for successful implementation of all projects every year. A strong advocate of Pani Panchayat model and Panchakroshi development model, she has successfully added value to umpteen lives.
People like Dr Sonali Shinde have set an example by following her calling and transforming the complete region where she works.
Contact details
- Dr.Mrs.Sonali P.Shinde
- Email – drsonalishinde@hotmail.com
- 0091-9822027469 (Mobile)
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