In the Maryadpur village of Uttar-Pradesh, India , families are improving their access to land and freshwater resources through a cooperative approach.  As was reported in February 2004, the Social Development Foundation (SDF) has been working with village families over the pa st year to rehabilitate a 1500-hectare area lake, on which fishermen and their families relied for their livelihoods. 

The key to this initiative has been cooperation between fishers, who held customary rights over half the lake, and farmers, whose lands were previously inundated by water from the lake.  Today, approximately 750 acres of land that had been inundated by water was retained and taken over by the individual farmers and fishermen.  The farmers are happy to be enjoying their first crop.  The changes are visible in the form of people's pa rtici pa tion and pa rtic ula rly the fisherwomen's new found love for learning and dedicating themselves for the cause of the community people.

After the farmers retained their land, some bickering persisted within the fishing community and some of the leaders threatened the fishermen's lives if they remained pa rt of this initiative.  In response, SDF has assisted them to form a cooperative as a way increasing their collective strength.

Under the customary laws, the ponds and small lakes may be leased to the fishermen community for 10 years. SDF approached the local Panchayats (village councils) and assisted communities with the formal leasing process. This resulted in eight ponds being leased to the fishermen, who then formed a cooperative.

We have also put better quality fish in these ponds and, hopefully by next year, every pond will have a fair amount of fish to be sold at a community price. These ponds are undisputed and legally being run by the cooperative of fishermen.

The third important factor about our work is the formation of Dalit women liberation front, which is running a sewing center and a school for the village children. The women are obviously happy that they have a chance to strengthen their skills. SDF has been arranging exchange programme for these women.  Women's pa rtici pa tion in the cooperatives has also been ensured, with a minimum of 33 percent representation for women.

It is a matter of deep satisfaction for SDF that fishermen are able to form their own organization.  Today, they aspire for a better life and are enjoying working in collaboration with other civil society organizations and pa rtici pa ting in their activities.

The work of SDF and the Maryadpur villagers is pa rt of the ILC's Community Empowerment Facility (CEF) initiative.  For more information on these activities in Maryadpur, please contact VB Rawat