Tarun Bharat Sangh
Tarun Bharat Sangh is a non-profitable environmental NGO; with its headquarters in Bheekampura, Alwar, Rajasthan. Rajendra Singh has been the incumbent chairman of TBS since 1985. TBS started their work with mobilizing communities around the issue of water, and supporting them in reviving and revitalising the traditional systems of water management through construction of johads, anicuts, and bunds for rainwater harvesting from shramdan and partly by TBS. TBS has built on existing cultural traditions of the area to revive the feeling of oneness with nature which existed in the village communities and to create an understanding and ethos of integrated ecosystem development. At present, the contribution of the organisation is spread around 1000 villages of 15 districts of the state of Rajasthan. The organisation has rejuvenated and revived 11 rivers in the state of Rajasthan naming, Ruparel, Sarsa, Arvari, Bhagani, Jahajwali, Shabi, and has established about 11,800 johads. As a result of these contributions TBS was awarded with Stockholm Water Prize in 2015. Presently, TBS’ focus rests upon access to water by rejuvenation of water resources, tackling issues like human and wildlife conflicts, and combating the mining mafias for the benefit of the local community located there.
History
Tarun Bharat Sangh was founded in 1975 in Jaipur by a group of students and professors from the University of Rajasthan. In 1985 the direction of the organization changed when four young members of the organization went to live in the rural area of Alwar to teach rural children and do rural development. Of those four, Rajendra Singh stayed when the other three left. He asked the local people what they needed most, and he found that they needed easier access to water. With the villagers he organized the building of a johad, which is a traditional rainwater storage tank.Policy and advocacy
TBS is focused on self-governance and political empowerment for villagers living around exploited rivers. For example, TBS felicitated the creation of Arvari river parliament which represents 72 villages and their interests in sustaining their water resources. The river parliament produced guidelines to regulate the use of resources and types of crops planted in the river basin in order to manage the levels of water.Jal Biradari was established in 1999 and was integral in raising awareness about the river crisis of Rajasthan on a national scale. On 1 August 2007, TBS initiated a protest against the construction for Commonwealth Games on the Yamuna river bed. Later, the chief minister Mrs Sheila Dixit and Governor Mr. Tejender Khanna were issued instructions to prohibit construction on the river bed.
TBS has also focused on preserving the natural forest ecosystems through its SAVE THE TIGER CAMPAIGN. The Campaign was started with students and teachers in neighbouring schools of the Sariska Reserve Forest. Upon investigation it was revealed that poachers along with the mining mafia were killing tigers. When TBS began its work in Sariska in 1985 there were only 5 tigers in the forest. By 1995, a number of rainwater harvesting structures were constructed and water started flowing in the rivers of Sariska. Subsequently, a number of ponds were constructed in the forest throughout the year. Due to the abundance of water resources, it became very difficult for poachers to guess where the tiger will drink water and put the trap together. Their efforts gained mass support from the villagers in the area and by 1996 the no. of tigers increased to 28. This reflects TBS’s philosophy to restore natural balance in the ecology.
Before TBS interventions in Rajasthan women spent average of 6–18 hours daily fetching waters from rivers and procuring fuel. During TBS water conservation efforts, the organisation "promoted women’s participation in a society where women are not vocal" said Mr PV Rajagopal. As a result of the flowing water women did not have to go to far off places to collect water and firewood which saved their energy and time, and improve the quality of their life. In 2011 as a result, the state of Rajasthan’s literacy rate was 71% from 61% in 2001. And female literacy rates increased from 43% in 2001 to 70% in 2011. Finally, women’s role in agriculture increased as more land was brought into cultivation.