Adinarayana and Narasamma are a couple from Basampalli, a village in the Bathalapalli region of Anantapur. They have come a long way together as a family – from struggling for daily meals to now leading a life where they can sustain themselves and fulfill their dreams of building a house. It has been a tough journey for them but they are finally at a stage where they can see brighter days.

• Please share your experience with Rural Development Trust (RDT)

I was cultivating only groundnuts and was dependent on rains for irrigating them. It went on like this for 20 years. Then RDT started the rainwater harvesting program in our village. At the same time, they also gave me mango saplings. This happened 18 years ago. I tried to help the plants survive by watering them with pots, but the survival rate was poor.

8 years later, one of the RDT staff members came back to our village and recognized me. I told them about the water scarcity in my field. They supported me with a drip irrigation system and solar pump set. I dug a borewell in my field and contributed Rs. 15,000 towards the completion of this project. I started growing sweet lime, mango and sapota (chikoo) as I knew that I will have an assured income from any of these three fruits crops every year. Now the harvest is great and we earn a good income.

The solar panels installed in Adinarayana and Narasamma’s fields © Aina Valldaura/RDT

• Did your partnership with RDT change your work and life?

Yes, definitely. After installing the drip irrigation and solar panels, I have been spared the trouble of watering the plants by pots. All I have to do now is to switch on the motor! Earlier, we had to work as daily wage laborers in other people’s fields, and we were mistreated by the landlords. I also had cows and a cart that I put up for hire. Now I am providing work to others in my field.

• Are there any other improvements in your life?

We used to live in a hut, but today I am building my own house in the village. That has always been my dream, and now I am able to fulfill it. In the past, we struggled for food and work. Now we live comfortably. My children studied through RDT’s education programs. My eldest son pursued engineering and is working now. My second son just finished up his education and is preparing for his graduation now while temporarily working as an electrician.

• How was your own childhood? What struggles did you face?

Our childhood was all about work. Our parents used to bring some food from their workplace and give it to us but there were some days when we would be hungry. It is now that we are really enjoying our life.

• What is the most important thing in your life now?

When we look at how our son is doing, his job and family, we feel very happy. Both my son and daughter-in–law are in the same field of work. That is the real treasure of our life. We want our children and grandchildren to move forward and achieve greater things in life. I also want to complete the construction of my house as soon as possible.

Adinarayana and Narasamma taking a break after working in their fields ©Nagappa/RDT

• What does RDT mean to you?

RDT first came to our village with the supplementary school project. Some people from the village found out that RDT started a watershed program in our neighboring village, Kanumpalli. That is when our village approached RDT and requested them to facilitate the same program for us. RDT invested in a percolation tank, horticulture projects, drip irrigation and solar pump set as part of the ecology programs in our villages. They also made housing possible for many.

As suggested by RDT, we should forget all our differences and work together. We have always followed that motto in our village.

Text: Aina Valldaura, adapted by Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA