{"id":108774,"date":"2026-06-18T17:58:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=108774"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:58:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:28:30","slug":"chhattisgarhs-korea-district-5-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/chhattisgarhs-korea-district-5-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Chhattisgarh\u2019s Korea District \u201c5% Model\u201d: Community-Led Water Conservation Model"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Why in the news?:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Recently, Korea district of Chhattisgarh gained national recognition for its \u201c5% Model\u201d, a community-led water conservation initiative that has significantly improved groundwater levels through widespread public participation. The model was highlighted by the Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat, while the Union Jal Shakti Minister suggested its adoption as a model for water conservation across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Chhattisgarh\u2019s Korea District \u201c5% Model\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Chattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a <\/span><b>community-based groundwater recharge initiative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> launched by the Korea district administration <\/span><b>to address declining groundwater levels and recurring water scarcity through simple rainwater harvesting measures.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launched By<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Korea District Administration, Chhattisgarh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To improve groundwater recharge and ensure long-term water security through community participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core Principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Farmers voluntarily dedicate 5% of their agricultural land for constructing soak pits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Working Mechanism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rainwater collected in soak pits gradually percolates into the ground, replenishing underground aquifers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community-Centric Approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The initiative relies on public awareness, voluntary participation, and local ownership.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Campaign Name<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Implemented under \u201cAawa Paani Jhonki\u201d, meaning \u201cLet\u2019s Catch the Rain\u201d in the Sargujia dialect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation Support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Most activities are carried out under MGNREGS, combining water conservation with rural employment generation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Chattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model Key Features<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Chattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transforms water conservation from a government programme into a community-driven movement through simple, low-cost, and scalable interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>5% Land Contribution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Farmers voluntarily allocate 5% of their farmland for constructing groundwater recharge structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Large-Scale Soak Pit Construction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Soak pits are dug to capture rainwater and enhance groundwater recharge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community Participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Villagers actively participate in planning, construction, and maintenance of <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/water-conservation-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>water conservation<\/strong><\/a> structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Awareness and Capacity Building<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The administration conducts awareness campaigns and training programmes to encourage adoption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Farm-Level Water Conservation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A large number of soak pits are constructed on agricultural fields to improve water availability and soil moisture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Household-Level Adoption<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Soak pits are also created in backyards, kitchen gardens, and other household spaces.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Borewell Recharge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Recharge structures are developed near borewells to reduce the risk of wells drying up during summer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved Soil Moisture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Increased water infiltration helps retain soil moisture and supports agricultural productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low-Cost and Sustainable Solution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The model uses simple techniques that require limited investment and can be easily maintained by communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scalable and Replicable Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The approach can be adopted in other groundwater-stressed regions across India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Associated Water Conservation Measures<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the 5% Model, the Korea district administration has undertaken several complementary interventions under the \u201cAawa Paani Jhonki\u201d (Let\u2019s Catch the Rain) campaign to strengthen water conservation and groundwater recharge.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>30-40 Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Trenches measuring 30 feet \u00d7 40 feet are dug on barren land to capture and store rainwater runoff, thereby reducing water loss and increasing groundwater recharge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contour Trenches<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Contour trenches are constructed in villages to slow the flow of rainwater, increase water infiltration into the soil, and reduce soil erosion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pond Deepening and Desilting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Existing village ponds are being deepened and desilted to increase their water storage capacity and improve water availability during summer months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Borewell Recharge Structures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Soak pits are constructed near borewells to facilitate groundwater recharge and reduce the incidence of borewells drying up during periods of water scarcity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Model Water Conservation Villages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Two villages were identified as model centres where intensive water conservation activities were undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of community-led water management practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Chattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model Achievements and Outcomes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Korea district\u2019s 5% Model has delivered measurable improvements in groundwater recharge and community participation within a short period.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Massive Increase in Public Participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The number of soak pits increased from nearly 2,000 in 2024 to around 30,000 in 2025, reflecting a 15-fold rise in community involvement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved Groundwater Levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: According to Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) data, the district\u2019s post-monsoon groundwater level improved from 6.6 metres below ground level (BGL) in 2024 to 3.89 metres BGL in 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enhanced Groundwater Recharge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Large-scale construction of soak pits and trenches has increased rainwater infiltration and replenishment of underground aquifers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reduction in Drying of Borewells<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Villagers have reported a decline in complaints related to borewells drying up during summer months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Better Soil Moisture Retention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Increased water infiltration has improved soil moisture, supporting agricultural productivity and crop growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Recognition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The initiative was highlighted by the Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat, while the Union Jal Shakti Minister recommended its wider adoption across the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Creation of Demonstration Villages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Selected model villages have emerged as learning centres showcasing effective community-led water conservation practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthened Water Security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The combined interventions have improved the district\u2019s resilience to recurring summer water scarcity and groundwater depletion.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Chattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model Significance<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes sustainable groundwater management through decentralized rainwater harvesting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhances water security in regions facing recurring summer water shortages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supports agricultural productivity by improving soil moisture retention.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourages behavioural change and community ownership of natural resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creates durable water assets while generating rural employment under MGNREGS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthens climate resilience against droughts and erratic rainfall patterns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrates how simple local solutions can produce measurable environmental outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides a cost-effective and replicable model for water conservation across India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read about Chhattisgarh&#8217;s Korea District 5% Model, a community-led water conservation initiative improving groundwater recharge, water security, and climate resilience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":108762,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-108774","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108774"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108779,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108774\/revisions\/108779"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}