Kherkhoripara & Junapara villages are in Khardhodi watershed No 4G2B8F4 which is situated at a distance of 13 kms from Patthalgaon Block of Jashpur District. Kherkhoripara and Junapara villages were selected for development by Tribal Development Programme (IFAD) in its first phase
in the year 2003. These village are mostly tribal dominated (Gond tribes) villages.

                      Kherkhoripara & Junapara PRA was done and it was observed that there was revenue fallow land available in the village, which was barren and the villagers of these two villages were facing fuel, fodder & timber crisis. The ladies of the villages had to traverse 4-6 kms for collection of fodder (grasses) for their cattle leaving their kids at home. There was no source of fuel (wood) for cooking. In Gram Sabha meeting a demand came from the women’s for raising fuel, fodder, & timber plantation to meet their daily needs on the fallow land.  They took an autonomous decision for raising plantation on the revenue waste land and formed Community Forest Management Committee (CFMC).

                     A temporary nursery was raised by the Women SHG at village Khardhodi and seedlings of Eucalyptus, Khamhar, Babool and Cashew nut were raised. A total no of 20000 seedlings of above species was raised in the nursery in the year 2003-2004. In the rainy season 17000 plants were planted in 8 hectares of revenue wasteland. Necessary permissions regarding rasing plantations on revenue land was taken. The plantation was a grand success. Credit for this success goes to the women’s and SHG members of the village because majority of the work like development of nursery, plantation, weeding and after care of plants was done by them. The villagers of Kherkhoripara again undertook plantation activities in 14 ha.

                      Due to successful plantation the villagers started getting grasses for their cattle. The watershed works along with plantation decreased the rain water runoff and percualtion of water in the ground increased. This raised the water table of villager’s wells, dhodi, and bore wells. Four villagers who had sufficient cattle went for construction biogas plants as due to stall feeding of cattle they were getting sufficient cowdung for biogas plants. Biogas plant fulfilled their cooking and electricity needs. Eight villagers started using the litter of plantation for making vermicompost, which they use for vegetable cultivation in their courtyard with the help of dug wells. The above activities generated income as well as it fulfilled the needs of the villagers. The villagers started water harvesting, use of organic fertilizer (vermicompost), and helped in keeping clean green environment. Thus they have become a pioneer in helping restricting climate change.

                      The District Collector Jashpur visited the plantation site and after seeing the successful plantation he praised and encouraged the villagers. The initiatives taken by the villagers of Kherkhoripara in above fields became the source of inspiration to the neighboring villages. People from neighboring villages started visiting this village to see its prosperity and plantation.

                      Villagers of Junapara after visiting Kherkhoripara got inspired and they also took plantation work in their villages (In 2004-05, 5.5 ha, & in 2005-06, 17.5 ha. were planted) and followed the path of prosperity. Today these villages have become torch bearers in afforestation activity and are in the process to seek carbon credit (For raising successful plantaion of 171556 trees in 105 hactares) for making their environment clean and green and conserving nature.