For decades, farmers across rural and tribal belts in India have struggled with water scarcity, unpredictable monsoon patterns and limited livelihood opportunities. Chandrakant Sonya Andher, a farmer from a tribal hamlet in Jawhar block of Palghar district, lived through the same reality. With only matriculation education and two acres of rainfed land, he faced uncertain crop yields and limited income. The remaining land on his property stayed uncultivable due to lack of irrigation, forcing him to migrate seasonally to nearby cities for construction and other manual labour jobs. The turning point arrived when Tata Motors introduced its Integrated Village Development Programme (IVDP) in Chandrakant’s village. The initiative focuses on holistic rural development through sustainable practices and convergence of government schemes. Under this programme, Tata Motors acted as a key facilitator, linking Chandrakant with several government schemes and technical inputs that could improve agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on migration-based income.
With guidance from the IVDP team, Chandrakant constructed a farm pond to store rainwater and installed drip irrigation systems to optimise water use. A biogas unit was set up to reduce household fuel expenditure. The programme also promoted diversification of income sources. Chandrakant adopted agro-forestry plantation, bamboo cultivation, fish farming, installation of solar panels, and established a nursery unit for raising high-value crop saplings. Over time, these interventions led to visible improvement in Chandrakant’s livelihood. With access to assured water, his farm productivity increased. He was able to meet household requirements, sell surplus produce, and significantly increase his annual income—crossing the threshold of a lakhpati farmer. He invested in his children’s education, accessed better healthcare services for the family, and built an additional house on his land.
Speaking about his journey, Chandrakant said the lack of irrigation earlier left him with no choice but to migrate every year, leaving his family behind. “The lack of water meant most of my land was useless, and I had to leave my family for months every year. But Tata Motors gave us hope and a practical path forward. Today, I don’t have to migrate anymore. This support has completely rewritten my family’s destiny,” he said. Vinod Kulkarni, Head of CSR at Tata Motors, said Chandrakant’s progress demonstrates the potential of community-oriented development models rooted in partnerships. “Chandrakant’s journey from a seasonal migrant labourer to a confident, self-reliant farmer illustrates the power of community-centric rural development approach. As Chandrakant and the farming community break the cycle of vulnerability, it strengthens our resolve of leveraging government schemes to scale and replicate sustainable social development models,” he said.