[3] He managed to get the illicit 22 liquor retail outlets[4] closed, secure bank loans for farmers and started rainwater harvesting, water conservation and management programs, which involved building 52 earthen bunds, percolation tanks, 32 stone bunds and nine check dams.

Its development plan was based on village Ralegan Siddhi, 35 km away, also in the same district, turned around by Anna Hazare.

[3] In 2012, the joint state and central government plan was announced to establish a national-level centre for training in panchayati raj system for watershed development, sanitation and capacity building at the village, to be built at a cost of Rs 12-crore.

The program included rainwater harvesting, digging trenches around the hill contours to trap water, afforestation and building of percolation tanks.

These initiatives were complemented by a program for social change, which included a ban on liquor, adoption of family planning, mandating HIV/AIDS testing before marriages and shramdaan (voluntary labour for development of the village).