Diversion Based Irrigation or DBI is a simple and cost effective method that applies gravitational force to guide water from adjacent streams and rivers to the cropping field areas. Hence, DBI also known as ‘Gravity Flow Systems’ – is suitable for undulating, hilly and mountainous terrains. The National Level Programme on DBI supported by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts targets those families which are predominantly from forest fringes near the origin of streams – the ones who are deprived and excluded from many developmental schemes and programmes. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) has been implementing the programme on diversion-based irrigation (DBI) since early 2009, which is coordinated and monitored by the DBI Secretariat hosted by Livolink Foundation. The DBI Secretariat provides assistance to partner NGOs in the programme for training and capacity building, technical expertise in design and implementation of DBI structures and enables overall monitoring of the programme and cross-learning amongst implementing partners in the operational areas. Till the financial year 2011-12, the total outlay of the DBI programme has been over Rupees 35 crores targeting around 85,000 families & 3650 hectares across 1150 villages in 40 districts of 13 states. The programme has aimed to promote these systems with the focus being on undulating, hilly and mountainous (UHM) regions that are poorly served by irrigation and are home to the poorest.