DPAP watershed program was sponsored by Ministry of Rural Development , Govt. of India which focus on harnessing and conserving land and water through various soil and water conservation interventions for increasing and sustaining productivity of land and improving livelihoods of the watershed community who are mostly agricultural workers and landless agricultural labourers. Community participation in watershed development programs was given emphasis and various indicators are used to assess the levels of the participation, contribution and benefit derived in the watersheds by village watershed dwellers. The economic growth of watershed communities and development as well as conservation of natural resources is primary concerns. Heavy thrust and emphasis have been given over a period of time towards building the capacity and empowering the community to implement this watershed programs.

Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was in operation in 8 districts of Orissa covering 47 identified Blocks. The districts covered are Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada Baragarh, Boudh, Dhenkanal and Kandhamal. Under the scheme, 1319 Micro watershed projects were implemented in the state. Out of a total 1319 micro watersheds under the scheme, 192 projects have been sanctioned prior to 1.4.2000 with the funding pattern of 50:50 basis at the cost norm of Rs.4000/- (Rs.5000/- in respect of KBK districts) per hectare. The remaining 1127 projects have been sanctioned after 1.4.2000 with the funding pattern of 75:25 basis at a new cost norm of Rs.6000/- per hectare on an uniform basis. The total outlay for all the 1319 sanctioned projects is Rs.380.05 crore for treatment of 6.678 lakh hectares, against which Rs.318.67 crore have been released by both Government of India and Government of Orissa. An amount of Rs.315.44 crore has been utilized for treating 5.57 lakh Ha. area. The scheme is now phased out by Govt. of India.

The Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was also a centrally sponsored scheme of the MoRD. The scheme was being implemented in eight districts of Odisha namely, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Bargarh, Boudh, Kandhamal and Dhenkanal covering 47 identified drought prone blocks, There are 5200 micro watershed projects delineated in these 47 identified DPAP blocks. Out of those, a total of 1319 micro watershed projects were under implementation of which 192 projects were sanctioned prior to the financial year 2000 – 2001 and 1127 projects were sanctioned after April 2000.

For the projects sanctioned prior to the financial year 2000 – 2001, GoI provided 50% of the funds and the remaining 50% came from State Government while for the 954 projects sanctioned after April 2000, the funding is in the revised ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and the State.