PM lauds Jhansi women for saving water and a dying Ghurari River

By Narendra Modi*

This rainy season reminds us how important water conservation is… how important it is to save water.

Water saved during rainy days helps a lot during water scarcity months, and that’s the spirit of campaigns like ‘Catch The Rain’. I am happy that many people are taking new initiatives to conserve water. One such effort has been witnessed in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.

You know that Jhansi is in Bundelkhand, whose identity is linked with water scarcity. Here, in Jhansi, some women have given a new lease of life to the Ghurari River. These women are associated with a Self Help Group and have led this campaign by becoming ‘Jal Saheli‘. No one would have ever imagined the way these women have saved the dying Ghurari River. These Jal Sahelis created a check dam by filling sand in sacks, stopping the rainwater from getting wasted and filling the river to the brim with water. These women have enthusiastically contributed to the construction of hundreds of reservoirs and their revival. This has not only solved the water problem of the people of this area; Happiness too has returned to their faces.

Also read: Laxmibais of Jhansi fight water scarcity in Bundele Harbolon’s land

In some places, women-power enhances water power whereas in other places water power also strengthens women-power. I have come to know about two very inspiring efforts from Madhya Pradesh. Here in Raipura Village of Dindori, the construction of a large pond has raised the groundwater level considerably. The women of this village benefited from this. Here the women associated with ‘The Sharada Aajeevika Self Help Group’ have also entered into a new occupation of fish farming. These women have also started a Fish Parlour where their income is also enhanced through the sale of the fish.

The efforts of women in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh are also commendable. When the big pond of Khomp village started drying up, the women took the initiative to rejuvenate it. The women of ‘Hari Bagiya Self Help Group’ removed a large amount of silt from the pond… they used the silt removed from the pond on barren land to set up a fruit forest.

Due to the hard work of these women, not only has the pond been filled with water, but the crop yield has also increased substantially. Such efforts of water conservation being done in every nook and corner of the country will prove very helpful in dealing with the water crisis. I fully trust that you too will definitely join such efforts happening around you.

*Excerpts from ‘Mann ki Baat‘ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadcasted today on All India Radio