Revolutionary Collaboration between Namami Gange and Universities: Igniting Young Minds!

Namami Gange, a program under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently signed an agreement with 49 universities to create awareness among youth about water conservation and river rejuvenation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to make students the driving force behind a mass movement to create a sustainable ecosystem for India’s rivers. The initiative seeks to create knowledge-based short-term programs, training sessions, and research on the water sector, in addition to active public participation. The theme of the event was “Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers.”

Water Management is Crucial: Union Jal Shakti Minister

Union Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, stressed that effective water management is crucial, as water is not only a commodity but a crucial factor in sustaining life. He reiterated that ensuring cleanliness and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers is the main objective of the Namami Gange Mission. He also suggested organizing debates and competitions to spread awareness on the importance of water conservation and river rejuvenation.

The Need for Demand Side Management

Agriculture is the sector that uses most of India’s water resources. The Union Minister emphasized that demand-side management is the need of the hour. He suggested that teachers, parents, celebrities, media, judiciary, and members of civil society should work together to discuss and debate issues related to natural resources, especially water, to make India a water-wise country. He also urged universities to strive to make their campuses green and water-efficient.

The Importance of the 5Ps and Gyan Bhagidari

The Union Minister reiterated the importance of the 5Ps (political will, public spending, partnership, public participation, and persuasion) espoused by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make programs successful. Shri G. Asok Kumar, Director-General of NMCG, said that like Jan Bhagidari, today, we are moving forward in the direction of ‘Gyan Bhagidari.’ He also drew similarities between the Jal Shakti and the power of the youth, both of which could go astray and wreak havoc if not channelized in a proper way. He urged the academic institutions to take steps in the direction of bringing back respect for water among young students in their institutions.

Conclusion

Through the Namami Gange: Universities Connect event, Namami Gange, and 49 universities have come together to inspire the youth towards water conservation and river rejuvenation. This collaboration aims to bring students to the forefront of the mass movement to create a sustainable ecosystem for India’s rivers. Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stressed the importance of effective water management, cleanliness, and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers. Demand-side management is the need of the hour, and universities should strive to make their campuses green and water-efficient. The 5Ps and Gyan Bhagidari are crucial in making such programs successful.

KeyPoints

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti signed an agreement with 49 universities to create awareness among youth about water conservation and river rejuvenation.
• The aim of the MoU is to involve students in creating a sustainable ecosystem for rivers and encourage short-term programs, training sessions, and research in the water sector.
• The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized the importance of effective water management and the need to revive India’s cultural history of respecting natural resources.
• Shekhawat suggested that teachers, parents, celebrities, media, judiciary, and civil society members should discuss and debate water-related issues to make India a water-wise country.
• The minister urged universities to organize debates and competitions to spread awareness on water conservation and river rejuvenation and make their campuses green and water-efficient.
• Shekhawat stressed that the demand-side management of water resources is crucial and called for everyone’s contribution to conserve water and increase its use efficiency.
• The collaboration between Namami Gange and academic institutions aims to move towards “Gyan Bhagidari” (knowledge-based partnership) to spread awareness about water conservation and river rejuvenation.
• The DG of NMCG, G. Asok Kumar, highlighted the importance of igniting younger generations to respect water and rivers, which is ingrained in traditional values.
• Kumar urged participants and dignitaries to take steps towards bringing back respect for water among young students in their institutions and mentioned the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain: Where it Falls, When it Falls campaign launched by the Prime Minister in 2021.