By Manoj Pathak

Increasing population, reducing, narrowing water resources, depleting under water table - all these are reasons for the deepening water crisis in the state, particularly in every summer. Everybody say that the next World War would be fought for drinking water. But shall not we try to thwart this World War? In fact, if every one of us personally tries to preserve the water sources, not only we can overcome the water crisis but also thwart the expected World War. This work demands personal as well as combined efforts of the society. If every one of us decide to start a campaign to preserve every drop of water, it is certain we can save future of the mankind.

Realising the water crisis in the state the initiative started in Madhya Pradesh could be termed as a 'good omen'. When the Chief Minister says 'No future without water', he expressed concern of the state government. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava say that what we need most not only in the state but in the whole country is not leader of the masses, but leader of water. This shows his strong determination. In fact the issue is now freedom of water. The basic necessity of people is water and it is his right too. Therefore, it is necessary that we are in need of a Leader of Water than a Leader of Masses. Under his leadership there should be agitation to preserve water in every house, every locality, village, town and state. The government in the state has started a campaign 'Jalabhishek' through which the people have been told that preservation of water could be possible through joint action of the state government and the people and only through this desired results will come out.

The state government has started the 'Jalabhishek' with a new message. Through this people are encouraged to conserve water. At the same time a campaign has been started in villages so that people of present and future generations are made aware of the importance of our water resources, the necessity to preserve and recharge them that are becoming extinct slowly.

The 'Jalabhishek' campaign started on the name of 'Generation Water Dialogue' in the villages. So far two efforts are made on March 8 and April 14 in which two generations of the village - the old and the young - were face to face on the same platform in the Gram Sabha. In this dialogue between the generations held in 52 thousand villages of the state on the same day, lakhs of youth heard from their elders about their experiences and resources of water. The elderly persons told the youth about the dried up or almost extinct water resources, how they played important role in the life of the rural population and how the scenes changed. In fact the campaign had inner meaning. The present generation is aware of and suffering due to the present water crisis. But they have no idea as to how it happened and why there is water crisis and what should be done now. The theme of this campaign was based on these issues. The youth came to know about history of the wells, step wells, ponds, river and other water bodies in the village and their present condition. Therefore during the 'Jalabhishek' campaign, after the dialogue between the generations, it was decided to start regeneration of a water body which had a lot of water in the past. This way all the dried up water resources in all the50 districts were identified and regeneration work started. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan started this campaign of regeneration of Jaman River of Ratlam district.

In this campaign it was decided to give the participants some kind of titles so that they would be encouraged and feel responsible to continue it and make it a grand success.

Bhagirath Krishak: Around 70 per cent of farm land in the state is owned by big and prosperous farmers. Naturally they utilized maximum infrastructure for agriculture production. Now that the society has taken up the work of water conservation, it has become social responsibility of the potential farmers to take up the work of water conservation and improving underground water table. They can take up these works with their own resources. In Dewas district these potential farmers constructed ponds and lakes in their fields for irrigation with their own resources. This has not only helped water conservation but also became financially profitable. Such potential farmers will be identified and they will be given title of ‘Bhagirath Krishak’. Such potential farmers whose tubewell or well have dried, or digging of new tubewells or wells were not successful, have been identified. Because they would be ready to take up the work of water conservation and encouraging them for this work would be easy.

Now these identified ‘Bhagirath Krishaks’ are being encouraged to start water conservation and raising underground water level work in their field with their own resources, for their own benefit. They have been told in simple language the importance of water conservation so that their crops are not failed and thereby improve their condition economically. In short such farmers were told about the economics of water. They were also given training at places where some farmers had already become prosperous through cultivation after constructing of personal ponds etc. They were also told what type of work they should do for conservation of water and improvement of underground water level. They were suggested to construct irrigation ponds or lakes in their own land, or take up construction of stop dam, check dam or dam over the nearby rivulets. After agreeing for construction, it has been decided as to what is to be constructed, where, the size, design, and the suitable place for the same. For these purposes technical advice was also made available to them. Finally these ‘Bhagirath Krishaks’ were given advice about the cost and how to meet it.

Jal Nayak: To make the Jalabhisek campaign a grand success the Chief Minister himself led the campaign. He toured several villages and contributed labour in water conservation works. For his contribution, he is called ‘Supreme Jal Nayak’. Likewise the Sarpanch, who leads the campaign in village level, is called Jal Nayak of local panchayat. Such Sarpanch who does commendable work in the field of water conservation and improving underground water table, will be identified and they will be honoured at district level giving them the title of ‘Bhagirath Jal Nayak’. The government officers and employees who does commendable work in this field like identifying minimum 25 ‘Bhagiath Krishaks’ or ensure public participation in other water conservation and recharging underground water table worth Rs 50 lakh, will be given title of ‘Jal Prerak’ and will be honoured at district level. The Self Help Group or NGO who does commendable job in this field and identify 100 Bhagirath Krishaks and encourage them to do water conservation and recharging of underground water table, will be honoured at the district level by giving them the title of ‘Jal Sarthi’.

The state government is seriously concerned about the water crisis and availability of water and is determined about its conservation. Now it is for the society to take up the matter seriously. The Jalabhish campaign has created a better and suitable environment for water conservation work in the whole state. This campaign and the work should become an example for other states to follow. Now we are waiting for the better results of this joint campaign.