The agreement intends to put students at the vanguard of a public movement to create a sustainable habitat for our waterways. Aside from encouraging active public participation, the event will be historic in terms of developing knowledge-based short-term programs, training sessions, and encouraging additional study on the water sector.
Many higher educational institutions offered their support for the cause of river rejuvenation and water conservation through the NMCG project, creating holistic platforms for younger generations to become conscientious participants in a sustainable ecosystem. 'Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers' was the event's theme.
In his address to the audience, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, stated that "water is not just an important factor or commodity, but no life can be imagined without water, which makes effective water management absolutely essential. The primary goals of the Namami Gange Mission, according to Shekhawat, are to ensure the cleanliness and purity of the Ganga as well as the rejuvenation of rivers. Water is essential for life to exist. Water was once regarded as the holiest source that feeds all forms of life in India, but that culture has faded over time. We have a huge obligation as a society to resurrect that culture."
The Union Minister highlighted some variables that have an impact on the growth of children, such as parents, who, in the Indian tradition, used to talk about many parts of life such as nature, culture, country, duty, and so on. Teachers, he said, play a crucial role in influencing youngsters, and it is therefore imperative for teachers to instill respect for natural resources based on our ancient wisdom and practises through educational frameworks.
Similarly, the Union Minister stated that celebrities, the media, the courts, and other elements of civil society must join together and begin discussing and debating issues concerning our natural resources, particularly water, in order to make India a water-wise country. He proposed holding debates and other competitions in universities to raise awareness about the necessity of water conservation and river rejuvenation, and he challenged top educators to work hard to make their campuses green and water efficient.
He stated that demand side management is essential due to the fact that agriculture consumes the majority of India's water resources. "The world admires us, and India has invested more than 240 billion dollars in the water sector," he said, adding, "but the challenge ahead of us is enormous, and we must all play our part in contributing to conserve water and increase water use efficiency."
He emphasized the importance of the 5Ps advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the success of such programs, which include political will, public spending, partnership, public involvement, and persuasion. He stated that approximately 50 universities are currently signing the MoU, and that thousands of people would eventually become a part of this movement.
In the context of Namami Gange's engagement with academic institutions, DG, NMCG stated that, like Jan Bhagidari, we are going forward in the path of 'Gyan Bhagidari'. He also drew parallels between Jal Shakti and the strength of youth, both of which can go awry and cause devastation if not channelled properly.
The DG of the NMCG commended all participants and academic dignitaries and asked them to take actions to restore water respect among young students at their institutions. He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain: Where it Falls, hen it Falls campaign, which was launched on the occasion of World Water Day 2021, is a noble approach of encouraging people to save more water. "More than 4.7 million water harvesting structures were made as part of that campaign," he said.
The MoU signing ceremony is the culmination of NMCG's monthly webinar series 'Igniting Young Minds: Rejuvenating Rivers,' which was organised with renowned educators such as university Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Deans, and other academic decision-makers.
The monthly webinars were designed to raise awareness among youngsters about the importance of river rejuvenation, conservation, sanitation, agricultural practices, and water reuse. With the active participation of academic leaders and students from prominent colleges, the Webinar series was a success, creating a stir in the community.
