Learning from Leaders, Understanding from grassroots and assuming responsibility
byAsmita Kumar, PGDM (Healthcare) and Pavan Shetty (Business Design) of WeSchool
Attending any event representing WeSchool raises our knowledge graph as the enormous exposure that we get here is just unparalleled. 'Jagar Panyacha' a conference hosted' by IBN LOKMAT, to discuss the depletion of water resources and find ways to combat drought in Maharashtra was notany different. [/b]
Learning from Activists- Leaders
It was like a dream come true to watch the Jal Purush of India ,Rajendra Singh ,Dr Vikas Amte of Anandvan, Activist Bharat Patankarand Popatrao Pawar,the sarpanch who transformed Village Hiware-Bazar into a green zone, on one platform to discuss the calamity of drought faced by the state.
"Water is precious", began Rajendra Singh, and continued, "Every drop of water is important in the drought affected state of Maharashtra. Today, the issues that need to be addressed are water conservation and equitable distribution of water."
"The roots of water intensive crops like sugarcane don't go deep and are not able to hold underground water, however crops like chana, Sarson, toor enable water retention. Understanding the agro-climatic cycles and cropping patterns play an important role in conserving ground water and increasing the reserves", added the Kisan-ka-beta. His simplicity, infinite wisdom and incredible humility were indeed mesmerizing.
Bharat Patankar shared, "Right to live is the basic principle, everyone has the right to water, and while one talks about equitable distribution of water, should we not close down the sugar factories in Marathwada that are exploiting water resources and then decide on priorities with respect to distribution of water for drinking , and industry?"
The lepers are deprived of their right to drinking water, was a revelation by Dr Amte that startled all. His narration of how he countered the problem by creating water bodies with the help of the residents in Anandvan was indeed touching as well as inspiring. "There are no farmers'suicides inAnandvan", he added.
Popatrao Pawar, the outspoken sarpanch of Hiware Bazar, Ahmednagar demonstrated how rural water resources could be revived with different methods.He is credited to have transformed his village fromadrought-prone, impoverished area into a model of development that the government of Maharashtra wishes to implement across the state. "Maharashtra has adequate rainfall but if we as a state, plan, conserve and distribute well, we will not face the drought again, the focus should be on management of distribution", he emphasized.
Be the change that you want to see
It was fast becoming clear to us that lack of management, rather than natural scarcity of water, is the main reason for drought. Successive governments have spent crores on rural water supply and yet there are around 20,000 drought affected villages and 45 million people without safe, assured water. Non-availability of water sources, non-availability of water in the sources, non-functional transportation system, improper distribution, poor quality, losses, burglary, theft, leakage etc. were problems faced by Tukaram Mundhe, IAS, the erstwhile Collector of Sholapur. He successfully over-came them as by taking quick steps to make water available andalso to prevent recurrence of scarcity,which fulfilled the needs of people in one of the largest Drought prone areas thatalso houses the largest number of sugar factories in the state.As the diversity of views kept surfacing, occasionally opposing, contradicting, clashing with one another,the activists unanimously agreed upon a singularagenda : Save Maharashtra from becoming a dry, waterless, drought-affected state for now and future.
We the people
The sessions were extremely informative as we came to know firsthand the the challenges faced in drought by people in rural India. It was inspiring to know that how individuals and groups in small towns have taken on the responsibility of water conversation with passion and determination. The topics varied from how we can recharge, use & reuse of water, water-shed development, restoring, restricting & containing the ground water. How crop patterns affects the water retention in soil, how topological changes & agro climatic zone & rainfall needs to be considered while saving water. But the overall focus of all was on finding sustainable solutions to conserve the resources gifted by Mother Nature
Learning from Chandabai Tiwadi
The performance ofBharud by the energetic and inspiring folk-artist Chandabai Tiwadi touched every heart as she spread the message given by Maharashtra's saint-poets of saving water for every living organism on this earth.
Celebrating the spirit ofcrusaders
Felicitation of the crusaders who had taken up the challenges of reviving the water resources in their villages came as another inspirational program. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while giving the 'Panidar Manoos ' awards applauded the efforts made by these individuals and said that his vision was to make Maharashtra the first drought free state of India. The government has adopted a two-pronged strategy through Mission Drinking Water and will ensure changes in crop pattern to sustain holistic development. He indicated that every remote village in drought districts had been provided a roadmap and adequate budget. "The Centre and the state are working together to reach out to drought-stricken districts of Marathwada."He added.
The words of Prof Dr Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool, "We no longer live in a world where we can expect to know all the answers. Innovation is the basis of learning and real learning happens outside the classrooms. Learning from leaders whether corporate, political, social, from the grassroots, religious, sports or academic is wonderful for the young students at WeSchool as it contributes to their holistic development and helps them to emerge high on the leadership curve by transforming self, organization and society" couldn't have been more meaningful to us at this point of time. While the live discussions enabled us to be more connected with the problem statement and increased our passion for working on water challenges for the city of Nasik, the address by the Hon'ble CM increased our passion for the project by tenfold. We felt extremely proud that WeSchool had given us the opportunity to become a member of a team of innovators at DISQ, align ourselves to our dynamic CM's vision and to help the people of Nasik realize their goal of water conservation, security and usage. Thank you IBN LOKMAT, for giving us an opportunity to hone our leadership skills along with a purpose to solve the global challenge that world is facing today.
Asmita Kumar, PGDM (Healthcare) and Pavan Shetty (Business Design) are currently doing summer internship at the Digital Impact Square (DISQ) on decreasing Non revenue water (NRW) loss in Nasik city. (Currently Nasik faces NRW loss to 57.8 %.)
Digital Impact Square (DISQ) is an innovation hub set up by TATA Consultancy Services in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
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