Your journey in your words…….
My life journey started at the age of 10-12 years. I was always different from my peers. After completing my studies, I wanted to do something that was associated with the soil of the land. I left my job and took off to a remote village called Gopalpur in Rajasthan to volunteer as a traditional medicine practitioner. I also wanted to educate the youth of the village and had lofty ideas about educating the village and making it self-sufficient. My efforts were not as widely acknowledged as I would have thought it to be. After all here I was an educated city-bred young man trying to change the landscape of a small and remote village. My test of reality came in when an old man after about 8 months of my perseverance asked me “Why do you want us to live and learn when we don’t even have access to water and food?” In response to my bewilderment, he further continued, “What we need is water, the rest will follow. If you really want to help us, then get us our water back.” Thus began my journey of understanding the situation of water scarcity in Gopalpur by rejuvenating 22 dried wells in the region. Why is the issue of water so relevant in today’s time? Today’s education has imparted concepts of extraction, pollution and encroachment in the name of optimum use of natural resources. Water scarcity has become a chronic problem due to absolute abuse of the sources in the name of optimum use. Water is key to ensure food and nutrition security.
Do you think the response of the civil society has been positive towards the issue of water conservation?
I believe to an extent yes, especially with regard to the community. Most of the water revival models have been community driven. Th e government on the other hand has sporadic policies which are largely driven by corporate interests. The life issue is ignored. A new water market is being created which is mainly against the concept of common resource. The community and the civil society have to push the agenda of creating a common pool of water sources strongly to rejuvenate the number of traditional water sources that we have.
You have connected with Welthungerhilfe for over a year now. How has the experience been?
Welthungerhilfe is a community driven organisation and that is what makes the experience worthwhile. The vision to respect and empower the community ensures that the organisation isn’t a typical donor who is only interested in the numbers but genuinely feels for the community it engages with.
The Jal Jan Jodo Campaign (rights based approach water campaign) has been amotivating experience and the inputs that have come in from Welthungerhilfe have been tremendous. This has also resulted in a positive output in terms of the Water Security Bill.
What has been the most memorable part of your journey?
The year 1996 was an important landmark. The river Arwari which was once a perennial river in the desert state of Rajasthan ran dry. It was because of the sustained efforts of the community members that it became perennial again. This was one of the first successful movements that I led. The second important moment for me was the winning of the Magsaysay Award.
Way Forward….
The immediate way forward is to mobilise support for the Water Security Bill to be included in all party manifestoes. This is an opportune time with the national elections being held in April-May 2014. The strengthening of the Jal Jan Jodo campaign is also important as it helps in bringing further visibility to the revival of the traditional water harvesting structures. The larger goal would be to bring about equity based water revival policies into place.