The National Water Mission (NWM) under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, hosted a workshop-cum-orientation programme for Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) and Technical Officers (TOs) involved in the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2024’ (JSA: CTR 2024) campaign in New Delhi today. These officers will visit 151 targeted districts to ensure the effective implementation of the campaign. The event featured Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Paatil and Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhury.
A central team comprising CNOs and TOs will conduct two visits to their assigned districts. The workshop outlined the roles and responsibilities of these officials. The JSA: CTR 2024 campaign, running from March 9, 2024, to November 30, 2024, aims to cover all districts (both rural and urban) with the theme ‘Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti,’ highlighting the crucial role of women in water conservation.
In his address, Shri Paatil praised the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s efforts in the water sector, emphasizing the need to scale up actions to meet cumulative water demands. He cited the Surat Municipal Corporation as a model for supplying treated water to industries at cost-effective rates and promoting sustainable afforestation. The Minister encouraged the involvement of NGOs in water-related schemes, especially in rural areas, and reiterated his commitment to a water-secure future through action-oriented policies and planning. He invited the public to communicate with the Ministry regarding water-related issues and suggestions via various channels, including social media.
In her inaugural address, Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ms. Vini Mahajan, advocated for a ‘Whole of Government’ approach by engaging partner ministries, departments, and state agencies. She emphasized collaboration with both urban and rural authorities to scale up rainwater harvesting structures, stressing the importance of preparing water bodies to capture maximum rainfall.
Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, noted the adverse impact of the prolonged heatwave on the country’s water security. She highlighted the campaign’s potential to address this challenge through increased water storage in ponds, reservoirs, and other water bodies. Success depends on motivating district authorities and collaborating with local civil society organizations. She suggested using local media to promote the campaign’s benefits and encouraged central teams to assess the saturation of Anganwadis and schools with rainwater harvesting structures and to promote the geo-tagging of water bodies.
