Srinagar : The 4th Edition of Jal Prahari Samman Samaroh, a significant event dedicated to promoting water conservation and fostering a “Jal Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India in water), unfolded on 13th December at New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
This remarkable ceremony, organized by sarkaritel.com with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, and in collaboration with UNOPS, National Jal Jeevan Mission, National Water Mission, CEEW, German GiZ, and NIUA as Knowledge Partners, celebrated the exceptional efforts of water conservators from across India.
Under the theme ‘Jal Atmanirbhar Bharat,’ the ceremony recognized and honored 32 water conservators for their outstanding contributions to water conservation initiatives. Parbhat Bhai Patel, MP (LS), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, joined by distinguished Guests of Honour, including Smt. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Rural Development, and other esteemed personalities.
Ruhail Maqbool Sheikh, a Water Quality Analyst from Tral Pulwama Kashmir, received well-deserved recognition at the Jal Prahari Samman Samaroh held on December 13, 2023, at New Maharashtra Sadan, KG Marg, New Delhi.
The felicitation ceremony, organized by sarkaritel.com with the support of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, acknowledged Shri Sheikh’s praiseworthy and extraordinary efforts in the realms of water conservation, management, and water quality.
Expressing gratitude, Sheikh thanked the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for honoring his work, stating that this accolade would inspire him to contribute even more zealously to water quality, management, and conservation. He extended his appreciation to Dr. G.N Itoo, Director of Jal Jeevan Mission, the Administration of Jammu & Kashmir, and other officers from the Department of Jal Shakti for their consistent support and guidance.
Sheikh’s dedication has been consistently recognized over the years, with multiple awards highlighting his extraordinary initiatives. In December 2021, he was conferred with the prestigious ‘National Water Hero Award’ by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in acknowledgment of his commendable efforts in water conservation and management practices. Additionally, he has received numerous District-level and UT-level awards from Jal Jeevan Mission J&K and the general administration, applauding his outstanding performance and efforts to raise awareness on water conservation, water quality, and management across diverse communities, including schools and health centers.
In his address, Shri Parbhat Bhai Patel, MP (LS) stated, “The Indian government is actively addressing water scarcity by collaborating with various stakeholders. In the past year, initiatives such as reviving old water bodies, creating new ponds and lakes, and expediting river rejuvenation projects have been undertaken to make India a resilient and water-secure nation.” Bhagwat Karad, Minister of State for Finance emphasized, “The partnership of the government and the general public is crucial to counter the water crisis that our country faces. Only by leveraging the partnership with the public, it can be possible to ensure 24 hours supply of clean water to all areas.” Ramesh Bidhuri, MP (LS) shared valuable information, “About 16 ponds have been renovated in South Delhi areas, and in the coming days, more than a dozen new ponds will be ready which were almost dysfunctional earlier.” The individuals honored have made significant contributions to raising awareness and addressing water conservation issues, furthering the vision of a self-reliant and water-conscious India. In a joint statement, Ameya Sathaye, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, and Anil Sagar, Convenor emphasized addressing knowledge gaps in water conservation. Highlighting climate change’s impact on erratic weather patterns, they stressed the importance of the Jal Prahari initiative for awareness. Sagar underscored collaboration among stakeholders to address global water challenges. Commending honored Jal Praharis, he expressed anticipation for their ongoing guidance in inspiring contributions to this vital cause.
The event, backed by Jalprahari.in and Sarkaritel.com, aimed to demonstrate their continuous commitment to advancing water conservation initiatives and contributing significantly to the transformation of our nation. The event featured three insightful panel discussions on crucial topics such as COP28 & Water Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals, Harnessing Digital Technology for Integrated Water Resources Management/River Rejuvenation, and Flood, Drought, and Climate Change Mitigation. Senior government officials and experts in the field of water conservation participated in these panel discussions that were followed by the Ambassadors session. The Ambassadors session witnessed participation by renowned global personalities, including H.E. Mr. Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India; H.E. Lukmon Bobokalonzoda, Ambassador of Tajikistan to India; H.E. Mr. Reuben Gauci, High Commissioner of Malta to India; and H.E. Mr. Aziz Baratov, Chargé d’affaires, Embassy of Uzbekistan in India. The list of the water warriors who received the prestigious Water Sentinel Award includes Bedashree Choudhury, Director (Climate Action), Bongaigaon, Assam, Ajay Sahay, Programme Office, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Bhagwan Rana, President, New Delhi, Dr. (Smt.) Meena Jangid, Traditional Water Practitioner, Sambhal, New Delhi, Dr. (Smt.) Bhakti Lata, Founder, Jal Smruti Foundation, New Delhi, Dhumman Singh Kirmach, Deputy Chairman, Kurukshetra, Haryana, Yashu Deep Singh (IFS), DCF, Himachal Pradesh, Ruhail Maqbool Sheikh, Water Quality Analyst, Jammu and Kashmir.Shilpa Nag, IAS, District Collector, Chamrajnagar, Karnataka, S. Krishna Chaitanya (IAS), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Gunvant Chindha Sonawane, Founder, Pune, Maharashtra Prashant Gadekar (IRS), Pune, Maharashtra. Sharad Agarwal, Sector Head, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Suresh Patil, Pune, Maharashtra, Vaijinath Jagannath Ghongade, President, Sangola, Maharashtra, Shekhar Narayanrao Nimbalkar, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Sunil Prabhakar, Journalist, Punjab, Arvind Saxena, Superintendent Engineer, Rural Development Department, Government of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, Deepak Sahu, Water Department Incharge, Sirohi, Rajasthan ,Girish Shah, Gujarat/ Rajasthan, Dilip Sakhiya, President, Rajkot, Gujarat, S. Arumugam, Vice President, Kumuthi, Tamil Nadu, B. Murugesh (IAS), District Collector, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, Nimal Raghavan, Co-Founder, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu G. S. Priyadarshi (IAS), Commissioner, Lucknow, Kuldeep Meena (IAS), CDO, Bulandshahr, UP, Laxmi Nagappan (IAS), CDO, Kanpur
