JAMMU, FEBRUARY 03: In a significant move towards sustainable water management, the Government of India is set to launch the “Watershed Yatra”—a nationwide awareness campaign under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).
The campaign will be inaugurated on February 5 at the national level by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with a virtual broadcast across India, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Simultaneously, in Jammu and Kashmir, the yatra will be flagged off by Javed Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives, and Election Departments, from Hiranagar, Kathua.
A state-of-the-art “Watershed Yatra Van,” equipped with Augmented Reality (AR) tools and digital demonstrations, will travel 2,400 km across Jammu and Kashmir. The van will engage over 5 lakh residents through interactive workshops, community activities, and awareness drives. The campaign, which runs until March 1, 2025, will conclude in Jammu, showcasing advanced techniques in watershed conservation, soil health improvement, and rainwater harvesting.
The primary objective of the campaign is to foster public participation and raise awareness about watershed development under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in all states and Union Territories (UTs) across India.
Rajnish Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IWMP, emphasized the campaign’s broader vision. “The Watershed Yatra is not just an awareness drive; it is a movement aimed at inspiring communities to adopt watershed development practices, contributing to the national goals of water security and agricultural sustainability,” he said.
He further explained that the yatra has been designed to create a ripple effect, motivating more communities to actively engage in watershed management initiatives. “By involving local populations, especially the youth, we aim to build a robust network of committed individuals and communities focused on watershed development,” he added.
Kumar highlighted the long-term impact of the campaign, noting, “We hope this initiative will lead to significant improvements in water availability, soil health, and agricultural productivity, ultimately benefiting thousands of farmers and rural households.”
Recent Comments