On October 22, 2024, President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the fifth National Water Awards in New Delhi. The event celebrated outstanding contributions to water conservation and management across the country, recognizing efforts in nine categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, and more.
In her address, the Droupadi Murmu highlighted the importance of water as a fundamental human right and its crucial role in ensuring a clean and prosperous society. She stressed that access to clean water directly affects the health, food security, and livelihoods of underprivileged communities. Despite being aware of the scarcity of freshwater resources, Smt. Murmu noted that society often overlooks the importance of water conservation, leading to pollution and depletion of these precious resources.
President Droupadi Murmu commended the Government of India’s initiatives in promoting water conservation and harvesting, recognizing that without urgent and active participation in these efforts, achieving a Water-Secure India would be impossible. She referred to traditional water conservation practices used by India’s ancestors, such as building ponds near villages and reservoirs near temples, as valuable lessons that have been forgotten over time. Encroachments on such water bodies for personal gain have led to detrimental effects, such as droughts and floods.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu emphasized that water conservation is not the sole responsibility of the government but a collective duty that requires the participation of every citizen. She encouraged individuals to take small steps in their daily lives, such as not leaving taps running, preventing water from overflowing in household tanks, and implementing water-harvesting techniques at home. Additionally, the renovation of traditional water reservoirs through community efforts was also recommended as a sustainable solution to address water scarcity.
President Droupadi Murmu praised the National Water Awards as a commendable initiative to promote awareness and action regarding water conservation. She expressed hope that the best practices of the awardees would inspire and motivate citizens across India to adopt sustainable water management practices. The awards serve as a platform to create awareness about the importance of water and encourage responsible water use.
The fifth National Water Awards were presented across nine categories: Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution (other than school or college), and Best Civil Society. These categories were designed to recognize efforts from various sectors in making meaningful contributions to water conservation.
As India continues to face increasing water challenges due to climate change, population growth, and industrialization, initiatives like the National Water Awards are vital in fostering a culture of conservation and sustainable water management. Through collective efforts and individual responsibility, the vision of a Water-Secure India is achievable.
The event concluded with a call for greater awareness and participation from all levels of society to ensure that future generations can benefit from the nation’s precious water resources.
