Encouraged over the overwhelming response that the Narmada Sewa Yatra has received during the last three months, the people living on the banks of other rivers like Tapti, Chambal and Shipra also plan for similar drives for conservation of the holy rivers
Pramod Kumar
As expected the Narmada Sewa Yatra has started causing a big change in Madhya Pradesh. The drive started on December 11, 2016 from Amarkantak to conserve Narmada River, has now motivated the people of other areas also to start similar drives for conservation of the rivers in their respective areas. The people living on the banks of Chambal River joined the Yatra on March 25 at Budhni and returned back with the determination to start a similar campaign for protection of the Chambal. Tapti Darshan Yatra has already begun aiming to ignite the minds of the people. Equally, the people living on the banks of Shipra are also in the process of starting a Yatra for mass awareness.
“The realisation that rivers are our lifeline and we have to protect them is now visible. This is the biggest outcome of the Narmada Sewa Yatra,” said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while talking to Organiser in Bhopal on March 20. In order to ensure that the awareness generated through Narmada Sewa Yatra has lasting impact in the areas wherever it passes through, Narmada Sewa Samitis are being constituted at village level. These Samitis are going to take up the follow up actions in the respective areas. Apart from villages, such Samitis are also being constituted at Block and District levels. All such committees are connected with the State level Narmada Sewa Mission, which has been mandated to execute the plans as part of the Narmada conservation.
The Narmada Sewa Yatra received a big boost on March 19 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama applauded the collective efforts of Madhya Pradesh Government as well as the people of the State. The Dalai Lama joined the Yatra at Turnal Village near Nemavar in Dewas District, about 150 km from Bhopal. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and scores of local saints, doctors, businessmen and representatives of various segments of the society. The Dalai Lama also planted a Peepal sapling.
Addressing the huge gathering of local people and also those who are walking in the Yatra, the Dalai Lama said trees, water and air are our heritage and we must protect and preserve them. Praising the Narmada Sewa Yatra, he said the Chief Minister’s endeavour is admirable. “Only speeches won’t do. We shall have to work hard to make the environment and water clean.” He further reminded that it was important that the rural areas get the same facilities as the urban ones. “Technological development is must but it is also important that every citizen gets clean air, potable water and nutritious food. I appreciate the village development endeavours of the Chief Minister. The villages too should have universities for education, means of entertainment and good hospitals for treatment of the sick,” he said.
He further said: “The world today needs love and compassion and not the materialistic knowledge. Only Bharat can gift this knowledge to the world. In order to restore peace, happiness and prosperity in the world we need to curb the caste, communal and religious differences. All 700 crore people of the world are one and I am too one of them. We must shun the selfish mindset and have the feeling of love and brotherhood towards one another. We need to work for upliftment and progress of each and every human being.” The Dalai Lama also stressed on active role of the women in development process because they are more sensitive than men. Indians can proudly proclaim to the world that here is a country where various religious streams can not only co-exist but also flourish, he added.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan excliamed with pride that Narmada Sewa Yatra has emerged as a unique initiative for river conservation in the world. Declaring that crores of saplings would be planted on the banks of Narmada on July 2, he called upon the people to ensure their participation in the drive as Narmada Sevak. Later talking to Organiser the CM said the biggest achievement of this Yatra is change in the mindset of people. “It is because of the awareness that people have themselves decided not to pour anything, which causes pollutioninto the Narmada. They are ready to alter even their religious practices. Tree plantation is another big initiative. I hope lakhs of people will plant trees from Amarkantak to Badwani on July 2. People have understood the fact that Narmada does not originate from any glacier but from the tree roots in Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges. A big tree has the capacity to absorb 50,000 litres of water in its roots. That water, gradually released by the trees, basically flows in the Narmada. That is why tree plantation is going to become a mass movement.”
He said the tenders for installation of sewage treatment plants have been awarded and the work is going to begin shortly. The Yatra has turned into a social and economic movement also. Narmada is responsible for 30 per cent irrigation in Madhya Pradesh. She is the prime source of drinking water in thousands of villages. Many big cities are dependent on Narmada for drinking water. We are generating hydro power also from Narmada. She provides employment opportunities to innumerable people. She is our lifeline, if she dries, the life will come to an end. It is a social movement because people are taking a pledge to provide equal opportunities to girls and curb addiction. We are going to close all liquor shops at the banks of Narmada River from April 1. We are making appeals to the people to make their villages addiction free. Imposing total prohibition in one day is not practical. It needs the change in mindset. That is now visible during the yatra. Our literacy rate is 70 per cent. We have to make it 100 per cent. So, no child in the State will remain illiterate.
The significant aspect of Narmada Sewa Yatra is that it is being led by the society and not by the government. The way it has exhorted the people to change their mindset develops a hope for conservation of other polluted rivers also. n
