On July 19, 2024, the nation’s first “Pani Pathshala” (Water School) was inaugurated at the Panwadi Block Resource Center, marking the birth anniversary of Padma Shri revolutionary Mangal Pandey. This initiative, supported by the Atal Bhujal Yojana and the State Groundwater Department, aims to promote water conservation through education and community involvement, especially by the young forces in the country.
Padma Shri Umashankar Pandey, the chief guest in the event, emphasised that “Water Revolution should become a People’s Revolution; Water Movement should become a People’s Movement.”
He highlighted that over 250 million children and youth across the country, from kindergarten to postgraduate levels, are engaged in various forms of education, training, and research. Pandey argued that water conservation education should be a mandatory part of the curriculum from the primary level. He urged people to consider “water insurance” for future sustainability rather than relying solely on traditional life insurance.
Jal Kosh Yatra
During his four-day Jal Kosh Yatra, Pandey engaged with children, farmers, and water guards in several villages, including Paswara in Kabrai block, Dhawarra in Jaitpur block, Devganpura in Panwadi block, and Supa in Charakhari block. He visited various public water bodies, such as ponds, wells, and small rivers, discussing the dire state of water resources in these regions.
Pandey noted that Mahoba, once known for its remarkable community-based water conservation practices under the Bundelas and Chandelas a thousand years ago, now suffers from severe water scarcity. He stressed the importance of small, practical measures for water conservation and called for every institution—governmental, non-governmental, semi-governmental, and individual—to establish water schools and dedicate time for water conservation and plantation.
Historical Context and Achievements
The event also celebrated the legacy of Acharya Vinoba, who received the first village donation during the Bhoodan Movement in Bundelkhand, coinciding with the inauguration of the first moving water school.
Ankit Pandey, Secretary of the Water Power Foundation, underscored that water cannot be created but must be preserved by the community. Assistant Engineer of the Groundwater Department, Akshay Kumar, highlighted the positive impact of the Water Resource Journey and anticipated significant outcomes from the new Water School.
Ankit Pandey, Secretary of the Water Power Foundation, stated that water cannot be created but can only be preserved by collective community efforts. Akshay Kumar, Assistant Engineer of the Groundwater Department, noted the positive impact of the Water Resource Journey and anticipated that the Water School would be a milestone in water conservation.
The event was supported by Block Education Officer Rajesh Tiwari, Panwadi Police Station In-charge Manish Pandey, IGC Expert Sumit Srivastava, Agriculture Expert Saurabh Srivastava, and Block Coordinator DIP. The program was conducted by IGC Expert Akhilesh Pandey. During the journey, water specialists visited significant water bodies such as Keerat Sagar, Madan Sagar, Vijay Sagar, and Kalyan Sagar.
Jal Kosh Yatra and Future Plans
On July 16, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh gave the green signal to the “Jal Kosh Yatra” organised by Umashankar Pandey and other water activists with the Government’s support. This initiative covers ten districts of UP, 26 blocks, and 550 villages facing water scarcity, implementing the Atal Bhujal Yojana to raise awareness about water conservation. The motto of the yatra is “Water is for all,” emphasising that the responsibility to save water lies with the people.
Pandey expressed his vision for the “Pani Pathshala” as a means to engage young minds in schools, colleges, and universities in water conservation practices. He urged students to adopt small water-saving habits such as using bucket water for bathing, wiping vehicles instead of washing them, and reusing cleaning water for plants among others.
He added, “Under the Chandela rulers, Mahoba was once an oasis with numerous ponds. Over seventy per cent of the land in the region was dedicated to these ponds, which served as a crucial water source for the villagers. However, today this region faces a severe water crisis, and many of these ponds have become dry. To restore water to these lost reserves, I have undertaken the task of travelling to various villages and blocks to educate people on water conservation. I encourage students to use bucket water for bathing, wipe vehicles instead of washing them, and reuse cleaning water for watering plants. These small actions, when adopted widely, can lead to significant change.”
Jal Swaraj Gram Jakhni
Readers will be intrigued to learn that Pandey hails from Jakhni village, located in the heart of Banda district, Uttar Pradesh. Once a barren landscape in the arid Bundelkhand region, Jakhni has transformed into a thriving oasis. Renowned as ‘Jal Gram,’ the village has garnered recognition from both state and national governments and has become a research hub for international visitors. Pandey’s dedicated efforts in water conservation earned him the Padma Shri in 2023 and the Jal Yodha Samman from the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2020.
Pandey revealed to Organiser that the ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’ is inspired by the success of the Jakhni model when this correspondent visited Jakhni in June this year. Currently, Jakhni boasts 33 wells, 25 hand pumps, and six perennially filled ponds, a testament to the effective recharge of its aquifers. Banda district leads the state in well construction, with nearly 800 wells dug in early 2023 and 2,552 others under development.
Additionally, the district administration built 4,200 bunds, created 200 new ponds, and established 4,500 soak pits during the same period.
As the architect of the Jal Panchayat, Pandey orchestrated Jakhni’s revival. Reflecting on their journey one of the members of the unique Jal Panchayat, Awasthi noted, “Under Uma Shankar ji’s guidance, we set out to restore Jakhni’s parched land. We started by constructing embankments, known as Medh Bandi, around fields to reduce water runoff and prevent soil erosion, followed by Neher Nirman to manage the water flow within the village.”
Pandey shared that his inspiration came from a 2005 water conservation seminar in Delhi featuring Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. “During Dr. Kalam’s talk,” Pandey recalled, “he introduced the concept of ‘jalgrams‘—villages dedicated to water conservation. Immediately, I saw Jakhni as the ideal candidate for implementing such practices.”
Pandey’s strategy was rooted in traditional water conservation techniques used by Bundelkhand’s farmers, such as medh bandi or bund formation. His primary focus was to engage with the community and demonstrate the effectiveness of these age-old methods. One of his famous sayings are, “Khet par medh, medh par pedh” an age-old practice for water conservation.
Back in June Pandey revealed plans to establish the nation’s first-ever “Pani Pathshala” within the coming year. He emphasised that his mission is far from complete, stating, “The Jal Pathshala will integrate water conservation and security insights from across India. Rather than relying solely on academics and experts, I envision involving ordinary individuals with practical experience to lead the teaching.”
Mahoba’s Water Crisis and Jal Jeevan Mission
In June 2024, this correspondent visited Shivhar village in Mahoba, a region that has long struggled with water scarcity but is now making remarkable strides under the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Atal Bhujal Yojana.
According to data obtained by Organiser, out of the 132,710 households in Mahoba, an impressive 132,207 now have access to tap water, achieving a remarkable 99.62 per cent water sufficiency. This transformation highlights the profound impact of these initiatives, particularly on women who are now able to live with dignity and ease, liberated from the burdens of water scarcity.
Despite significant progress, much work remains to be done. While governments have made substantial contributions, it is now up to the residents to play their part. Pandey, through his innovative approaches, has embarked on a journey from individual to community development, where every person recognises their responsibilities and values water conservation.
Pandey aims to replicate this model and the “Pani Pathshala” in every village across the country. His goal is to ensure nationwide water sufficiency and encourage people to adopt practices suited to an ideal “Swaraj” nation.
He affirmed that his journey is just beginning and remains committed to advancing this crucial cause.
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