Latest news with #Paani
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Kendre for people's participation to address Vidarbha's water crisis
Nagpur: Water conservationist Hanumant Kendre, popularly known as the Jaldoot of Marathwada, made an impassioned appeal for greater community participation to tackle Vidarbha's water crisis at a special interview session at Vidarbha Pani Parishad. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Widely recognized for transforming his drought-ridden village, Nagdarwadi, into a model of water sustainability, Kendre's journey inspired the national award-winning film Paani. "Water retention isn't rocket science. It's about creating a water bank, involving villagers in decision-making, and respecting traditional wisdom. You can't find rural solutions sitting in an AC room," he said. Kendre emphasized the importance of youth participation and suggested that students could lead change by organizing rural appraisals and learning directly from village elders. Kendre recalled how his mother and other women in the village had to walk nearly 5km daily to fetch water. "They carried heavy mud pots weighing around 40kg, filled with nearly 35 litres of water," he said. A turning point in his life came when his wife made water availability in the village a precondition for their marriage. "We had decided we would marry only each other, but she firmly said the wedding would happen only when our village had water," Kendre said. He then teamed up with his elder brother, who was then associated with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to develop a sustainable water conservation model. After research, they implemented a pilot project over 1,014ha, designed to capture and retain downhill-flowing rainwater. This initiative evolved into what is now known as Indo-German Watershed Development Programme. The model has since been replicated in more than 50 villages across Maharashtra, with people from Washim, Hingoli, and Yavatmal approaching him for guidance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Today, in Nagdarwadi, wherever you dig a borewell, you find water at just 100 feet," Kendre said with pride, emphasizing that the model is practical and fully replicable across water-scarce regions like Vidarbha. Kendre shared how his appearance on TV show Satyamev Jayate brought his work into the national spotlight. "Aamir Khan's team invited me to Mumbai. I was scared, nervous, and unsure, but after the episode aired, over 7–8 lakh people reached out to me. That changed everything," he said. He also urged those with the means to adopt villages and dedicate at least one day a week to sustainable work on the ground. Kendre credited individuals like RSS worker Upendra Kulkarni for supporting him in his mission. "We never took a single rupee of government funding. From an RSS shikshan kendra to volunteers who walked alongside us, we created a model based on people's power," he said. "Owning a big house or car isn't enough. Do something that benefits hundreds," he said.
Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
FluxGen and WELL Labs' DropTalk 2025 Redefines Water Conversations with Two Days of Action, Insight, and Innovation
PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 1: DropTalk 2025: Redefining Water Conversations, co-hosted by FluxGen and WELL Labs, convened 150+ changemakers at the Bangalore International Centre on 16-17 April. The two-day forum advanced equity, innovation and measurable impact through interactive storytelling, audience-driven sessions, masterclasses and roundtables. Vishwanath Srikantaiah, Prof. Srinivas Chary Vedala, Sumouleendra Ghosh, Priya Modi, Dr. Fawzia Tarannum, Dr. Chandni Bedi, Siddharth Desai, E. Nandakumar, and delegates from WIH-ASCI, IWA, Arghyam, CEEW, GRIHA, KPMG, Toyota Kirloskar, Care Hospitals and Aquarelle discussed policy, technology, traditional knowledge and equality. Day 1 highlighted success stories in circularity, problem-solving for Water Crisis in 2035, screening of Down the Drain: The Many Journeys of Water, investment and lake-rejuvenation masterclasses, and storytelling on Indigenous Water Wisdom. Day 2 examined system transformation via workshops on equity funding for water-tech, sessions on rainwater harvesting, Gujarat micro-irrigation, digital public goods, and the role-play game Paani, Paisa, and Politics. Dialogues on artificial intelligence, data-driven storytelling and decision support underlined technology's promise. Flagship sessions probed Water Recycling, Making Existing Infrastructure Water Positive, and AI for Water. Distinctive formats--HydroMingle (an open collaboration session), the WPlan Business Plan Contest for B-school students, 16-year-old Aadya's innovation pitch, and a Lake Walk at Ulsoor guided by Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava--deepened engagement. Proceedings closed with collective water pledges. "DropTalk 2025 was not just a conference--it was a convergence of purpose and action. At a time when water risks are becoming central to both business continuity and public policy, DropTalk created a platform for industry leaders, government representatives, researchers, and innovators to collaborate meaningfully. Our focus was clear: move beyond conversations and catalyze outcomes--solutions, partnerships, and policies that accelerate our journey toward a Water Positive India," said Ganesh Shankar, Founder & CEO at FluxGen. "DropTalk brought together two ecosystems that rarely meet--nonprofits, government, academia on one side, and startups, investors, and corporations on the other. When these groups talk, it really redefines water conversations. We need more radical collaborations across these boundaries to scale real-world water solutions," said Veena Srinivasan, Founder and Executive Director of WELL Labs. Website Links: * * Photo: Logo:
Business Upturn
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
FluxGen and WELL Labs' DropTalk 2025 Redefines Water Conversations with Two Days of Action, Insight, and Innovation
BENGALURU, India , May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DropTalk 2025: Redefining Water Conversations, co-hosted by FluxGen and WELL Labs, convened 150+ changemakers at the Bangalore International Centre on 16–17 April. The two-day forum advanced equity, innovation and measurable impact through interactive storytelling, audience-driven sessions, masterclasses and roundtables. Vishwanath Srikantaiah , Prof. Srinivas Chary Vedala , Sumouleendra Ghosh, Priya Modi , Dr. Fawzia Tarannum, Dr. Chandni Bedi , Siddharth Desai , E. Nandakumar, and delegates from WIH-ASCI, IWA, Arghyam, CEEW, GRIHA, KPMG, Toyota Kirloskar, Care Hospitals and Aquarelle discussed policy, technology, traditional knowledge and equality. Day 1 highlighted success stories in circularity, problem-solving for Water Crisis in 2035, screening of Down the Drain: The Many Journeys of Water, investment and lake-rejuvenation masterclasses, and storytelling on Indigenous Water Wisdom. Day 2 examined system transformation via workshops on equity funding for water-tech, sessions on rainwater harvesting, Gujarat micro-irrigation, digital public goods, and the role-play game Paani, Paisa, and Politics. Dialogues on artificial intelligence, data-driven storytelling and decision support underlined technology's promise. Flagship sessions probed Water Recycling, Making Existing Infrastructure Water Positive, and AI for Water. Distinctive formats—HydroMingle (an open collaboration session), the WPlan Business Plan Contest for B-school students, 16-year-old Aadya's innovation pitch, and a Lake Walk at Ulsoor guided by Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava—deepened engagement. Proceedings closed with collective water pledges. 'DropTalk 2025 was not just a conference—it was a convergence of purpose and action. At a time when water risks are becoming central to both business continuity and public policy, DropTalk created a platform for industry leaders, government representatives, researchers, and innovators to collaborate meaningfully. Our focus was clear: move beyond conversations and catalyze outcomes—solutions, partnerships, and policies that accelerate our journey toward a Water Positive India,' said Ganesh Shankar, Founder & CEO at FluxGen. 'DropTalk brought together two ecosystems that rarely meet—nonprofits, government, academia on one side, and startups, investors, and corporations on the other. When these groups talk, it really redefines water conversations. We need more radical collaborations across these boundaries to scale real-world water solutions,' said Veena Srinivasan , Founder and Executive Director of WELL Labs. Website Links: Photo: Logo:
