Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Nationwide ‘Watershed Yatra’ to Promote Water Conservation

New Delhi: In a major push for soil and water conservation, Union Minister of Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today launched the ‘Watershed Yatra,’ a nationwide mass outreach campaign aimed at increasing public participation and awareness about watershed development activities under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0). The campaign was launched in hybrid mode, with Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Kamlesh Paswan also addressing the gathering.

The launch witnessed widespread participation across 800 Gram Panchayats, with over one lakh people joining the initiative at various state and district levels. Senior officials, state ministers, and implementation officers of WDC-PMKSY attended the event in their respective states and union territories.

Speaking at the launch, Chouhan emphasized the importance of soil and water conservation for present and future generations, urging people to actively engage in the Watershed Yatra to ensure the success of WDC-PMKSY projects. He highlighted that the campaign aims to promote a community-driven approach, galvanizing field-level implementation and raising awareness about sustainable management of natural resources to boost agriculture productivity, livelihoods, and environmental conservation.

The campaign will feature a series of activities, including groundbreaking ceremonies for new watershed projects, inauguration of completed works, awareness festivals, expert discussions on soil and water management, and awards for individuals contributing significantly to watershed development. Special events such as Bhumi-Jal Pitch and Shramdaan will further encourage voluntary participation in water conservation efforts.

On this occasion, Chouhan also announced the launch of ‘Watershed – Janbhagidari Pratiyogita,’ a national-level competition under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, aimed at promoting community-led watershed management through a Public-Private-People Partnership (4Ps) model. Under this initiative, projects demonstrating outstanding work in water conservation and watershed development through government funding and public participation will be recognized. Each winning project will receive an additional reward of ₹20 lakh, with a total allocation of ₹70.80 crore, benefiting 177 projects annually. The evaluation for this year’s competition will be conducted in April 2025. Shri Chouhan expressed confidence that this competition would accelerate departmental efforts while encouraging public participation in the construction and maintenance of water conservation structures.

The Watershed Yatra will run for approximately 60-90 days, covering 805 projects across 26 states and 2 union territories, impacting over 13,500 villages. To engage youth and community members, the Ministry has developed a Learning Management System (LMS) on Watershed Development, now available on the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) website and linked to the MY Bharat portal. Youth participants will receive certificates, motivating them to take part in Shramdaan activities. A mega event for ‘Watershed Yatra’ has also been launched on the MY Bharat portal, aiming to mobilize volunteers, strengthen community involvement, and create a cadre of watershed leaders.

The initiative marks a significant step by the government to promote sustainable water resource management and enhance community participation in conservation efforts. With a focus on awareness, capacity-building, and technological integration, the Watershed Yatra is set to transform water conservation efforts in rural India, ensuring a more resilient and water-secure future.