Tura, Feb 10: The District Level launching of “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls, When it Falls” an Awareness Generation Campaign for Conservation of water was launched today at DRDA Conference Hall, Tura where West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
The programme was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, West Garo Hills Tura in collaboration with the National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh highlighting the topography of the region emphasized on the need to focus on water conservation and rainwater harvesting in the area since water is an integral part of our lives. He lamented that though the region receives a good amount of rainfall during the monsoon, the water flows away and people face water crisis during the lean season. This could have been avoided, if rainwater harvesting is done, he said and added that massive plantation activities in and around the water sources and catchment areas need to be done in order to protect and conserve water sources in the area.
Meanwhile, the District Youth Officer, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Tura Anwesha Bhattacharya highlighted the aims and objectives of the campaign “Catch the Rain” and informed that as per the preparatory phase of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the Ministry has involved Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NKYS) to undertake this awareness-building campaign through various IEC activities which include education and motivational programs, mass awareness campaigns, knowledge competitions among others and will also prepare action plan for the conservation of water to be taken up in the next phase of the campaign by holding meetings with district administration, line departments, volunteers and other stakeholders. Mentioning that the suggested activities of the campaign is to store rainwater by making water harvesting pits, rooftop rainwater harvesting structures, repairing of traditional water harvesting structures like wells, etc, she said that the main function of NYKS is to engage people at the grassroot level through effective campaigning and IEC activities for successful implementation of the campaign.
Earlier during the function, the Chief Guest along with other District Officials unveiled the posters and IEC materials for promoting the “Catch the Rain” Campaign.
Further, the Chief Guest also administered the Water Pledge to save and conserve water and its judicious use by encouraging friends, neighbours, and family members to use water properly and save it for our future generation.
