New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): The Ministry of Jal Shakti introduced that the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has expanded its webinar sequence, titled ‘Igniting Young Minds: Rejuvenating Rivers,’ to a world viewers.
The thirteenth version of the webinar sequence, now titled, ‘Igniting Young Minds: A Global Campaign’ was just about organised on July 8, 2023, in collaboration with APAC News Network, with the target of invoking participation from ‘Young Water Sustainers to Build Tomorrow’s Global Sustainability Leaders’, a press be aware from the Ministry of Jal Shakti mentioned on Monday.
The goal of the webinar is to interact younger people obsessed with water sustainability and encourage their participation as future leaders in world sustainability efforts.
The theme of the webinar was Water Conservation. In this particular session, the pressing want for rainwater conservation, collaboration with universities, and group engagement to make sure sustainable water administration and river rejuvenation had been mentioned.
Director General, NMCG, G Asok Kumar, chaired the webinar. The panelists included BS Yadav, Chancellor, IES University, Narayana Shenoy S, Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Neena Singh Zutshi, Professor and Dean Academics, World University of Design, and Arpan Stephen, Kingdom of Bahrain, E-learning Expert, Arabian Gulf University.
Delivering the keynote deal with, DG, NMCG highlighted the vital want for intensified efforts in water conservation and river rejuvenation. He spoke in regards to the crucial function of public participation, calling for a collective motion and citizen duty to make sure sustainability and respect for water assets.
The Director General emphasised the efficient administration of water assets to utilize the spatial and temporal variation in rainfall within the nation.
“The scope of Namami Gange extends to River Ganga and its tributaries and the impact of the work done in the Ganga Basin is manifesting in the form of significant improvement in water quality and biodiversity exemplified by the increased sightings of aquatic species like Gangetic Dolphins, Otters etc.,” he mentioned.
Ashok additional added, “The recognition of NMCG’s efforts by the United Nations further reinforces its unique position and commitment to water conservation. The positive recognition received from international stakeholders’ underscores Namami Gange’s impact. The participation of more than 20 crore people in the Kumbh Mela 2019, much more than anticipated, signifies an increasing awareness and engagement in river rejuvenation efforts in the country.”He mentioned that the importance of the 5 Rs– Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recharge and Respect– is pivotal to fight water shortage, notably within the agriculture sector, the place water use effectivity stays a main concern.
He make clear the extreme use of groundwater by farmers, which not solely requires vital power for pumping, but additionally calls for extra environment friendly irrigation strategies. He mentioned that saving water needs to be included into all features of life, encouraging the reuse of water, comparable to using rejected water from RO techniques for laundry greens, fruits, and crops.
Additionally, handled water from sewage remedy crops (STPs) can be utilized for irrigation and different functions, lowering the extraction of water from different sources.
The NMCG DG famous that by adopting a round economic system of water, the place water is now not discarded however as a substitute recovered and reused, the world can obtain sustainable water administration.
He targeted on the necessity to educate youthful generations, elevating consciousness amongst college students and instill a way of duty to advertise sustainable water utilization practices. He additionally highlighted the significance of reusing sewage water, specializing in the technical features of protected sewage disposal. “Improper sewage disposal can result in the contamination of recent water sources, posing dangers to public well being.
NMCG actively engages within the means of treating sewage water by means of the institution of Nirmal Jal Kendras, making certain the protected disposal of sewage water and its utilization for non-potable functions”, he mentioned.
Ashok underscored the necessity to protect rainwater and mentioned the “Catch the Rain” marketing campaign, which inspires decentralized storage of rainwater. The marketing campaign urges communities to reap rainwater inside their localities, contributing in elevating water desk ranges and a discount in energy-intensive water pumping. “Preserving rainwater is instrumental in conserving water for the summer season,” he mentioned.
Furthermore, he famous the importance of rainwater conservation for college students, because it instantly influences way forward for forthcoming generations. “It is imperative to instill this knowledge in students, fostering a sense of responsibility and promoting mindful water usage practices”, he mentioned.
He acknowledged the numerous function that universities can play within the conservation and rejuvenation of rivers and urged universities to actively assist and collaborate within the revitalization of rivers.
BS Yadav, Chancellor of IES University, spoke in regards to the function of the Ganga River because the lifeline of the nation and inspired the necessity for consciousness campaigns inside college areas to advertise the optimum use and conservation of water assets.
He additionally appreciated the Jal Jeevan Mission, recognizing it as a outstanding initiative in addressing the necessity for clear water. Additionally, he highlighted Unnat Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Government of India, whereby 10 close by villages are to be adopted for group growth. Mr. Yadav expressed his enthusiasm and readiness to assist these initiatives, acknowledging water as a primary necessity and emphasizing the numerous expenditure required for acquiring clear water.
He recommended the efforts of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in elevating consciousness and implementing the world’s largest marketing campaign for rejuvenating rivers and eliminating air pollution.
Narayana Shenoy S, highlighted the necessity for water conservation and the preservation of rivers.
Citing statistics, he famous that India is blessed with the next density of rivers and receives plentiful rainfall. Shenoy mentioned that the Ganga River flows by means of 11 states of the nation, protecting almost 30 per cent of the inhabitants and 40 per cent of agricultural land.
“Manipal Academy of Higher Education is actively engaged in river rejuvenation efforts, initiating programs like the Swarna Aradhana Project, wherein the river is seen as a living natural resource that gives a holistic perspective to the younger generation,” Shenoy mentioned, including that even small steps can create a big impression by contributing to the bigger explanation for defending water assets and making certain a sustainable future.”Neena Singh Zutshi mentioned the college’s collaboration with the NMCG within the Universities Connect Program.
Addressing the urgent world problem of local weather change and its quick impression on society, Zutshi underscored the significance of water as a residing entity and the pressing want for youth engagement in successfully addressing this problem.
She mentioned that the collaboration goals to combine water conservation ideas into the college’s curriculum, with the School of Architecture and Planning specializing in on-campus conservation efforts.
She mentioned that the School of Communication is trying to elevate consciousness by means of impactful movies, whereas the School of Fashion is prioritizing sustainable practices. Furthermore, she famous that the School of Performing Arts goals to encourage college students by means of performances selling water conservation.
Zutshi mentioned that curriculum design throughout disciplines ought to deal with water-related points and concluded her deal with by stressing on the significance of leveraging expertise and AI to deal with the vital water drawback.
Arpan Stephen, an esteemed e-learning Expert from the Arabian Gulf University, shared his insights on the water-related challenges confronted in Bahrain, together with the absence of pure rivers or lakes and heavy reliance on changing seawater into potable water.
He emphasised the urgent concern of groundwater depletion, which is commonly missed throughout the schooling sector, stressing the necessity for its integration into the curriculum.
Stephen underscored the urgency of addressing the shortage of water assets, calling for widespread acceptance of the problem. He burdened that the simplest strategy is to coach younger individuals ranging from the K12 stage.
By offering in-depth information and fostering a concentrate on water conservation all through their instructional journey, college students could possibly be inspired to prioritize somewhat than solely pursuing skilled levels.
Stephen’s advocated aligning of water conservation schooling with the rising recognition of the necessity to nurture environmentally aware residents and domesticate sustainable practices inside India’s schooling system. (ANI)