World Water Day: Valuing Water as Priceless Gift to Mankind

Water has varied meanings for different people. For many individuals, it is simply a liquid that is necessary for their daily needs; for others, it is a valuable and priceless source of life-giving energy. A global digital initiative, #Water2me, is generating dialogues and gathering thoughts and ideas from people all around the world about water, what it means to them, and how much they appreciate water. How important is water to their home and family life, livelihood, cultural traditions, well-being, and the local environment?

Origin of World Water Day:

In 1992, Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. That same year, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution designating March 22 as World Water Day. Since then, this day has been observed annually to raise awareness about the significance of water and to inform us about the 2.2 billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water.

Problem of Water Scarcity: 

Globally, groundwater levels are rapidly diminishing, resulting in the conversion of cultivable land to barren desert terrain. This water scarcity issue is exacerbating the already-existing global food security crisis. In India, the water crisis is severe; about half of the population is subjected to high-to-extreme water stress, and approximately 200,000 people die each year as a result of insufficient access to quality water. You may not realize it or feel it yet, but this deteriorating scenario affects every element of our culture and economy. In fact, NITI Aayog called it the "worst water catastrophe" in Indian history.

India’s stand:

These International Days are opportunities to educate the public about pressing challenges, as well as to organize political will and resources to address these water issues. Recognizing the challenge of water scarcity, India's Ministry of Jal Shakti has already established Jal Shakti Abhiyaan in partnership with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan to promote rainwater collecting among the general population, with the tagline "Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls." Rainwater collection is the most cost-effective approach to restore groundwater levels, as it requires neither electricity nor labour. To combat groundwater depletion, Tamil Nadu was the first state to make rooftop rainwater collection mandatory for all buildings.

The Government of India has also collaborated with State and District officials in these water-stressed districts of the country to promote water conservation and resource management by focusing on the accelerated implementation of five target interventions, namely water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells, watershed development, and intensive afforestation. With these five aims, a great deal of awareness has been raised, and numerous stakeholders, such as government departments, agencies, NGOs, officials, Panchayats, individuals, and so on, have begun to take water conservation measures.

Above all, we should take some inventive measures to save water, as well as embrace a sustainable style of life and use water wisely in our daily lives. The use of recycled wastewater also allows for the reduction of scarcity and the alleviation of demands on groundwater and other natural water bodies. So let us make a world where even a single drop of water is not dropped.

Save water, save your life!!