Discover the urgent work being done by IAHV and the Art of Living to improve water access and restore rivers all across India.
Have you ever stopped to think about how much water you consume in a day? To shower, brush your teeth, cook, water your plants, mop your floors, hydrate your body—the list is quite extensive!
But here’s a harsh reality check.
One in four people on planet earth do not have access to clean water. That means billions of people are forced to live their lives without sanitary water every day.
Can you imagine what that’s like? And how difficult life would be without this most basic necessity?
Well, lack of access to a safe water source is one of the world’s largest environmental concerns, particularly for those living in underdeveloped countries. Sadly, unsafe water is responsible for approximately 1.2 million deaths each year.
Water is life, and without water, life becomes a crisis.
The River Rejuvenation program springs hope
In honor of World Water Day, we’d like to share a bit about the urgent work being done by IAHV and the Art of Living to improve water access and restore rivers across India .
The River Rejuvenation program was launched in 2013, at the onslaught of India’s water crisis. The team is committed to reviving rivers with eco-friendly, scientific interventions as a step towards cleaning and providing access to the world’s most sought-after resource—water.
Dr. Lingaraju Yale, the National Director of this critical initiative is one of India’s top experts on natural water resource management. Leaning on his extensive experience and expertise, Dr. Yale and his team have laid out a comprehensive approach to reviving rivers using a three-pronged solution.
“We focus on natural vegetation that conserves rainwater in the form of base flows along the stream, and through shallow, and deep aquifers. When the rainfall is deficient, this conserved water will be available.”
-Dr. Lingaraju Yale
And villages are celebrating.
“Without rain for the last 15 years, we had a crisis on our hands that was forcing our farmers to work outside the village to earn a living. Today, thanks to this initiative, the wells are full of water and even if there are no rains, we have plenty to last for more than a year.”
-Ramaswami, Tamil Nadu
Can you imagine the impact?
There’s no denying the powerful and life-saving impact that River Rejuvenation has had on communities across India. Thus far, the program has:
Rejuvenated 48 rivers and their tributaries
Benefited 12 million+ people
Impacted 9320 villages
Planted 656,944 trees
Removed 512 tons of plastic and garbage from the rivers
Constructed 26,000+ recharge structures
Because of the River Rejuvenation initiative, farmers’ agricultural yields have increased, and so have their incomes. Employment opportunities have flourished. And rural women have also gained social equity status through their active community engagement with this program. In fact, the Naganadhi River Rejuvenation project in Tamil Nadu is 90% led by women!
“When I stand back and observe what we have done – all we women – I feel proud.”
-Chitra
Women have expressed a sense of accomplishment, worth, and motivation to be further involved in community initiatives. Having found their own footing and earned their own income, they move forward in life feeling inspired and confident. The River Rejuvenation program has helped transform them into self-dependent women.
When water flows, it brings together a whole community
Take a step back to envision the thousands of volunteers coming together, and the millions of villagers who now have access to clean, potable water because of the River Rejuvenation initiative. Doesn’t it ignite such a deep wave of hope?
Because whenever we join hands and work together for the collective good, meaningful change always happens.
And so tonight, when you turn on your faucet, don’t forget to express your gratitude for water.
Water is life.
Celebrate it. Share it. And always give back in any way that you can.
