Ratia, March 12th - In the village of Khairpur in the Ratia subdivision, as directed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Public Health Engineering Department and the Water Sanitation Support Organization organized the Water Offering Day and Water Festival in the Gram Panchayat Khairpur of Block Nagpur, Fatehabad district. Village Water and Sewerage Committee members, women councilors, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and respected Panchayat Raj members were present. Presiding over the event, BRC Prithvipal inaugurated the Water Festival by presenting a water pot to the Gram Panchayat Sarpanch.
Block coordinators Kuldeep Singh, Madan Saini, Amit Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Shamsher Singh, and Rajni, in their addresses to the members and dignitaries of the Panchayat, stated that women play a vital role in water management. Therefore, the government's decision to place water in the hands of the villagers is a commendable initiative. The Village Water Committee will now handle the water supply, ensuring that villagers receive pure and adequate quantities of water.
On this occasion, the Sarpanch stated that it is our responsibility to ensure that every drop of water is not wasted; it is a gift from God, and it is our duty to preserve it. He added that the government's decision to entrust the task of water supply to the Panchayats is a commendable initiative. He is confident that the Panchayats will fulfill this responsibility with integrity, ensuring adequate supply of clean and pure water to all villagers.
Prithvi Pal, Kuldeep Singh, and Amit Kumar, Block Resource Coordinators, first explained the significance of Jal Arpan, stating that the primary objective of Jal Arpan is to formally transfer responsibility for rural drinking water schemes to the Gram Panchayat and Village Water and Sewerage Committee. This step will ensure the long-term maintenance and water supply of the infrastructure built under the Jal Jeevan Mission. BRC Madan Saini and Rakesh Kumar Shamsher Singh stated that the government's goal is to make water supply a community responsibility, not just a government scheme. Experts believe that the dream of a prosperous village and a developed India can only be realized when villagers manage their water systems at their convenience. Digital initiatives like the Jal Sarathi app are also being promoted to create awareness about resources. BRCs Madan Saini and Rajni informed that the government's focus has now shifted from infrastructure construction to the long-term operation and maintenance of district water supply schemes and plans tailored to future needs.
The celebrations will continue until World Water Day on March 22nd, during which awareness campaigns on water quality testing and water conservation will be conducted under the leadership of other departments in the district. Jal Arpan Diwas is not just a celebration but a symbol of our collective responsibility towards water security. We are committed to providing pure drinking water to every household and reviving water sources.
Finally, the ritual of Jal Sanrakshan Arpan was performed by all the villagers present, led by the tubewell operator and the Sarpanch. Block coordinators Madan Saini, Kuldeep Singh, Amit Kumar, Shamsher Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Rajni, and Prithvi Pal were present at the event.