At a ceremony organised by sarkaritel.com at the Vishalakshi Mantap within The Art of Living International Center, 36 “Water Warriors” were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to water conservation.
On this occasion, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar honoured all the Water Warriors by presenting them with trophies, shawls, and certificates. In his address, he stated that devotion to water constitutes true service and that fostering awareness regarding water conservation within society is the greatest necessity of the present times. Expressing concern over environmental challenges, he noted that today, water, air, and the earth itself are all under the grip of pollution, thereby posing a grave crisis to humanity.
Furthermore, underscoring the importance of personal health and mental equilibrium, he appealed to everyone to incorporate Yoga, Meditation, and the Sudarshan Kriya into their daily lives.
During the event, experts honoured with the Padma Shri award also shared their experiences in the fields of water management and agriculture, shedding light on the path forward. These included Padma Shri Umashankar Pandey, Padma Shri Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Padma Shri Popatrao Bhauji Pawar, Padma Shri Seth Pal Singh, Padma Shri Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, and Padma Shri-designate Mohan Nagar.
Commencing the program, Ameya Sathaye, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Sarkaritel.com and DiplomacyIndia.com, stated in his address that water is not merely a resource but the very foundation of life; given the current water crisis and the challenges posed by climate change, it is imperative to advance water conservation on a massive scale through public participation.
In the first session, Prasanna Prabhu, Chairman of the Sri Sri Rural Development Program Trust and the Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Trust, provided guidance as the keynote speaker.
During this session, Nitin Khade, Joint Secretary (Watershed Management) at the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India; Dr Nitin Waghmode, Commissioner of Income Tax; Dr Hemant Sharad Pandey, Director (Human Resources) at Western Coalfields Limited; and Vijay Khajuria, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, also shared their insights.
