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Mission Amrit Sarovar: Overcoming Water Crisis and Boosting Rural Livelihood

Niti Post - March 31, 2023
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In a significant achievement by the Ministry of Rural Development, more than 40,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed or rejuvenated within 11 months of launching the Mission Amrit Sarovar. The mission was launched on 24th April 2022 by the Prime Minister as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ with the objective of constructing or rejuvenating at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district across the country to overcome the water crisis in rural areas.

People’s Participation

The core of the mission is ‘Jan Bhagidari’ or people’s participation at all levels. More than 54,088 user groups have been formed for each Amrit Sarovar, and they are fully involved in the entire process of development of Amrit Sarovar, from feasibility assessment to execution and utilization. States and Union Territories are leveraging the participation of freedom fighters, eldest members of the panchayat, family members of freedom fighters and martyrs, Padma Awardees, and others for laying the foundation stone of designated Amrit Sarovar sites, flag hoisting on important dates like 26th January and 15th August. So far, 1784 freedom fighters, 18,173 eldest members of the panchayat, 448 family members of freedom fighters, 684 family members of martyrs, and 56 Padma Awardees have participated in the Mission.

Boosting Rural Livelihood

Mission Amrit Sarovar is boosting rural livelihood, as the completed Sarovars have been identified for different activities such as irrigation, fisheries, Duckery, cultivation of water chestnut, and animal husbandry. Currently, 66% of user groups are engaged in agriculture, 21% in fisheries, 6% involved in water chestnut and lotus cultivation, and 7% of groups are involved in animal husbandry. These activities are carried out by different user groups linked to each Amrit Sarovar.

Convergence of Ministries

A ‘Whole of Government’ approach is the soul of this Mission, where six Central Ministries, namely Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, are operational in convergence with technical organizations like Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N) and all the States/UTs Governments.

The highlight of this convergence is that the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are using the excavated soil/silt for infrastructure projects in the vicinity of the demarcated Amrit Sarovar sites.

Public and CSR Bodies

Public and CSR Bodies are also playing a significant role in the construction or rejuvenation of several Amrit Sarovars across the country.

Qualitative Implementation

The Mission Amrit Sarovar aims for qualitative implementation and development of Amrit Sarovar as a hub of local community activities and convergence with different Ministries for Amrit Sarovar works.

The Mission Amrit Sarovar is not just about constructing or rejuvenating Amrit Sarovars, but also about involving the community in the entire process, boosting rural livelihood, and promoting convergence among different ministries for the overall development of the country. The mission is a significant achievement of the Ministry of Rural Development, towards overcoming the water crisis in rural areas and ensuring a better future for the people.

 

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