Waterman of India wins 2015 Stockholm Water Prize

Rajendra Singh, popularly called ‘The Water Man of India’ has been awarded the 2015 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, for his innovative water restoration efforts, making better, the water security in rural Bharat, and for showing extraordinary bravery and determination in his quest to enhance the living conditions for those most in want.

He teamed up with the villagers and began building traditional mud dams (called johads). After doing twenty years of his relentless work, there are currently 8,600 johads and other structures that collect water! His work has led to access to water for over 1,000 villages across Rajasthan. As a consequence, several rivers are replenished and also the forest cover has improved too.

Singh has stated that since they started their work, they were only looking at the drinking water crisis and how to solve that. At present, their aim is higher. He adds that this is the 21st century, the century of exploitation, pollution and encroachment. He states that to stop all this, to convert the war on the water into peace his life goal.

H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of the Stockholm Water Prize, will award the prize to Rajendra Singh at a Royal Award Ceremony during 2015 World Water Week in Stockholm on 26 August.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)

Image Reference: https://pixabay.com/photos/bottle-mineral-water-bottle-of-water-2032980/