New Delhi, September 25 (IANS) The Central Government on Thursday launched ‘National Initiative On Water Security’ to give predictation of water related work in water-stricken rural blocks, an official said.
An official of the Ministry of Water Power said in a statement that the initiative spends a minimum of water conservation and harvesting activities in rural blocks.
The policy was jointly launched by Union Development Minister, and Kalyan Shivraj Singh Chauhan of Agriculture and Farmers CR Patil.
Chauhan said that ground water level is continuously decreasing and water has become one of the biggest global challenges.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been committed to water conservation since his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and has led several initiatives to underline its importance.
The Prime Minister has given the nation direction through campaigns like ‘Catch the Rain’, Rain Water harvesting and construction of ‘Amrit Sarovers’.
He said that the Prime Minister had directed in a meeting of the Council of Ministers that a certain part of the MGNREGA fund should be determined for water conservation.
He said that now in ‘over-exploated’ blocks, 65 percent MGNREGA funds will be used for water related tasks; 40 percent MGNREGA funds in ‘semi-critical’ blocks will be spent on water conservation and at least 30 percent of funds in blocks will go towards water related work without water scarcity.
He said that MGNREGA resources will now be broadcast priority in water conservation, promote groundwater recharge and intensifying conservation drives.
This policy decision will ensure that resources are directed in areas of the greatest need, transferring the approach to reactive to preventive and long -term water management, he said.
Water Power Minister CR Patil highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying: “PM Modi has always given a top priority to water conservation. Under his visionary leadership, ministers have taken a very important and historic decision.”
Since 2014, MGNREGA has become the largest social welfare program in the world, with about 8.4 lakh crore rupees and more than 3,000 crore people have employment. In particular, women’s participation has increased from 48 percent in 2014 to 58 percent in 2025.
Under this scheme, more than 1.25 crore water conservation assets like Farm ponds, check dams and community tanks have been made.
These efforts have achieved tangible results, reducing the number of rural blocks. In addition, under the ‘Mission Amrit Sarovar’, more than 68,000 reservoirs have been constructed or rejuvenated in the first phase alone.
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RCH/PGH