Announcement of the 5th National Water Awards by the Ministry of Jal Shakti
On October 14, 2024, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil, announced the list of winners for the 5th National Water Awards at Shram Shakti Bhawan in New Delhi. The Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) revealed a total of 38 winners, including joint winners, across nine categories:
In the category of Best State, Odisha was awarded the first prize, with Uttar Pradesh coming in second. Gujarat and Puducherry jointly secured the third position. Each award winner will receive a citation, a trophy, and cash prizes in certain categories.
The Department also announced that the award distribution ceremony for the 5th National Water Awards will be held on October 22, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Chief Guest for the event will be the Honorable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The ceremony will also be attended by Shri Raj Bhushan Chaudhary and Shri V. Somanna and Sanitation, Smt. Vini Mahajan, Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, OSD to the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Ashok K.K. Meena, and other senior officials of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti is the central ministry responsible for establishing policy frameworks and implementing programs for the development, preservation, and efficient management of water as a national asset. Under the guidance of the Honorable Prime Minister, the Ministry has initiated a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness about water management and conservation at a national level. From this perspective, and to inform the public about the importance of water and encourage the adoption of best water usage practices, the first National Water Awards were launched in 2018 by the DoWR, RD & GR. The second, third, and fourth National Water Awards were presented for the years 2019, 2020, and 2022, respectively. The awards were not given in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the year 2023, the 5th National Water Awards were launched on October 13, 2023, on the National Award Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). A total of 686 applications were received, which were scrutinized and evaluated by a Jury Committee. Based on the ground truthing reports, a total of 38 winners, including joint winners, were selected across nine different categories.
The National Water Awards (NWAs) focus on recognizing the commendable work and efforts made by individuals and organizations throughout the country in achieving the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’. These awards aim to raise awareness among the public about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt best practices in water usage. The event provides an opportunity for all individuals and organizations to strengthen partnerships and engage in activities related to water resource conservation and management.
In conclusion, the organization of the 5th National Water Awards marks a significant step in promoting awareness about water conservation and enhancing public participation in water resource management. This initiative not only honors the winners but also fosters a new mindset towards water management across the nation.
