Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, Feb 28: Dr N K Rajesh Kumar, an expert from the union ministry of land resources, has emphasized the urgent need for soil and water conservation, warning that failure to prioritize these resources could lead to dire consequences in the future.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Jalanayana Yatra program, organized in Sajipa Mooda village, Bantwal taluk, with support from the department of agriculture under the union ministry of rural development’s department of land resources. He called on everyone to actively participate in water conservation efforts and suggested building embankments to prevent soil erosion. The Jalanayana Yatra aims to promote sustainable practices such as soil and water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge.
With a population of 7,750 and a literacy rate of 98%, the small village of Sajipamooda holds special significance for this initiative. Dr Rajesh Kumar highlighted that the success of water conservation efforts relies on collective action by the community, local authorities, and experts. He stressed that working together would help secure water availability for future generations.
Sajipa Mooda gram panchayat president Shobha Shetty presided over the event. Assistant director of horticulture department Jo Pradeep D’Souza, Dakshina Kannada joint director of agriculture Honnappa Govinde Gowda, Mangaluru sub-division deputy director of agriculture Kumuda, assistant director of agriculture Veena K R, agricultural officer Nandan Shenoy P, Sajipa Munnuru gram panchayat president Anita, Bantwal taluk Krishika Samaj president Padmaraj Ballal Mawanturu, state representative of Krishika Samaj Padmanabha Rai Goltamajalu, Sajipmooda gram panchayat vice president Fawziya, former panchayat presidents Vishwanath Belchada, Yogish Belchada, Hameed, Siddiq, Abdul Kareem, Somnath, Sitaram, members Vijay, Arundhati, Mahadevi, and Pramila, Panchayat Secretary Sujatha, and staff members Raviraj, Bhavani, Reshma, Lavanya, Akshata, and Harinakshi were present.
Officials from the agriculture department, including Meenakshi (ATMA Project), BTM Deeksha, ATM Hanumant Kalagi, Virupakshi Hadapad, Trinetra, Divya, Yashoda, and Sandeep, along with Jalanayana assistants Praveen Ishwar Nayak, Veena D’Souza, Vineeth, Rishith, Uday, and Satvik, participated. Health department ASHA workers, health assistants, Anganwadi workers, and agriculture facilitators from the YNRLYM project were also present. Subhash Nagar Milk Producers' Association Secretary Ramesh and several others attended the event.
Felicitation Ceremony
Individuals who contributed to the implementation of the Jalanayana programme in the village were felicitated. Prabhakar Shetty (Kolake), Padmanabha Kundar (Kanduru), gram panchayat President Shobha Shetty, vice president Fawziya, panchayat staff Lakshmish, Krishi Sakhi Vinoda, and farmers Parvati, Anand Poojary, and Purushottama Poojary were honored. Jalanayana assistants Vineeth G and panchayat development officer Maya Kumari received commemorative tokens and certificates.
Assistant director of agriculture Veena K R delivered the welcome address. Joint director of agriculture Honnappa Govinde Gowda presented the project overview, while agricultural officer Nandan Shenoy P coordinated the programme. ATMA project’s ATM Hanumant Kalagi administered the pledge on land and water conservation.
Awareness Procession and Yakshagana Performance
Before the event, a Jalanayana Jatha (awareness procession) was held from Marnabailu Dwara to Sajipamooda panchayat. A rangoli competition on soil and water conservation was conducted as part of the awareness activities, and winners were awarded certificates and prizes. The occasion also included a tree-planting ceremony in front of the Panchayat office, where sapota saplings were planted as part of the afforestation initiative.
Additionally, a check dam constructed on the farmland of Padmanabha Kundar in Kanduru under the Jalanayana project was inaugurated. The event concluded with a Yakshagana performance titled Jala Ujjvala, directed by Mounesh Vishwakarma, highlighting the importance of soil and water conservation, which was well-received by the audience.