Mohita sharing the " Water Conservation Campaign"

Another milestone conquered!

Pravah recently moved another step ahead on the ladder of "active citizenship". During one of the cafe mohalla meetings, one of the volunteers came up with the idea of starting an action project on "water conservation". Just the thought of brought us out of our deep slumber...!!

Because each one of us could very easily relate to it. Considering the present scenario "water scarcity" is not uncommon any more! We all realized that its we who would have to take up the initiative. Since it was the first time i was working with Pravah, i was very excited as well as a little nervous.

We held meetings everyday for a week and there was excellent participation of all. We even visited “vinobha ashram” to learn about “rain water harvesting”. It was a very important lesson. 

One of the major stereotypes that we had regarding this method was that it is really complicated but to my surprise the techniques were extremely simple and easy to implement. We mutually decided the tools of spreading awareness, which were theatre and comics. Because we realized that they are highly effective in grabbing attention and are simple to understand. Hence we decided on performing a play wherein we were assisted by the very talented "ASIF SHER ALI KHAN" popularly known as asif bhai amongst us all. He helped us design the play.

Some of put their creative strokes forward and designed some comics which we distributed amongst the various sects of society. And then the project began its mass appeal:

28th may: this day we started with a bang. We reached out the crowd of bapu nagar. We performed our very first play near "janta store", many of us were doing it for the 1st time and were hence tensed. But the response that we received was beyond imagination. It raised our morals and brought a new ray of confidence amongst us all.

29th may: we took another step and widened our horizons and voiced our opinions and ideas amongst the people at “central park” and “Nehru Park” in the early hours of morning. People were extremely participative. Their enthusiasm was unfathomable.

Later in the evening we reached out to the masses at “birla mandir”. People contorted and veraciously voiced their views and appreciated us for the cause.

30th May: we extended our journey a little more and reached “jaldhara” as well as “gaurav towers”. With that we came to an end with the 1st phase of our project. While going back we had a different energy. The realization of the lessons we have learnt. The confidence that we have built. The change that we have made but above all the love that we have received

On one of the days we even went to the residential areas and conversed with the people there. We came to learn a lot about the problems that they face and how they overcome it by doing their bit in their day to day lives.

We learnt various ways of saving water:

1. We realized that we can save tones of water by using bucket instead of showers or bath tubs.

2. Recycling is another extremely important means that people have adopted. A lot of them wipe the floors with the same water with which they wash their clothes. We can even collect the water with which we wash utensils and water the gardens with it.

3. It is always advisable to water the garden during early morning hours or late evening as it prevents the water from being evaporated by the scorching sun during the day.

4. We should use buckets or sprinklers to wash our vehicles rather than pipes.

5. We can stick some innovative posters about water conservation on the wash basin or drinking water area.

The entire journey was a joy ride. It was a learning experience. I want to thank ‘PRAVAH’ for giving this kind of an exposure. For believing in me. For having faith in me. It was just the first phase. The second one will start bang on from mid-July. It was a great experience to work with Pravah and I would always be a part of it for as long as I can.