Page 60 - Mann Ki Baat April 2022

Basanti Devi – The One Who Flows Like Water

Where there is water, there is life. of reforestation. We went from
There will be no life in absence village-to-village to strengthen
of water. The land will be barren, our association. We also walked
and humankind will not survive! for 15 days, holding the water
Water is life. of Mother Kosi in our hands.
Everyone said, “Mother, till today
I started Jal, Jungle, Jameen
you kept us alive, but from now on
around 17-18 years back. The
we will keep you alive.”
Kosi river was drying up and the
forests were all cut. One day, I Today, there is water in the source
found some women on the way of the river and in the gush too.
who were going to cut the forest. I feel great when I see water
I asked them, why do you cut the flowing in the Kosi river.
trees? They said, “It's not only us When I used to work in balwadi,
who cut the trees, everyone in the I used to get only 50 Rupees per
village does it too.” month in which I used to sustain
I said, “If you will support me, I my livelihood. But today, the
Government has honoured me
will support you. We will make
with Padma Shri for my work.
an association and save the
forest.” Soon, everyone came with I will keep flowing like water and
me and we started the process serve the water, forever.

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