Page 61 - Mann Ki Baat April 2022
P. 61
Prosperity through Cooperation
Unified efforts of the Maldhari tribe and Government initiative
brought water to drought-hit Kutch
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Of these, the most important is
mentioned the Maldhari tribe of the development of a network of
Gujarat during his recent 'Mann ki canals from Sardar Sarovar Dam
Baat' address. This nomadic and which now brings water from
herdsmen tribe of Kutch efficiently river Narmada to the drought-
conserves water using their prone regions of Gujarat and
traditional practice of ‘Vridas’, other neighbouring states. The
where small wells are created Narmada-Kutch Canal has
near the river and plantation is brought the blessings of Mother
done around it for protection. The Narmada to the homeland of
groundwater present in the well Maldhari tribes, i.e. Kutch.
was used to provide water to the
Sh. Vishnu Ahir, a member
animals owned by the tribe.
of the Maldhari community,
However, Kutch region was talked about how the canal
facing water crisis for quite a has transformed the lives of the
long time which had impacted people of the region. “Earlier,
not just the Maldhari tribe but Maldharis used to struggle with
also the farmers of the region the problem of water scarcity.
who became totally dependent People used to go distances to
on monsoon for water. find water. But ever since a canal
was made in the region, the
Several efforts are being taken
problem has been solved. Now
by the Government to ensure
we have water which we use very
provision of water to these areas.
judiciously,” he said. Another
member of the Maldhari tribe,
Naagji Bhai Rabari mentioned
that the dams and ponds of the
region have again flourished with
water because of the canal.
The collective efforts of the
Maldhari tribe, in the form of
their tradition of ‘Vridas’ and
the Government’s initiative to
bring water of Narmada to Kutch
through the network of canals,
is helping Kutch move towards
prosperity.
Traditional practice of Vridas
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