WD News: Navjyoti India Foundation hosted a two-day regional workshop ‘Be the Change- Women for Water’ with the knowledge partner, Water Resources Council, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) from March, 10-12, 2023 in the Rural Management Training Institute (RMTI) campus.
The esteemed guests included Hon’ble Dr Kiran Bedi, Founder Member and Mentor of Navjyoti India Foundation; Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava, National President, Water Resources Council, WICCI; Dr Sabita Madhvi Singh, Joint Director, Ministry of Jal Shakti. Various corporates, scientists, directors of organisations, professors, filmmakers and students from universities from different states and Union Territories of India like Jammu and Kashmir, Leh, Chennai, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana were invited to the event.
The main objective of this workshop was to reduce the urban-rural gaps by exchange of knowledge, policies and sharing ground opportunities to increase women leadership and enhance the presence of partnership towards leadership across gender.
The two-day program started with field visits to Damdama Lake in village Damdama and check dam in village Sehjawas built by Navjyoti India Foundation followed by plenary discussions, workshops, and cultural program and games. The theme for Day 1 was Partnership for Leadership in the water sector and Day 2 focused on Gender and Leadership in the water sector. Ms Chandni Bedi, Director- RMTI, Navjyoti India Foundation, State President of Haryana, Water Resources Council shared the importance of this workshop in encouraging water warriors in urban and rural areas and enhancing leadership through trainings.
Dr Kiran Bedi welcomed all the guests and participants with her motivational words by sharing the importance of Water Conservation. “Water belongs to the people, the community and everyone has equal rights to use it”, said Dr Kiran Bedi. Navjyoti has been dedicated to the cause of environmental conservation, and is committed to continuing this work in future.
Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava shared inspiring words on water conservation and water management. She said, “Water management is people management; Water does not need to be managed, it is people who need management.” She added, if water could talk to us it would say, ‘If you cannot manage me, at least work on not damaging me’. She emphasised on the importance of increasing public awareness of water conservation.
Dr Sabita Madhvi Singh discussed the government policies and schemes for water conservation and management. She also shared about the successful women working for water conservation. She talked about sisterhood by saying, “Only women can understand the importance of water.” Geeta and Kanta from village Garhi Bazidpur demonstrated the Biosand Filter and shared their experiences and challenges as women entrepreneurs.
On this occasion, more than 100 people joined the workshop from all over India. This event was supported by Ozone Pharmaceuticals Limited, Inflow Technology and GD Goenka University. Honorable guests including Ms Seema Tewari, Vice President, SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited; Dr Nivedita Sahu, Scientist, CSIR, IICT; Dr Nupur Bahadur, Senior Fellow & Associate Director of Environment and Waste Management division, TERI; Dr Vishal Narain, Professor, MDI-Gurgaon; Mr. Lalit Sharma – Principal Scientist, Water Research and Training, S M Sehgal Foundation, Dr Anuradha Tiwary, Professor and Assistant Dean; Er. Abdul Rashid Bhat, Engineer and Documentary Film Maker; Ms Durga Das, Entrepreneur and Cricket Player; Ms Preeti Chauhan, Founder, Little Green World; Ms Anupama Madhok Sud, Director & Editor, Advance Water Digest Pvt. Ltd. were invited as guests speakers in the workshop to discuss about entrepreneurship and leadership.
Source: Navjyoti India Foundation
