Kendre for people's participation to address Vidarbha's water crisis

Time of India

07-06-2025

Nagpur: Water conservationist Hanumant Kendre, popularly known as the Jaldoot of Marathwada, made an impassioned appeal for greater community participation to tackle Vidarbha's water crisis at a special interview session at Vidarbha Pani Parishad.
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Widely recognized for transforming his drought-ridden village, Nagdarwadi, into a model of water sustainability, Kendre's journey inspired the national award-winning film Paani.
"Water retention isn't rocket science. It's about creating a water bank, involving villagers in decision-making, and respecting traditional wisdom. You can't find rural solutions sitting in an AC room," he said. Kendre emphasized the importance of youth participation and suggested that students could lead change by organizing rural appraisals and learning directly from village elders.
Kendre recalled how his mother and other women in the village had to walk nearly 5km daily to fetch water. "They carried heavy mud pots weighing around 40kg, filled with nearly 35 litres of water," he said.
A turning point in his life came when his wife made water availability in the village a precondition for their marriage. "We had decided we would marry only each other, but she firmly said the wedding would happen only when our village had water," Kendre said.
He then teamed up with his elder brother, who was then associated with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to develop a sustainable water conservation model.
After research, they implemented a pilot project over 1,014ha, designed to capture and retain downhill-flowing rainwater. This initiative evolved into what is now known as Indo-German Watershed Development Programme. The model has since been replicated in more than 50 villages across Maharashtra, with people from Washim, Hingoli, and Yavatmal approaching him for guidance.
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"Today, in Nagdarwadi, wherever you dig a borewell, you find water at just 100 feet," Kendre said with pride, emphasizing that the model is practical and fully replicable across water-scarce regions like Vidarbha.
Kendre shared how his appearance on TV show Satyamev Jayate brought his work into the national spotlight. "Aamir Khan's team invited me to Mumbai. I was scared, nervous, and unsure, but after the episode aired, over 7–8 lakh people reached out to me.
That changed everything," he said. He also urged those with the means to adopt villages and dedicate at least one day a week to sustainable work on the ground.
Kendre credited individuals like RSS worker Upendra Kulkarni for supporting him in his mission. "We never took a single rupee of government funding. From an RSS shikshan kendra to volunteers who walked alongside us, we created a model based on people's power," he said.
"Owning a big house or car isn't enough. Do something that benefits hundreds," he said.