The yatra also taught me that, while it is important to engage critically through research, one must not forget to appreciate the work being done by individuals and organisations in their own ways. I would now be able to give a first hand picture of to our urban colleagues about the values of water which since we do not perceive where its coming from and it is grossly abused. Water matters and it is not something that can be taken for granted. The paani yatra was the first of its kind for all of us. The greatest learning being that water is not a scarce resource but is grossly mismanaged.
Development is about people.
Without people's participation and involvement no change is possible in their lives. There is need to network and share information among practitioners of water harvesting so as to spread the movement. Learnt about the yatra from 'Down To Earth'. Water is a unique substance which defies all chemical analysis. Make water everybody's business should become a mass movement.