Mahesh Navhal : Mission Jaldhara

World is witnessing a phenomenal growth in the market capitalisation of India.  It was all possible because of the high enterprising skills that our Indian businessmen possess. In just one decade India has groomed more Million Dollar businessmen than what we have seen in sixty long years since India’s independence from the British raj.

Many of our corporate houses apart from doing business have undertaken corporate social responsibility. Likewise across the country there are numerous small and medium term businessmen who are engaged themselves on serving the society on their individual capacity, but their contribution is never heard of.  The big Corporates in india are  beating their own drums  by canvassing in the media for the social activities that they are doing, whereas whatever the activities carried by the individuals never talked about. 

Mahesh Navhal of Bhilwara, Rajasthan during one of his business trip to the mining area located in Rajasthan  was startled as the patch of greenery which was there on the catchment area of Kothari river has vanished over the years. Now the river flows hardly for 7 to 8 days in a year instead of 7 to 8 months as it was flowing in the past. And this is the reason of quick disappearance of greenery. He toured and surveyed the entire course of  Kothari River which passes through Raipur, Mandal and Bhilwara Tehsil. This river originated in Diver in Rajsamand District and is a lifeline for two districts, 10 Tehsils, 101 Panchyats and 441 villages. It flows through its basin for 145 kms and merges in the Banas River near Nandrai.

Mahesh Navhal got restless and decided to take immediate steps to rejuvenate the river. At individual level he campaigned at 31 secondary schools of Raipur Tehsil in which over 5,000 students actively participated.  Children of these schools were taught  it  is their village and hence is the ought most responsibility to make their surrounding green. Each student was given a sapling to plant it and to take care of that just one plant for rest of their life. The success of this mission encouraged Mahesh Navhal to lay the foundation of Jaldhara Vikas Sansthan.

This Sansthan conducted meetings at Tiker and Diver  villages of Rajasamand District of Rajasthan during 2013-14. Workshops were conducted to educate Pradhans, Sarpanchs and Panchs of different villages. As many as 10,400 villagers participated to adopt trees. As the mission was making progress it increased the enthusiasm of the members of Jaladhara Vikas Sansthan in leaps and bounds. In 2013-14 the villagers adopted 10,400 units of saplings of different varieties. On the subsequent year 2014-15 they planted 12,600 trees. And during 2015-16 they planted as many as 16,300 trees of different varieties.

In the year 2017 this Sansthan organized the first ever Bird Festival at Chhavandiya Village under the supervision of District administration. The success of this festival placed Chhavandiya on the world bird tourism map.

The Jaldhara Vikas Snasthan has been conferred with many awards for the mission it has undertaken. In the year 2015 it got  District Level Award on the Republic Day Celebrations of India. On the other hand it has been felicitated with the coveted award of  “Van Prasarak Puruskar” by the Rajasthan Forest Department. It followed by Amrita Devi Vishnoi Award.  Mahesh Navhal is a member of District Environment Committee. He is the Register Development Committee of Government Girls College, Bhilwara. This apart he is a trainer of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Renowned industrial groups like B.D. Suitings, RCM Chhabra group and Sangam group have supported  this movement.

River Rejuvenation is possible only through the movement of tree plantation and afforestation. Lakhs of trees have to be planted in the catchment area of river. Growing trees, inspiring people to grow trees and and to care the nature is a long and continuous proces. Environment awareness has to be made permanent through continuous awakening of people.

Despite its limited economic resources Jaldhara Sansthan is marching ahead with the resources generated by people who are engaged themselves in this movement.

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E.Kiran Mohan(The Writer)
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