President of India Draupadi Murmu participated in the ongoing “Water Festival 2026” in New Delhi on Wednesday and emphasized the crucial role of water conservation in securing the country’s future.
Speaking at the event, the President said that in India, water is not just a basic necessity, but is deeply intertwined with culture, traditions, livelihoods, and community life. She recalled how villagers, especially women and children, often had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water. She said, “Providing clean water is not just a matter of convenience; it is a matter of time, health, and dignity.”
She praised the Government of India’s Jal Jeevan Mission for ensuring that rural households now have access to clean and safe drinking water, and emphasized the importance of community participation for sustainable water management. She said, “When the entire community shares responsibility for a resource, its conservation becomes more effective.” The President welcomed initiatives like “Jal Arpan Diwas,” which formalizes the handover of water supply infrastructure to gram panchayats, strengthening local ownership. He also acknowledged the crucial role of self-help groups in water testing, operation, and maintenance, noting that empowering women through these groups has brought positive changes in villages. He stated that various efforts, including greywater management under the Clean India Mission, working with the Central Groundwater Board, and campaigns like Catch the Rain and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, are crucial to ensuring water security. Emphasizing collective responsibility, Murmu said, “Water is not just a commodity, but a precious commodity for future generations. To secure our future, we must make water conservation an integral part of our lives.” He expressed confidence that the “Jal Mahotsav” will ignite a massive movement for water conservation across the country, especially by involving the younger generation. Organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Jal Mahotsav 2026 is a nationwide campaign running from March 8 to March 22, aimed at strengthening community participation in providing drinking water services in villages under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
