Ganga, Krishna, Narmada, Kaveri – many of our great rivers are depleting fast. If we do not act now, the legacy we hand over to the next generation will be one of conflict and deprivation. These rivers nurtured and nourished us for thousands of years. It is time we nurture and nourish them back to health.
Rally for Rivers is a nation-wide campaign of Isha Foundation — founded by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev — to save rivers in the country and plans to see Vasudev himself ride about 7,000 km from Kanyakumari, covering 16 states to create awareness on the issue. The rally began on 3 September and will end in New Delhi on 2 October. Along the way, there will be 23 major events and a series of awareness campaigns. And a huge number of actors, cricketers and politicians have supported this campaign. In fact, PTI reported that an expert committee of environmental scientists and lawmakers are in the process of drawing up a draft policy recommendation, which suggests exactly the same solution which this campaign proposes to replenish rivers: To create a kilometre-wide tree cover on riversides and half a kilometre for tributaries. Forest trees can be planted on government land and tree-based agriculture brought in on farm land. This will ensure our rivers are fed throughout the year by the moist soil. This will also reduce floods, drought and soil loss, and increase farmers’ incomes.
If you are concerned about India’s rivers, the simplest way you can participate in reviving them is by giving a missed call to 80009 80009. Don’t forget to encourage everyone you know to give a missed call too!