Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Watershed Yatra

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the national-level mass outreach campaign “Watershed Yatra” on February 4, 2025, to promote awareness and active participation in watershed development activities under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0). The campaign aims to engage people in soil and water conservation efforts and promote sustainable natural resource management, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity, livelihoods, and environmental health across India.

Key Features of the Watershed Yatra Campaign

Launch and Participation

• The event was launched in hybrid mode, allowing nationwide participation.
• The launch saw the presence of Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Shri Kamlesh Paswan, who addressed the gathering.
• Over 800 Gram Panchayats and more than one lakh people participated in the launch event.
• Officials from various States/UTs also participated in physical mode and launched the Yatra in their respective regions simultaneously.

Objectives of the Campaign

• To generate mass awareness about soil and water conservation and the importance of sustainable watershed management.
• To encourage community participation in the successful implementation of WDC-PMKSY Projects.
• To foster a community-driven approach to watershed management by involving local stakeholders in project activities.

Key Announcements by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

• Importance of Watershed Management: Emphasized the significance of soil and water conservation for the present and future generations.
• Public Participation: Urged people to wholeheartedly participate in the campaign to ensure the success of WDC-PMKSY projects.
• Watershed-Community Model: The campaign aims to foster collaboration under the “Public-Private-People Partnership (4Ps)” model.
• Watershed Janbhagidari Pratiyogita: A competition under WDC-PMKSY 2.0 for the years 2025 and 2026, to recognize exemplary watershed management efforts.
• Projects with outstanding contributions will receive an additional reward of Rs. 20 lakh each, with a total provision of Rs 70.80 crore.

Activities Under the Watershed Yatra

• Bhoomi Poojan and Lokarpan: Inauguration of new works and completion of existing projects.
• Watershed Mahotsav & Watershed ki Panchayat: Focus on community engagement and knowledge sharing on sustainable practices.
• Shramdan and Bhumi-Jal Pitch: Encourage local participation in construction and maintenance of water harvesting structures.
• Awards and Recognitions: Recognition of watershed leaders and community contributors.

Educational and Awareness Efforts

• The campaign includes a Learning Management System (LMS) on Watershed Development available on the DoLR website, linked to MY Bharat portal.
• Youths will be encouraged to participate in activities like Shramdan, strengthening community participation in watershed projects.
• A certificate will be awarded to participating youths, motivating them to take part in future conservation activities.

Scope of the Campaign

• The Watershed Yatra will cover 805 projects, 6673 Gram Panchayats (13587 villages) across 26 States and 2 UTs.
• The campaign will span 60-90 days, focusing on sustainable soil and water management practices.

Impact on Public and Youth Participation

• The initiative aims to strengthen public participation through Shramdan and other community-driven efforts.
• The involvement of youth volunteers will help create a cadre of trained watershed workers and leaders, ensuring the long-term success of watershed management efforts.