February 2019

The Art of Living has been conferred with the Geospatial Excellence Award for Water Resources Conservation as part of the India Geospatial Awards at GeoSmart India 2019, for the use of advanced geospatial technology and innovation in reviving 40 rivers and tributaries across 4 Indian states benefiting 49.9 lakh people

Leading transformative initiatives in the water sector, Art of Living has been recognized as one of the India’s leading NGOs in using geospatial technologies towards reviving rivers and fresh water sources across India,” the organizers said in an introductory note, “The organization (The Art of Living) has built key platforms and solutions needed to support a robust Resources Management System. Initiating leading technologies and related engineering, Art of Living has managed to enhance the capabilities of the Indian people in responding proactively and efficiently to water scarcity situations and is constantly striving to build a robust and sustainable water resources ecosystem in India.

Dr Lingaraju, The Art of Living River rejuvenation Project Director says

Now the time has come to put back the water in the ground. Five to six decades of surface water mismanagement has brought us to this level. The methodology that we use is to revive nature and bring back the rivers by copying nature to fill the dried up aquifers which will eventually help the river to flow once again. Our model has worked well and can be replicated in other states as well.

The Art of Living experts use remote sensing and satellite mapping to identify long-buried rivers that have dried up either due to lack of sufficient groundwater or because of silt accumulation, owing to deforestation and industrial waste that lands up in our river ecosystem. Once the catchment areas are identified, network of recharge structures are planned to increase storage of water and raise the water table. Technology is adapted to the topography and the geology of the region and a unique approach is undertaken for different projects

Another aspect of the project, is engagement with local communities-through Art of Living capacity building measures, the individual is empowered, and the community is brought together, resulting in a harmonious environment. Volunteers on ground are trained to interpret remote sensing data, to take the project forward.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded The Art of Living has also been included in the Limca Book of Records 2019-India At Her Best for the ‘Most extensive river rejuvenation by an NGO’ for the organization’s effort to resolve the country’s severe water problem by reviving 40 rivers and its tributaries in four Indian states and making more water available by raising the water table especially in drought prone regions, benefiting 49.9 lakh people in over 5000 villages.

SOURCE COURTESY : www.greaterjammu.com

Bengaluru, 8 February 2019: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-founded The Art of Living has been included in the Limca Book of Records 2019- India At Her Best for the ‘Most extensive river rejuvenation by an NGO’ for the organization’s effort to resolve the country’s severe water problem by reviving 40 rivers and its tributaries in four Indian states and making more water available by raising the water table especially in drought prone regions, bene ting 49.9 lakh people in over 5000 villages.

The Limca Book Of Records India stated, ‘In January 2013, Art of Living an NGO, launched a campaign in the river basin of four states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Odisha) to revive 40 rivers and streams, and 26 lakes and ponds of nine river basins…The project will benefit 5,055 villages and impact 4,993,840 people.’

The environmental, social and economic impact of The Art of Living’s river rejuvenation project has been far reaching and sustainable, bringing communities together in the common goal of mitigating the crucial water crisis.

Shweta Singhal, District Collector of Satara has shared, “Wherever The Art of Living has worked, conflicts have stopped, people have come together and worked for the project. There is a lot of work done in watershed by The Art of Living in Satara where villages dependent on tankers are now tanker free.”

Results of third party impact assessment indicated that the ground water levels in areas with Art of Living interventions are 20% higher than those without. Ground water recharge mechanisms have been reinstated leading to availability of water even in peak summers.

“For the last 8 years there was no water,” says Dayanand, a farmer from Kalaspur village, “Farming was dependent only on rains, hence had only 1 crop a year. Now water is available throughout the year and I grow 3 crops a year. Earlier my income was Rs. 30,000 to 40,000. Now it is over Rs. 3 lakh. My family and me are very happy.”

The project works on the philosophical principle that individual transformation alone can bring social transformation. As a nodal agency, The Art of Living collaborates with local communities, corporations and government to get the massive task of river rejuvenation underway. First, geological scientists and environmental experts carry out extensive scientific assessment of the area using geohydrological surveys and remote sensing technologies. Then, with the help of community participation programs, contribution of Art of Living volunteers and over 5000 locals, ground water recharge structures are constructed and desilting of pollutants carried out. For the long term, steps have been taken to encourage afforestation and shifting to cropping patterns for climate resilient farming practices.

SOURCE COURTESY : www.religionworld.in