Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ is set to launch the “Samagra Shiksha–Jal Suraksha” campaign on 9 August 2019 in Delhi to promote water conservation awareness among school students across India.
The initiative will be launched at the Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Auditorium, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Delhi Cantonment.
Background and context
The programme is aligned with the Government of India’s broader Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which focuses on water conservation through a mission-mode, time-bound approach inspired by the Prime Minister’s emphasis on Jal Sanchay (water storage and conservation).
It aims to make students active participants in addressing water scarcity and conservation challenges.
Objectives of the initiative
The drive under Samagra Shiksha seeks to:
Educate students on the importance of water conservation
Sensitize them to the impact of water scarcity
Encourage protection of natural water sources
Promote daily habits of water saving
Ensure minimum wastage of water at home and school
“One student – One mission” target model
The programme promotes measurable behavioral goals:
One student per day: Save 1 litre of water
One student per year: Save 365 litres of water
One student per 10 years: Save 3,650 litres of water
This cumulative approach is designed to scale individual action into large national impact.
Overall significance
The initiative positions school education as a key platform for:
Building long-term environmental responsibility
Creating “water-conscious citizens”
Embedding sustainability practices in daily life
It reflects a shift toward experiential learning and behavioural change in environmental education under the Samagra Shiksha framework.
