Narmada Yatra Becomes a Public Movement

Bhopal. When a good thought takes the form of a movement, people from every class, every religion start connecting to it. By reviving our culture and tradition, the effort of this generation to connect the significance of this yatra to public awareness is in itself a movement. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s attempt to connect people and make them understand the importance of trees by giving the movement of conservation and cleanliness of Narmada River the form of a movement seems to be a success. Not only this but the “Namami Devi Narmade”-Seva Yatra is also successful in making the public aware of important issues like cleanliness in the villages, stopping the practise of defecating in the open and beti bachao-beti padhao. This Yatra is compelling people to consider constructing toilets in their houses and saving Narmada from pollution. Planting trees in a large number on the banks will not only provide a pure environment but will also become a source of additional income. The Chief Minister has announced that a grant of Rs 20 thousand per hectare for planting of trees will be given to farmers who have land within one kilometre radius of the river bank, for three years. They will also be given 40 per cent of the cost incurred on tree plantation as assistance. Apart from this, fruit routes like milk route will be made for which government will grant subsidy.

Sewage Treatment Plant will be built so that the river does not get polluted. Toilets will be constructed in every house, taps will be installed in every house under Nal-Jal Yojana and arrangement will be made for Muktidham and Pujan Kund.

The Narmada Yatra has been successful in spreading the message against social malpractices. The Yatra has successfully connected people in the resolve towards drug deaddiction, ban on use of plastic bags, purification campaign of Narmada river and calling women to come forward against liquor.

Rivers are the lifelines for human society. So the society will have to come forward to conserve rivers. The campaign to free the Narmada river from pollution is in the true sense a campaign to connect nature with humans.

“Namami Devi Narmade”-Seva Yatra entered Khargone district via Khapna and Mortakka village from Omkareshwar in Khandwa district on February 10, State Minister (Independent charge) for Horticulture and Food Processing Shri Suryaprakash Meena along with villagers welcomed the yatra at Aalibujurg village in Khargone district.