Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
The proposed policy recommendation is, in fact, an economic
program with a beneficial ecological consequence. The proposal
will primarily improve the condition of rivers while increasing
riverine farmers’ incomes, strengthening social inclusion, advancing
environmental sustainability, and ensuring inter-generational equity
of access to adequate water. It provides for a coherent framework with a
‘people centric’ approach, while drawing upon the National Water Policy
2012, National Environment Policy 2006, National Agroforestry Policy
2014 and National Policy for Farmers 2007. The policy also promotes
linkages with government schemes like: MGNREGA; Paramparagat Krishi
Vikas Yojana (PKVY); Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY);
National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture; National Mission on
Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA); Green India Mission (GIM); Skill India
Mission/Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY); Pradhan Mantri
Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDSA); MUDRA scheme; and
others.
3. THE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS
Our rivers face challenges on two fronts – quality and quantity,
which need to be addressed simultaneously.
DRAFT
Revitalizing Indian rivers is essential to sustain ecosystem functions
and provides livelihood security for a large number of communities
dependent on them. Therefore, it will be essential that a river satisfies
the following two characteristics provided as the definition of a river
by the Government of India: aviral dhara – unhindered and unfettered
minimum flows; and nirmal dhara – an unpolluted flow. A solution should
be promoted that facilitates revitalization of rivers and their dependent
communities, while mitigating risks from pollution and misuse. This
notion is succinctly captured in the dual thought of needing both ‘Life for
River’ and ‘River for Life’:
Life for River: the dying rivers need a surge of life to protect them
from extinction
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