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A Sarpanch From Maharashtra Receives Padma Shri For Reviving His Drought-prone Village

byLoveleen Kaur
30th January 2020
2 minute read

On the occasion of 71st Republic Day, 118 people were awarded the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri for their contribution in various fields such as arts, social work, sports, education, medicine, etc. reported India Today.

And among the many people like Karnataka’s fruit seller and Dehradun doctor, who rightfully deserved the award, was this sarpanch from Maharashtra. Popatrao Baguji Pawar was conferred with the award for his rigorous efforts to transform his impoverished, drought-prone village into a green and prosperous one.

During his reign as the head of Hiware Bazar in 1989, the village was receiving less than 15 inches of rainfall a year. The scarcity of water created drought-like conditions in the village. This also lead to people struggling with low agricultural yield, lack of resources and turning to alcohol in depression, reported NDTV.

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Looking at the grim state of the village, Popatrao decided to take things in his hands and came up with a village development program. Inspired by Anna Hazare’s Ralegaon Siddhi model of village development, he initiated a rainwater harvesting and watershed conservation and management programme in Hiware Bazar village, said sources.

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Along with this, he is also responsible for planting lakhs of trees that led to the successful implementation of the ‘green model village’.

The village that once had dry wells today has around 294 water wells. Groundwater recharge and other water management techniques revived the parched village and opened gates for several other businesses like milk production.

The villagers today boast of bustling markets, perfect roads, well-built houses, and a sustainable water management system. Open defecation, tobacco and alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited in the village with a ban on deforestation, grazing, and tube wells for irrigation.

The Hiware bazare gram panchayat had also won the first National Award for community-led water conservation in 2007 with Pawar as its sarpanch.

Currently, the Executive Director of Maharashtra state government’s Model Village programme, his model of development was recognised by the Maharashtra government who wish to implement the same across the state.

Indeed, well deserved. More power to you!

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