USTM Missionary Award presented to Waterman of India Dr Rajendra Singh

Guwahati, Sep 14: In honour and recognition of his pioneering community-based work on rejuvenation of rivers and waterbodies of Rajasthan, the USTM Missionary Award has been presented here today to Dr Rajendra Singh, a water conservationist and environmentalist from Alwar district, Rajasthan who is also known as ‘Waterman of India’. 

The award was presented  to him by Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor and Prof GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) , according to a Press release 

The winner of Stockholm Water Prize’ 2015, an award known as ‘the Nobel Prize for Water’, and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2001), Dr Rajendra Singh had a day-long programme at the USTM where he interacted with students on “Flood Control & Its Mitigation” and had an intensive discussion with the faculty members of the university. He also made an interesting and enlightening presentation on water for sustainable development. 

Addressing the gathering, Dr Rajendra Singh said that science which can be used for the betterment of mankind with consciousness and concern is actually “science with sense”. A physician, who left practice and devoted his life for water conservation, Dr Singh and his team rejuvenated 10,600 square kms area in Rajasthan converting it into “white zone” which was earlier declared by the Government of India as “dark zone”.  He appealed to all the students of USTM to devote their knowledge for betterment of the common future of the earth and promised to dedicate his time to support their endeavour. 

Emphasising on the judicious use of water, Singh said drought-hit districts in the country had increased 10 times to 365 since Independence and small rivers were dying. In contrast, flood-hit districts have gone up by eight times to 190 in 2019, he said. People must become more water literate and understand the need for conservation.