Mysore/Mysuru:  Several women representatives of various Women’s Self-help Groups (SHGs) took part in a workshop organised by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) on the second day of Jal Diwali campaign at its Old Council Hall on Wednesday (Nov. 8).

The programme was organised as part of the three-day ‘Jal Diwali’ campaign organised by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the initiative “Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign” under its flagship scheme – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), in partnership with National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), that began with a visit to Hongalli Water Treatment plant near KRS dam on Tuesday.

Inaugurating the workshop, Mayor Shivakumar said “With a vast concern towards conservation of water, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Jal Diwali campaign. The women should use water in a judicious manner as it is a cause for worry that some of the womenfolk waste water. Our survival depends on conservation of water and the women hold a key to this. Hence, the workshop is being conducted for 90 women representing various SHGs. Later, these women should educate their neighbours on significance of water.”

Dr. Hemachandra, Professor, Department of Physics, Maharani’s College said “The role of men is zero in conservation of water.  We call water as elixir, but the situation nowadays is not like earlier days, with scarcity of water witnessed in several parts of the country. Women tend to waste water by cleaning the pavement of their house for drawing rangoli. An estimated 13.5 litres of tap water goes waste daily and the situation at Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam is alarming.  But still we are not aware of significance of water.”

MCC Commissioner Ashaad-Ur-Rahman Shariff said “Everybody should be aware of the campaign’s purpose and should not waste tap water.  Water is valuable, hence we should conserve water for posterity. MCC is every ready to conserve water and has been chalking out many programmes to create awareness among people.”

A short-test and essay writing contest was conducted on the occasion. A sapling was also planted to mark the campaign.

 Deputy Mayor Dr. G. Roopa, Additional Commissioner M.J. Roopa and others were present on the occasion.