In a significant step towards sustainable water management, the Government of India is all set to launch the “Watershed Yatra”—a nationwide awareness campaign under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).

The campaign will be flagged off on February 5 at the national level by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, which will be virtually broadcast across India, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Simultaneously, in Jammu and Kashmir, the yatra will be inaugurated by Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Departments, Javed Ahmad Dar, from Hiranagar, Kathua.

A state-of-the-art “Watershed Yatra Van, equipped with Augmented Reality (AR) tools and digital demonstrations, will traverse 2,400 km across Jammu and Kashmir, targeting over 5 lakh residents through interactive workshops, community activities and awareness drives. The campaign, running until March 1, 2025, will culminate in Jammu, showcasing cutting-edge techniques in watershed conservation, soil health enhancement and rainwater harvesting.

The primary aim of this campaign is to encourage public participation and raise awareness about watershed development under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) across all states and Union Territories (UTs) in India.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) IWMP, Rajnish Kumar, highlighted the campaign's broader vision. "The Watershed Yatra is not just an awareness drive; it is a movement to inspire communities to adopt watershed development practices and contribute to the national goals of water security and agricultural sustainability," he maintained.

Rajnish Kumar explained that the yatra has been designed to create a ripple effect, encouraging more communities to actively participate in watershed management initiatives. "By engaging local populations, especially the youth, we aim to build a strong network of motivated individuals and communities who are committed towards the cause of watershed development," he added.

The CEO underscored the long-term impact of the campaign, stating, "We hope this initiative will lead to a significant improvement in water availability, soil health and agricultural productivity. Ultimately, it will benefit thousands of farmers and rural households.”