Raipur, April 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 132nd episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has spotlighted Chhattisgarh’s innovative water conservation model from the Korea district, making it a topic of national discussion.
The ‘5 Percent Model,’ developed with active participation from farmers and the rural community, not only addresses water scarcity but also sets a strong example for sustainable development.
In 2025, this initiative recharged approximately 2.8 million cubic meters of groundwater, equivalent to hundreds of large ponds. According to the Chhattisgarh Water Board, the groundwater level in the district increased by 5.41 meters, demonstrating the model’s effectiveness.
Dr. Ashutosh Chaturvedi, CEO of the District Panchayat, stated that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, a nationwide campaign called “Catch the Rain Water” is being implemented. In line with this, the state is running the “Moor Gaon Moor Pani” initiative under Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai.
He mentioned that under the ‘Aawa Pani Jhonki Abhiyan,’ directed by the Collector in Korea, not only residential areas but also farmers are involved. Farmers have created soak pits in their fields, contributing to the rise in water levels, and this work continues. The increase of 5.41 meters recorded in 2025 has been further supported by enhanced structures and community participation this year.
Local farmers Vishal Kumar Das and Parmeshwar Rajwade praised the state’s initiative in conversations with news agencies. Vishal Kumar Das noted that these small soak pits help retain moisture in the fields and maintain water sources.
Parmeshwar Rajwade explained that the state government has constructed soak pits for them, which will be highly beneficial. When it rains, water will collect in these pits, keeping the fields moist and benefiting crop yields.
Prime Minister Modi commended the farmers’ efforts in Korea during the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, stating that small local innovations can lead to significant changes. He highlighted how farmers effectively created small soak pits to retain rainwater in their fields, resulting in remarkable improvements in groundwater levels. The success of the ‘5 Percent Model’ illustrates that small efforts can yield substantial results. Under this model, farmers dedicated five percent of their land to the construction of water structures.
This initiative involved creating small soak pits to collect rainwater, yielding highly positive results in water conservation. Over 1,200 farmers adopted this model, leading to beneficial outcomes. A key feature of this campaign has been community participation, with women taking on roles as ‘Neer Nayika’ and youth acting as ‘Jal Doot.’ Decentralization of plans through village assemblies strengthened local decision-making and implementation processes, empowering the community to lead the initiative.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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