Five water warriors from Karnataka honoured as 'water warriors' for advancing Jal Jeevan Mission

Bengaluru: Five water warriors from Karnataka have been invited as special guests this Republic Day as recognition for their efforts in advancing the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Keshava Kotian, Chairperson of the Gram Panchayat and Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Badagabettu village in Udupi spearheaded efforts to ensure no family was left out, overseeing the construction of overhead tanks and phased implementation of functional household tap connections for all.

Sridhar Patil, Gram Panchayat President of Ganjalakheda village, transformed a parched community into Karnataka's first village with 24/7 water supply through the JJM. Sridhar facilitated the purchase of land for a water source and oversaw the construction of two overhead tanks with a ₹1.63 crore grant, bringing water to 431 households.

Ananthamma, Chairperson of the VWSC in Kerekondapura, spearheaded the village's transformation under the JJM. Her leadership addressed long-standing water challenges, including inadequate storage and unreliable access.

Virappa Ramappa Chikkur, Chairperson of VWSC in Halagali, Mudhol, led a remarkable transformation under the JJM. Virappa helped implement a comprehensive Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) scheme, ensuring every household received safe, potable water.

In Karnataka’s Koppal Taluk, Kolur village faced a water crisis with leaky pipes, wastage, poor maintenance, and no bulk water meter. Shivamma, President of the VWSC spearheaded a movement to transform Kolur into a model village for water sustainability. She identified the critical issues plaguing the village and acted upon them through community efforts.