Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches Watershed Yatra

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a ‘Watershed Yatra’ on 5th February 2005 in a hybrid mode. The Yatra was launched by the Minister in the virtual mode while it was launched in a physical mode by the concerned officials in 800 Gram Panchayats in which more than one lakh people participated in the launch program.

The Watershed yatra aims to create awareness and encourage mass participation of the people about the watershed development activities in the areas where Watershed Development activities are being carried out under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) programme.

Watershed refers to the area of land that drains or sheds water into a specific waterbody like a lake, stream, river, and finally into the ocean. The watersheds drain melted snow and rainfall into these water bodies.

Which Ministry has launched the Watershed Yatra?

The Watershed Yatra has been launched by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

The Department of Land Resources under the Ministry is the implementing body of the WDC-PMKSY 2.0 scheme.

Features of the Watershed Yatra

• The Watershed Yatra will be through a specially designed and equipped mobile van which will cover around 805 projects in 13587 villages in 26 States and the Union Territories in 60-90 days. 
• The Watershed Yatra aims to involve the people in the conservation of soils and water and inspire community participation in the effective & successful implementation of WDC PMKSY Projects.
• To ensure people's identification with the projects  Bhoomi Poojan of new works, the inauguration of completed works, Watershed Mahotsav, Watershed ki Panchayat, Awards and recognitions to the Watershed Margdarshak in project areas, etc will be held.
• Under the Watershed ki Panchayat activity experts will deliver lectures on sustainable soil and water management practices.
• During the Yatra, the government plans to honour around 8,000 individuals who have made significant contributions to the implementation of WDC-PMKSY works in different Project Areas.

About the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY 2.0

The Government of India launched a centrally sponsored scheme “‘Integrated Watershed Management Programme’ in 2009-10.

It was managed by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

The scheme was merged and made a component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana in 2015-16.

After its merger, the scheme was called the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.

In 2021 the government of India approved the continuation of the scheme for the period of 2021-2026 as the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0.

Objective of the scheme: 

• to improve productive potential of rainfed(where rain is the main source of water for agriculture) / degraded land through integrated watershed management; 
• to encourage and strengthen community-based local institutions for the promotion of livelihoods & watershed sustainability, and
• to improve the efficiency of watershed projects through cross-learning and incentive mechanisms.