Around 60 cadets of the Scouts and Guides of Hassan have been rejuvenating dry water bodies for the past three months.
So far, the cadets have succeeded in bringing five ponds and wells back to life. As water started to collect in the ponds, the cadets who worked hard to achieve this, celebrated the occasion with joy. The water bodies are quenching the thirst of cattle.
R.G. Girish, leader of Ekalavya Open Rover Unit, is leading a team of college students who go out every Sunday for this work. “We have been doing this every Sunday for the last three months. Around 60 students from different colleges, associated with the activities of Scouts and Guides, go to villages and remove silt from old ponds and wells,” Mr. Girish said.
The team has worked in Dodda Genigere, Ramadevara Halla, Dodda Kondagala, Singapatna, and Shantigrama in Hassan taluk.
The team has identified 30 points in the taluk and they have plans to continue the work. These cadets are working with hardly any support from the government. “Sometimes we get sponsorship for transportation expenses. When we approach gram panchayats with this work, they encourage us, but are not in a position to sanction funds without following the set procedures. We carry lunch from home or make arrangements on our own and work,” Mr. Girish said. Including Hassan, seven taluks of the district are drought-hit.
The district administration is finding it difficult to provide drinking water for all. The cattle are neither getting fodder nor water. “Following our work in these villages, cattle are getting water. I wish youth take up similar work in other villages too,” Mr. Girish added.
