Pune: Thousands of Tanishka Women’s Dignity Foundation members from across the State came together on the occasion of International Women’s Day to discuss issues related to water and ways to solve the water problem in Maharashtra.

Addressing Tanishka members, Pratap Pawar, Chairman, Sakal Media Group stressed on the coordination between the availability of water, its consumption and management.

He said that even waste water should be looked at as a source of water and should be recycled and reused in order to tide over droughts.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, workshops were organised across the State for Tanishka members. Participants in these workshops interacted with each other through videoconferencing. As the workshops were being held simultaneously, Tanishka members got an opportunity to hear the suggestions and doubts raised by other members in the State. The discussions were telecast live by Saam TV.

The event was inaugurated by Pawar at the Sakal International Learning Centre in the city. Among other dignitaries, actress Pooja Pawar was present on the occasion. Veteran water expert and president of the Sinchan Sahayog DM More, former member secretary of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Rajendra Holani, Sakal Media Group’s Chief Editor Shriram Pawar and Editor of Agrowon Adinath Pawar were present at the Saam TV Mumbai Office.

Stating that the collective efforts of women can solve many issues, Pratap Pawar emphasised on voluntary action to get rid of water scarcity. He maintained that like Israel we should also focus on research and experiments on using water efficiently.

He said that if every person makes efforts to save two litres of water every day, that would result in saving a huge amount of water. Instead of depending on the government and administration, people have to realise their responsibility and become proactive.

“It is sad that we fail to go to the root of the problem. It is only if we strike at the root that we will tide over such issues. Action is needed at an individual and organisational level. Small and big measures have to be initiated. Experiments have to be done to lower the use of water and on ways to recycle and reuse it,” he said. Questions asked by Tanishka members from Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Nashik, Jalgaon, Solapur, Ratnagiri, Chandrapur and other places were answered by water experts More and Holani.

Explaining the motive behind the workshops, Editor of Sakal, Shriram Pawar, said, “Through the platform of Tanishka, a discussion on an important topic has begun. Women have to face a lot of hardships due to the water shortage. With the help of this workshop, their voice will reach the policymakers. It is the first time that many workshops are being held simultaneously in the city. Members are getting a chance to discuss issues on this topic which is close to their heart.” The members took the oath of saving water on the occasion. After the inauguration, group discussions were held by members of the Tanishka Women’s Dignity Foundation at various places. Issues like the availability of water, reuse of water, treating of sewage water and ways to save water were discussed at length.

Pratap Pawar, Chairman, Sakal Media Group

If all of us, especially women, save at least two litres of water every day, then a huge amount of water can be saved. The saved water should also be reused.