"When the well is dry, then we know the worth of water."—Benjamin Franklin

At the young age of twelve, Shalini scurries from one house to the other with her mother, helping her in mopping and washing utensils at homes. Her bright eyes watch carefully the ‘houses of plenty’ where there is so much waste. The taps are left open to drip water while the pipes in their lawns are left watering the plants, as their buckets overflow and their bottled water is thrown away for fresher water.

And out in the burning hot sun of Rajasthan, trees wilt for the lack of water, parched ponds accumulate algae and long queues of people fight for water at Municipal taps. Mothers walk for miles in the hot sun to get water for their families from wells while their children fight over water. The starkness of this harsh comparison struck at her heart. The nothing against the plenty: the wastage of a precious resource which many could not afford.

Shalini lives in Chittorgarh, one of the ancient towns of Rajasthan, where most of its residents toil hard to get their four square meals a day. Her mother works in houses to sustain her family and Shalini would go to help her during holidays and vacations.

Observing the blatant wastage of water had really disturbed her and this thoughtful girl could not sleep for a long time that night. A student of class VIII in Government Upper Primary School, Meeranagar in Chittorgarh, Shalini realized that while in school they studied about potable water being a valuable resource in reality it was not being followed at all. She was determined to talk about it with her teacher and do something to make people understand.

Shalini’s teacher Mrs. Archana Tripathi was initially surprised at the sensitivity and keen observation of the child. But as an Intel trained Master Trainer of the Teach Program, she realized the potential of the issue as an opportunity to use Project Based Learning methodology to teach her students and address a very important social concern. She decided to take up the concern and work with her students on a project "Importance of Conserving Water to sustain life" .

The students were all enthusiastic about the project as they all came from similar backgrounds as Shalini and when she shared her experiences with them everyone had similar stories to tell where they had at one time or the other seen wastage.

Mrs. Archana Tripathi wanted her students to get hands on experience about the project and along with it to handle an important social issue. To understand the significance of potable water as an important resource the students had to see for themselves how it was made. Mrs. Archana Tripathi requested the executive engineer of Water Works to allow student to visit the water works and understand the purification process. The students after seeing the process of making potable water, had one unanimous response "If it takes so much to make water pure than why do people waste it?" Their minds had received the spark to fight a war against wastage of water. "This is the first time that a Government school teacher has taken an initiative to make students understand the process of purification of water and thus creating the sense of judiciously using of the precious thing. It was heartening to see the interest of students."   Executive Engineer Water Works Department, Chittorgarh

The students collaborated and brainstormed on drawing out strategies to create awareness among the community people about conserving water. They decided to draw out a questionnaire to get an insight on how people use water for different purposes. Mrs. Archana Tripathi facilitated with the students in drawing out a survey form to collect data on how water is used in homes. For long hours the students researched in the Resource room of the school to figure out the information they needed for the survey.

The data compiled by students after the survey gave a very alarming picture on how easily and without thinking water is wasted in homes and various other places. Students discussed the results of the survey and finalized their action plan with their teacher. They agreed upon with the idea of organizing rallies to sensitize the community on the importance of conserving water.

Armed with brochures that they had drawn up, students took out rallies in their neighborhood. They sat with mothers and grandmothers and had tea with the grandfathers on ‘charpoys’ (couches to sit on) kept outside houses, patiently explaining how water was being wasted and how it could be avoided. Initially surprised at their enthusiasm the residents took time in understanding their seriousness but then started appreciating their fight and even resolved to become a part of it.

Mrs. Archana Tripathi put her training on the Intel Teach Program to further use and decide to use technology to reach out to the masses. Along with her students she approached ‘Akashwani Chiitorgarh’ and requested for the broadcast of a program with her students on ‘Water Conservation’. This was entirely an innovative and new experience for all. The students actually got a chance to broadcast their program in "Sabras Program" of Akashwani Chittorgrah. "It is commendable to see that students along with their teacher have taken to spread the message of conserving Water. This is a very important issue which students are addressing through this awareness program. Such awareness campaign by students is not only spreading the message of saving the water but it is also developing a sense of social awareness and responsibility in students. It is really a worthwhile effort. "   Residents of Panna Dhay Colony

Click here to listen to the Audio Interview

Three of the girls from school, including Shalini shared their views on Water Conservation and also gave answers to the queries listeners raised through phones. They provided a real picture of the wastage and gave suggestions on how it could be avoided. They had actually learned first hand how to deal with a problem and had also managed to reach out to large numbers in the community. This was a unique learning experience for the students.

Mrs. Archana Tripathi broadcasted a program through ‘Akashwani Chittorgarh’ in which she sensitized women specially those who stayed at home on how to judiciously use water for house hold chores.

Click here to listen to the Audio Interview

Along with conserving water it is also important to learn how to replenish this life giving resource and plantation is one such measure which helps conserve water in a natural way and to increase the level of the ground water table. The students and their teacher now furthered the cause by taking up plantation of trees first in their school and then by taking their message outside. The District administration was very supportive and even provided them with plants free of cost.

The efforts of the students of Government Upper Primary School, Meeranagar and of their teacher Mrs. Archana Tripathi have drawn adulation from all over the state. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan officials from Jaipur and Chittorgarh district have applauded the efforts of Mrs. Archana Tripathi at the successful implementation of an innovative approach to education which has given a new dimension to the learning process. She has helped in the student’s scholastic as well as co-scholastic development and also imbibed in students life skills which are very important for their holistic development.

The students are more confident and aware young citizens today, proud of having fought and contributed to their environment. After doing the project Shalini Nath believes that if sincere efforts are put in "A difference can be made".

Let’s not wait for the bell to ring, let’s start conserving the water so that our offspring don’t curse us.