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'''Jal Sahelis''' (translated as ''friends of water''<ref name="js4"/>) are group of women from [[Bundelkhand]] who are engaged in reviving dry [[Body of water|water bodies]]. The women in the group are [[Literacy|illiterate]] or semi literate. Their hard efforts resulted in development of villages in the region in many ways.

== History ==

Jal Sahelis was formed in 2005 with group of women from Madhogarh village in Jalaun Tehsil of the Bundelkhand region.<ref name="js8">{{cite news |title='Water women' quench thirst of central India's parched villages |url=https://news.trust.org/item/20190827090652-1yyzq/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=news.trust.org |date=27 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="js1">{{cite news |title=Jal Sahelis: How women across Bundelkhand are reviving water harvesting techniques |url=https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/jal-sahelis-how-women-across-bundelkhand-are-reviving-water-harvesting-techniques-6548851.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=Firstpost |date=1 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It is a group of around 1000 women engaged in improving 200 villages.<ref name="js3">{{cite news |last1=Tiwari |first1=Sadhika |title=Women Who Fought Drought: The Story of Jal Sahelis in Parched Bundelkhand |url=https://www.thequint.com/climate-change/women-who-fought-drought-the-story-of-jal-sahelis-in-parched-bundelkhand-3#read-more |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=TheQuint |date=23 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="js2" /> Their efforts are spread over 7 districts in [[Madhya Pradesh]] and Uttar Pradesh.<ref name="js15">{{cite news |title=Not all heroes wear capes, some fight amongst us {{!}} India Water Portal |url=https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/not-all-heroes-wear-capes-some-fight-amongst-us |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=indiawaterportal.org |date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="js10">{{cite news |title=Empowering Jal Sahelis – women water warriors of rural India |url=https://welthungerhilfeindia.org/initiative/empowering-jal-sahelis-women-water-warriors-of-rural-india/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=Welthungerhilfe}}</ref> The women in the group are aged in the group of 18 years to 70 years.<ref name="js2">{{cite news |last1=Dutta |first1=Taniya |title=How India's women 'water warriors' turned arid villages into plentiful oases |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2022/03/22/how-indias-women-water-warriors-turned-arid-villages-into-plentiful-oases/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=The National |date=22 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
To resolve water crises they conduct meetings with local [[wikt:panchayat|panchayat]] bodies. The women in the area earlier had to walk long distances for a pot of water and the area also lost agriculture productivity due to water shortages.<ref name="js14">{{cite news |title=How Bundelkhand Women Are Trying To Revive Disappeared Water Bodies |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/how-bundelkhand-women-are-trying-to-revive-disappeared-water-bodies-3113587 |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref name="js11">{{cite news |title=In UP, Women-Led Collectives Are Taking On Bundelkhand's Water Problem |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-up-women-led-collectives-are-taking-on-bundelkhands-water-problem-1713541 |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=NDTV.com |date=17 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="js9">{{cite news |title=In Parched Bundelkhand, Army of 735 'Water' Women Breathe Life into 150 Villages! |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/185184/bundelkhand-village-army-of-women-water-conservation-inspiring-india/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=The Better India |date=6 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Around 100 villages in four districts of Uttar Pradesh could resolve water issues due to their efforts.<ref name="js4">{{cite news |title=An oasis of hope in parched Bundelkhand |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jan/17/an-oasisof-hopein-parched-bundelkhand-2251115.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=17 January 2021}}</ref> In 2022, they released a manifesto for political parties on environmental conservation.<ref name="js7">{{cite news |title=Bundelkhand "Jal Sahelis" release 'public manifesto' for 2022 UP polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/bundelkhand-jal-sahelis-release-public-manifesto-for-2022-up-polls-101640431885735.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=25 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="js12">{{cite news |title=UP Panchayat Election 2021: 'Jal Sahelis' of Jhansi Enter Fray to Solve Water Scarcity Issue |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/up-panchayat-election-2021-jal-sahelis-of-jhansi-enter-fray-to-solve-water-scarcity-issue-3641684.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=News18 |date=15 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== Efforts ==

Their efforts led to improvements in socio-economic development, in agriculture productivity, construction of a [[check dam]],<ref name="js1" /> digging wells, constructing reservoirs, installing and repairing handpumps, creating soak pits,<ref name="js2" /> digging ponds,<ref name="js13">{{cite news |title=News On AIR - News Services Division, All India Radio News |url=https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Madhya-Pradesh%26%2339%3Bs-Jal-Saheli-created-great-example-of-collective-initiatives&id=401297 |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=newsonair.gov.in |date=3 October 2020}}</ref> lake building,<ref name="js5">{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Ankita |title=Jal Sahelis: Reviving Parched Areas In Bundelkhand, Solving Water Woes |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/uplifting/providing-water-in-parched-bundelkhand-26209 |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=thelogicalindian.com |date=18 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> alleviation of caste-related fights over water.<ref name="js3" />

== Award ==

* The [[United Nations Development Programme]] awarded the group with the ''Water Champion Award''.<ref name="js6">{{cite news |title=Social organisation recognised on World Water Day |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/social-organisation-recognised-on-world-water-day-101648062231799.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=24 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Water scarcity in India]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Bundelkhand]]
[[Category:Water]]
[[Category:Environmentalism in India]]

Jal Sahelis - Revision history

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