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{{Short description|Indian social worker (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Uma Shankar Pandey
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|02|05}}
| birth_place = Jakhni village, [[Banda district, India|Banda district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| occupation = Social worker, farmer
| known_for = Groundwater conservation, Medbandi technique
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2023)
}}
'''Uma Shankar Pandey''' (born 5 February 1971) is an Indian social worker who is known for his work and contributions to [[water conservation|groundwater conservation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaiser |first=Ejaz |date=2024-10-06 |title=Experts, policymakers deliberate on water conservation strategies in Chhattisgarh |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Oct/06/experts-policymakers-deliberate-on-water-conservation-strategies-in-chhattisgarh |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He launched the 'Khet mein Med, Med Par Ped (Trees on weirs in farms)' campaign in 2005,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Ashish |title=Bunds to abundance |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20210329-bunds-to-abundance-1781254-2021-03-21 |publisher=[[India Today]] |date=29 March 2021}}</ref> to conserve water by constructing bunds in the fields.<ref name=navbharat/><ref name=hindustan>{{cite news |title=Padma awardee to educate farmers about ancient techniques to save water |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/padma-shri-uma-shankar-pandey-urges-farmers-to-save-water-by-making-boundary-mounds-and-planting-saplings-in-up-villages-waterconservation-jalandolan-climateconclave-101681240713000.html |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=12 April 2023}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Indian government]] in 2023 for his contributions to social work.<ref name=Padmaawards/>

== Life and work ==
Uma Shankar Pandey led a community-driven initiative to address the water problem in the village. Without government assistance, he advocated for traditional water conservation methods, encouraging residents of [[Bundelkhand]] to construct bunds in fields to capture rainwater and plant trees along them.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nigam |first1=Abhay |title=कौन हैं 'जल योद्धा' उमा शंकर पांडे जिन्हें पद्मश्री से नवाजा गया? बुंदेलखंड के हर गांव में चर्चा |url=https://www.abplive.com/states/up-uk/banda-uttar-pradesh-social-worker-uma-shankar-pandey-awarded-padma-shri-for-water-conservation-ann-2318539 |publisher=[[ABP Live]] |date=27 January 2023 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

In September 2020, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] has also praised his campaign in the ''[[Mann Ki Baat]]'' program.<ref name="navbharat" />

He is from Jakhni village in the Bundelkhand region, situated in the [[Banda district, India|Banda district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=navbharat/> In UP villages, he is referred to as the Pani Ke Pehredar (Guardian of Water).<ref name=hindustan/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar Pandey |first1=Brihaspati |title=उमाशंकर पांडेय : पानी के पहरेदार को पद्मश्री- 'खेत पर मेड़ और मेंड़ पर पेड़' ने दिखायी राह |url=https://www.sarita.in/farm-n-food/umashankar-pandey-padmashree-to-the-watchman-of-the-water-the-ridge-on-the-field-and-the-tree-on-the-ridge-showed-the-way |publisher=Sarita, [[Delhi Press]] |date=12 April 2023 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

In June 1995, he began working on water conservation in Jakhni village with the community. Pandey is known for his efforts to save water in Bundelkhand through Medbandi (bund making) technique.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chauhan |first1=Vivek SIngh |title=UP's water warrior to teach 'medbandi' model in Bundelkhand |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/ups-water-warrior-to-teach-medbandi-model-in-bundelkhand/articleshow/99419927.cms |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The Prime Minister has also called on the country to adopt Medbandi.<ref name=Padmaawards>{{cite news |title=Padma Shri Uma Shankar Oandey |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Content/CitationsForTickets/2023/202359.pdf |work=Padmaawards.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=जल पचाने के लिए जंगली जिल पाले जल योद्धा |url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/water-warrior-umashankar-pandey-had-a-wild-insistence-to-save-water-in-bundelkhand-by-medbandi/1991836/ |publisher=[[Jansatta]] |date=8 January 2022 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

In 2015 and 2016, as part of the Jal Kranti Abhiyan, the [[Ministry of Jal Shakti]], [[Government of India]], established 1050 water villages based on the Jakhni Model developed by Umashankar Pandey. His innovative water conservation methods contributed to a notable rise in the water level in the Banda district, reaching 1 meter 34 cm. He worked on water conservation in [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Gujarat]]. The [[NITI Aayog]] recognized Jakhani as a successful example of traditional community-based water conservation, achieved without government support.<ref name=Padmaawards/>

In April 2022, he was made a member of the Ground Water Conservation Committee of [[NITI Aayog]], which was constituted under the chairmanship of [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Verma |first1=Abhishek |title=नीति आयोग की भू-जल संरक्षण समिति के सदस्य बने जलयोद्धा उमाशंकर, मिल चुके हैं कई सम्मान |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/kanpur-city-niti-aayog-nominated-sarvodaya-activist-umashankar-pandey-as-a-member-of-the-ground-water-conservation-committee-jagran-special-22619581.html |publisher=[[Dainik Jagran]] |date=12 April 2022 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==
He received the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth-highest civilian award in India, for his contributions to social work.<ref name=Padmaawards/>

In 2020, Umashankar Pandey received the Jal Yodha Samman, a national award from the [[Ministry of Jal Shakti]], Government of India, presented by Vice President [[Venkaiah Naidu|M. Venkaiah Naidu]] in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister [[Gajendra Singh Shekhawat]]. The same year brought recognition from the [[United Nations]] in the form of the Water Digester Award, presented by the Jal Shakti Minister.

In 2019, Union Jal Shakti Minister [[Gajendra Singh Shekhawat]] honored him with the Rashtriya Jal Prahari Samman. In 2015, Umashankar Pandey was awarded the Vidya Bhushan Award by the Director of the Sanskrit Research Institute.<ref name="navbharat">{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Vivek |title=पद्मश्री से नवाजे गए बुंदेलखंड के भागीरथ उमा शंकर पांडेय, PM मोदी भी कर चुके हैं तारीफ |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/uttar-pradesh/banda/uma-shankar-pandey-of-bundelkhand-awarded-with-padma-shri-pm-modi-has-also-praised/articleshow/97336581.cms |newspaper=[[Navbharat Times]] |date=26 January 2023 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandey, Umashankar}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Indian conservationists]]
[[Category:Water conservation in India]]
[[Category:People from Banda district, India]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:Activists from Uttar Pradesh]]

Uma Shankar Pandey - Revision history

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