A dedicated educator from Rajasthan has spent over three decades demonstrating how grassroots action can protect community water resources. Bajrang Lal Jethu, a resident of Jethwa Ka Bas in the Fatehpur tehsil of Sikar district, turned water conservation into his core life mission after beginning his professional career as a government teacher. Over the past 32 years, his conservation journey has continued uninterrupted, carrying on with the same dedication even after his retirement. By combining his personal savings, proceeds from his literary achievements, and local public contributions, he has restored and cleaned approximately 50 neglected, traditional ponds across the districts of Sikar, Nagaur, and Churu.
The 1993 Election Duty That Sparked a Lifelong Mission
The turning point in his life occurred in 1993 during an official assignment in Nagaur district. While handling election duties in the Jaswantgarh area, Bajrang Lal noticed numerous dried-up village ponds falling into disrepair due to a lack of upkeep and maintenance. These historical reservoirs were rapidly losing their presence in the local landscape. Later, election work took him to the village of Mundwa, where he encountered a starkly different scene: a well-maintained pond that consistently met the water needs of the surrounding community. Witnessing Mundwa's functioning water body made him realise that if traditional reservoirs were desilted, cleaned, and properly repaired, vast quantities of precious monsoon rainwater could be harvested and preserved. Such efforts could significantly curb chronic water scarcity throughout rural settlements.
Channeling Literary Awards Directly into Water Reservoirs
Following that realisation, Bajrang Lal resolved to spend his spare time outside classroom duties reviving water bodies. What began as a modest individual initiative gradually evolved into an expansive public campaign. He mobilised local residents and consistently contributed his own earnings whenever project funding fell short. Alongside his teaching career, Bajrang Lal pursued literature and has published approximately 10 books. Rather than utilizing the cash prizes and awards received for his published works for personal expenses, he invested the entirety of those funds directly into the cleaning, de-silting, and restoration of village ponds. He gathered community contributions to complement his investments, revitalising dozens of historic reservoirs.
Constructing 350 Rainwater Structures Across Shekhawati and Marwar
His efforts expanded across the arid stretches of the Shekhawati and Marwar regions. Beyond restoring more than 50 traditional water bodies, Bajrang Lal oversaw the construction of around 350 water collection structures and facilitated rainwater harvesting systems at over 50 locations. Firm in his belief that water preservation is a shared civic responsibility rather than the sole concern of the government, he worked extensively with schools and youth. He organized roughly 60 essay-writing competitions to teach students about water stewardship. To bring the message to wider digital audiences, he produced six short films and made them available on YouTube, urging people to take practical action in their home communities.
Recognition with the National Water Award
In acknowledgment of his decades-long dedication to grassroots water conservation, the Central Government honoured Bajrang Lal Jethu with the prestigious National Water Award in 2025. Over the years, he has also received the Best Teacher Award at the state level alongside numerous environmental recognitions. Despite these honours, his field projects continue at full pace. He maintains that preserving traditional village ponds is essential to capturing rainwater, which remains fundamental to securing a sustainable future for upcoming generations.
