Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Vivek Bharadwaj, has emphasised the need for collective action to make the country self-reliant in water management.

Addressing the inaugural session of the National-Level Training of Master Trainers Programme on Water Budgeting and Water Security Planning by Gram Panchayats in New Delhi, Mr Bharadwaj said meaningful change can be achieved when everyone works together towards a common goal. Describing the initiative as a significant step, he said the Ministry has been working on it for nearly one-and-a-half years. He urged the participants to actively engage in the training programme and apply the knowledge gained by undertaking water-related initiatives in their respective areas.