Aamir Khan speaks to NDTV on the water crisis
As parts of the country grapple with acute water scarcity, actor Aamir Khan, the ambassador of the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' is echoing the need for water conservation to contribute to a better future. Switching with unprecedented ease between his work as a Bollywood actor and activist, Aamir Khan refuses to be hemmed in by definitions of what a star can or cannot do.
Here are the highlights of the Water Dialogues with Aamir Khan:
Aamir Khan on the impending water emergency:- The mindset we use to save and spend money needs to also be applied towards saving and spending water.
- We should concentrate more on public transport. It is an initiative by Maharashtra government to increase facilities for the railways. Public transport will really help us.
- What is important is that PM Modi and I find common ground to work together and I think that is what is important. The need of the hour is we work on issues which all of us believe in and all of us can contribute towards in a positive way.
- PM Modi's initiative of Jal Shakti Abhiyan a much needed one. All of us should come forward and support the government.
- Last year, we trained more than 25,000 people in watershed management. So far, we have trained more than 50,000 people in four years.
- We can all be careful about how much water we use and what we use it for. I urge people to look at their own surroundings.
- Water is fundamental and very basic, so we chose water. Maharashtra faces drought every year. There are parts of Maharashtra that receive very little rainfall.
- We have to bring people together, then only we can only work on water. The gap between people will have to be removed if we have to conserve water.
- Many government schemes are very good too. People's movement is very important. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told us that no matter how much the government works, the issue can only be solved when it becomes a people's movement.
- Shramdaan forces come together and differences start sliding.
- We have been working for the past 4.5 years, we started the Paani Foundation.
- We first researched the issue across the state to understand the problem.
- Water will refuse to stay with you unless there is no gap between people. The gap between people has to be completely removed to save water.
- Water harvesting ensures less water goes on the road, prevents wastage.
- Using water meters and billing people on water they use will automatically bring down the usage.
- If each village solves its own problem then you can do it at scale.
- We started a "water cup", invited all villages in the three districts. In the first year, out of 116 villages that took part, around 40 did great work.
- The two parts to watershed development is first to conserve water and have water, the second part is how is that water used.
- It will make a humongous difference if my society and all other societies come together and start harvesting water in the buildings.
- We have to harvest the water, using tanks. The other thing is how we use the water. This is what everyone can do.
- Mankind is damaging the environment. What we can do is to make effort to try and reverse it.
- Jalshakti can be bigger than Swachch Bharat.