Bikaner, March 11 : The Jalagam 2.0 national workshop facilitated stakeholder engagement through discussions on community-driven rural water security. Held at Bikaner Zila Udyog Sangh on March 10, 2025, the event was supported by DCB Bank’s CSR initiative, with NIRDPR (National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj) serving as the knowledge partner. It gathered experts, policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to deliberate on sustainable water management solutions.
The first series of Jalagam (2023-24) conducted regional workshops in Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing community adaptability and sustainable water management amid climate challenges. In its second phase (2024-25), the workshop extended to Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Bikaner in Rajasthan, fostering deeper conversations on water security.
The Bikaner workshop commenced with a plenary session featuring insights from Mr. Ramesh Saran, CEO of Urmul Trust, Dr. Ruchira Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor at NIRD&PR, and Ms. Arti M. Grover from the S M Sehgal Foundation. The session was moderated by Mr. Salahuddin Saiphy of the S M Sehgal Foundation and included respected panelists such as Padma Shri awardee Mr. Laxman Singh, Gram Vikas Nav Yuvak Mandal Lapodia (GVNML), Mr. Umendra Dutt, Kheti Virasat Mission, and Ms. Lata Kachhava from SURE. The panel explored the gap between traditional and contemporary water management practices.
An open house session moderated by Mr. Dilip Singh Bidawat of Unnati Foundation followed, offering community representatives a platform to raise concerns and suggest solutions for water security. The concluding panel, led by Dr. Ruchira Bhattacharya, discussed challenges and opportunities in water security, featuring contributions from Mr. Anshul Ojha of Desert Resource Centre and Dr. Indira Khurana of the Indian Himalayan River Basins Council.
About the ‘Jalagam’ Workshop Series
The Jalagam workshop series promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing in water resource management, addressing regional challenges and solutions.
DCB Bank actively collaborates with communities and experts across India to drive impactful projects in sustainable livelihoods, water conservation, and climate change adaptation. In partnership with the S M Sehgal Foundation, these efforts focus on watershed development and creating water storage solutions across six states.
Ms. Anjali Makhija, Trustee and CEO of the S M Sehgal Foundation, remarked, “The partnership between DCB Bank and S M Sehgal Foundation has positively impacted numerous villages, driving water conservation and sustainability efforts. This collaboration continues to expand its reach across six states.”
Since 2017, DCB Bank and the S M Sehgal Foundation have worked together on community-focused water initiatives, impacting thousands of residents across Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The efforts have resulted in the harvesting of over 365 million liters (36 crore liters) of water through groundwater augmentation, pond rejuvenation, and rainwater harvesting systems in schools to improve drinking water access.
About DCB Bank
DCB Bank is a new-generation private sector bank with 457 branches as of December 31, 2024. It operates as a scheduled commercial bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. DCB Bank offers a wide range of financial products and services across sectors, including retail, agriculture, government, and micro-SME businesses. The bank caters to approximately one million customers with offerings that include loans, deposits, mobile banking, investment solutions, and trade finance.
About S M Sehgal Foundation
Founded in 1999 as a public charitable trust, the S M Sehgal Foundation empowers community-led development initiatives to drive positive social, economic, and environmental change in rural India. With core programs in water management, agriculture development, community participation, and education, the foundation emphasizes sustainable impact through inclusive dialogue and informed decision-making.
For more information, email: [email protected]
