Prince Charles Visits Bhaonta

November 2, 2003. Bhaonta, Alwar

Prince Charles today visited Bhaonta village in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The Prince conducted an aerial survey of the Arvari river. Tarun Bharat Sangh has been undertaking water conservation and reforestation work over the last 15 years on River Arvari.
The Prince, who arrived here in a helicopter along with Mr. Rajendra Singh, President of Tarun Bharat Singh, landed in a field in Bhaonta. From here he walked into the hills which were once dry but are today covered by dense forest. This forest named “Bhairon Dev Vanya Jeev Abhyaharan” has assumed the status of a sanctuary by the efforts of the villagers.

Bhaonta – Kolyala (Bhaonta) is a small village in Alwar, Rajsthan but has achieved the distinction of being the village which has been visited by the President of India and now Prince Charles for the work they have done in conserving water and restoring their forests. This village suffered from Drought year after year such as deforestation because the villagers would cut the trees for firewood and fodder.
Then some of the villagers decided to meet Rajendra Singh and started the work of construction of a Johad and also create awareness amongst the villagers on the benefits of forest restoration and water conservation. Today this village has won the President’s award for the work done by them in this area. The village in the last 15 years has constructed more than 5 Johads, 7 Johadis and around 7 Anicuts.
Mr. Rajendra Singh, on this occasion, said, “It is a great day for Bhaonta today when a global leader is visiting it to see the exemplary work and achievements of a small village. These are the achievements of the people through their ownership of their environment and natural resources. Their biggest achievement has been to establish this ownership in the face of opposition from the authorities and surrounding villages.”
From Bhaonta, the Prince went on to visit the other neighboring villages of Hamirpur and Kaled. These villages were inspired by the achievements of Bhaonta and decided to undertake similar restoration work in partnership with Tarun Bharat Sangh. It is heartening to see the level of awareness, sense of ownership and responsibility amongst the villagers who are striving hard to restore their natural resources. Today the same villagers who would earlier cut trees come up with ideas on how to save their trees and forests. The villagers have come up with 11 rules and prohibit each other from felling trees and wasting water resources.
Tarun Bharat Sangh was started in 1985, by Mr. Rajendra Singh in Village Gopalpura, Alwar, Rajasthan. Rajendra Singh, set out as a one man army with the vision to strengthen the natural resources in Rajasthan. Today, he has achieved this vision, with water becoming a social and political agenda. Rajendra Singh has received the Magasaysay award for work on water conservation, no mean achievement for a person who started as one man army 20 years ago. Tarun Bharat Sangh now looks forward to the creation of “Water Warriors” or “Jal Karya Kartas” through its Water University. These warriors will fight for the cause of water conservation across the country.