Introduction to Jal Biradari, the National Water Brotherhood

Jal Biradari is a National Water brotherhood of individuals from all walks of life including farmer groups, social groups, voluntary organizations, NGOs, research institutions, social scientists and water experts.  These people are concerned about water conservation, forest - soil management, promotion of water conservation work as well as with struggle to re-establish community water rights.  Since 1998 Jal Biradari, through its awareness programs and Jal Sammelans (conferences), has been aiming to develop people-oriented national and state water policy.  Jal Biradari’s culture is strongly associated with nature. This is an organization of individuals who believe in rejuvenating nature by living with nature.

Jal Biradari conventions so far:

• 20-22 April 2001, Jaipur, Nimbi Village. Formation of  Jal Biradari
• 5-6 March 2002, New Delhi. Created mass understanding to National Water Policy
• 1-2 April 2003, Sewagram.  The Water Literacy movement began on policy issues.
• 25-26 June 2004, New Delhi.  Drafting memorandum for the new Government on privatization of water & Interlinking of River project.
• 9-12 November 2005, Tarun Ashram, Bhikampura Discussion of India’s Future of Water Governance and consideration of Globalization and Privatization in Water Management. Also to review the new government initiatives on Interlinking of River project and Environment policy.

Jal Biradari strongly feels that decentralized water management is the solution for India.  Their yatras, campaigns, and discussions reflect this.  It expects that the government will give rightful support to the community practices of water conservation. These small local interventions have a very positive impact both on nature and communities while too often giant steps are destructive to nature and people.  Jal Biradari believes that water is a common natural resource rather than the property of one individual or company. It is the basis of life and common future of the country. So community has equal rights in the management & use of the water resource.   

Tradition means, any good activity which links the past, present and future of our society, and traditional rainwater harvesting has stood the test of time.  Today’s modern water management does not fulfill the thirst of society and is unable to save us from drought and floods.  Once upon a time this brotherhood of traditional water conservation was very strong.   We can only solve the water problem to the proportion in which we revive this tradition.