The Vettaikaranpudur Canal Odayakulam Village Water User Association from Coimbatore district has achieved national recognition by securing the top position in the best water user association category at the prestigious National Water Awards. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award for 2024 to the association chairman S Vickram Muthu Rathina Sabari during a ceremony held on Tuesday.
Digital Innovation Drives Award Victory
In an exclusive conversation with Times of India, chairman Vickram revealed that their custom-developed integrated portal iamwarmwua.org played the crucial role in earning this national honor. Vickram personally developed the digital platform using his own resources and initiative specifically to support local farmers with comprehensive agricultural services.
The innovative portal integrates essential data including verified farmer details, irrigation land records, and sluice gate information. This digital ecosystem enables both stakeholders and farmers to upload and access critical information seamlessly. For instance, when a farmer plans to cultivate tomatoes, they can declare their intention through the portal, which automatically alerts the concerned department officials.
This system ensures that government authorities can provide timely assistance, appropriate services, and valuable trade and marketing opportunities to the farming community, creating a synergistic relationship between agriculturalists and administration.
Double Honor for Coimbatore District
Coimbatore district celebrated another significant achievement at the sixth National Water Awards ceremony. The district received a substantial cash prize of Rs 25 lakh under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0 initiative for their outstanding water conservation efforts.
The JSJB initiative categorizes districts into three tiers with corresponding financial rewards. Category 1 districts receive Rs 2 crore, Category 2 districts get Rs 1 crore, while Category 3 districts like Coimbatore are awarded Rs 25 lakh. Coimbatore secured second rank in Category 3 of the Southern Zone, recognizing their impressive accomplishment of completing 28,147 artificial recharge and storage works across the region.
Additional collector Sanket Balwant Waghe accepted this award on behalf of the district from Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, marking a proud moment for Coimbatore's water management initiatives.
National Recognition for Local Excellence
The National Water Awards, organized by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aim to encourage and reward exemplary efforts in water conservation and management. The Vettaikaranpudur Canal Odayakulam Village WUA's achievement highlights how local initiatives with technological innovation can gain national prominence.
This dual recognition for Coimbatore district underscores Tamil Nadu's growing leadership in sustainable water management practices and community-driven conservation efforts. The success story demonstrates how digital transformation in agricultural water management can bridge the gap between farmers and government support systems effectively.
