Nagpur: Noted Marathi actor and Naam Foundation secretary Makarand Anaspure on Monday stated that the country 'as a society' has failed if farmers are driven to sell organs to repay debts. Addressing the Jal Kranti Parishad in Nagpur, Anaspure linked farmer distress to water insecurity, unplanned urbanisation, and a declining ecological balance, while advocating for a mass movement centered on water conservation and sustainable development.
Anaspure's Remarks on Farmer Distress
'If a farmer has to sell his kidney to repay debts, then what are we doing as a society?' the actor questioned. 'Farmers continue to struggle despite feeding the country. Agriculture cannot survive unless farmers receive water security and fair economic returns,' he emphasised.
Urbanisation and Water Scarcity
Anaspure warned that rapid concretisation in cities is causing both floods and groundwater depletion. 'We are covering everything with concrete and then wondering why rainwater causes floods instead of recharging the earth,' he said, noting that expanding urbanisation destroys natural drainage channels and intensifies water scarcity. He also highlighted that rivers, often revered culturally as 'mothers', are being neglected and polluted despite society's dependence on them. 'People spend time cleaning themselves, but the rivers in their villages and cities are left drowning in filth. Our rivers must be protected from pollution and neglect,' he urged.
Call for Water Literacy
Anaspure called for 'water literacy' in schools, asserting that even small-scale water projects can transform rural livelihoods. Awareness about rainwater harvesting, watershed management, and ecological conservation should begin at an early age, he said.
Naam Foundation's Work
The actor highlighted projects by the Naam Foundation across Maharashtra and other parts of India. He mentioned a 70-acre lake rejuvenation project at Kuhitakli near Nagpur, which created irrigation potential for nearly 250 acres of farmland. The foundation has undertaken watershed and water storage projects across Vidarbha, Konkan, and Marathwada, and also works in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. 'Large-scale environmental change is possible only when people participate collectively,' Anaspure said.
Infrastructure and Rural Economy
Anaspure also pointed to changing rural economies linked to infrastructure projects, noting that land values in some villages increased after the construction of the Samruddhi Highway. This demonstrates how responsible development planning can reshape agricultural regions, he concluded.
