Award announced at World Aqua Congress inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister Shri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
31 October 2019, New Delhi: The 2019 edition of the World Aqua Congress hosted by Aqua Foundation conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award to Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation, “for his contributions towards the cause of environment.” The award was announced yesterday at the World Aqua Congress which was inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister Shri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Shri. Vikramjiet Roy, a volunteer with Isha Foundation, received the award on behalf of Sadhguru from the Hon’ble Minister.
Sadhguru has launched mega environmental projects which are implemented by Isha Foundation. Since 2004, Isha Foundation has worked extensively in reversing climate change impact through Project GreenHands which has enabled over 2 million people to plant more than 35 million trees to reverse land degradation in Tamil Nadu. The program is structured to introduce green consciousness in schools and enrolls up to 250 schools every year for a three-year program that equips students to establish their own herbal and kitchen gardens within their schools. It also teaches students to nurture and raise saplings and distribute them within the community.
Sadhguru has also launched several initiatives to improve farming practices that have had a direct impact on soil health and groundwater levels. Over the past 18 years, these programs have enabled 69,760 farmers to adopt agroforestry resulting in reduced use of chemical-based fertilizers which has greatly enriched the soil with nutrients, producing higher and healthier yields. It has also improved the soil’s capacity to hold water and significantly increased groundwater levels.
In 2017, Sadhguru launched the Rally for Rivers campaign to revitalize India’s dying rivers. Rally for Rivers launched a pilot in March this year in Maharashtra funded by the state government, to revitalize the Waghadi river in Yavatmal district. Isha Foundation has deployed several volunteers on the ground to implement the project. Sadhguru launched the second Rally for Rivers project, Cauvery Calling, in July this year. The project will span a third of the Cauvery river basin in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The project is expected to reverse soil degradation in the river basin besides sequestering trillions of liters of water and reviving riverine biodiversity all of which are expected to restore Cauvery to her original flow levels.
Aqua Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has been organizing the international ‘World Aqua Congress’ since the year 2007. The conference brings policymakers, researchers, academicians, industry, NGOs and other stakeholders on a common platform for meaningful deliberations and execution of projects. ‘Aqua Excellence Awards’ is a key highlight of the 2-day conference. The awards are given to promote innovations and contributions in the field of water, environment, and humanity.
Sadhguru – Founder, Isha Foundation
Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Sadhguru was conferred the “Padma Vibhushan” by the Government of India in 2017, one of the highest civilian awards, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service.
Three decades ago, Sadhguru founded Isha Foundation, a non-profit human-service organization, with human well-being as its core commitment. Sadhguru has initiated powerful yoga programs for human transformation as well as various outreach projects to uplift under-served communities in rural India.
