Rajendra Singh wins prestigious 2015 Stockholm Water Prize

March 21, 2015

Renowned water conservationist and environment activist Rajendra Singh has been conferred with 2015 Stockholm Water Prize.
He was awarded this prize for his innovative water restoration efforts and consistent attempts to improve the water security in villages in India.

About Rajendra Singh

He is popularly known as Water Man of India. He started his career in 1980 as a National Service Volunteer and later joined NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS).
Rajendra Singh along with volunteered young people and TBS members had started movement purifying traditional rainwater tanks (johads).
He also had played important role in rejuvenating Arvari River after johads and check dams were constructed on it. It has helped Arvari River to become perennial river and was awarded ‘International River Prize’.
Since then he has pioneered in building around 8,600 johads and other structures to collect water in state of Rajasthan. This initiative has brought water back to around 1,000 villages across the state.
He was also member of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) from 2009-12.
Awards- He was awarded with Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 2001.

About Stockholm Water Prize

Established- 1991.
The prize is founded and financed by Stockholm Water Foundation and administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
It recognizes persons for their outstanding achievements in conservation and protection of the world’s water resources and presented annually.
The award carries US 150,000 dollars and a specially designed sculpture.

Rajendra Singh is fourth Indian to win the prestigious global award. Others are