Wikipedia

Ramveer Tanwar

Ramveer Tanwar is an Indian social activist and water conservationist[3] known for his work in water conservation, pond beautification, the revival of water bodies,[4] and the developing of urban forests across India.[5][6] He has contributed to cleaning and restoring approximately 80 ponds across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, and Karnataka.[7] He is often referred to as the Pond Man of India.[2][3]

Ramveer Tanwar
Ramveer Tanwar
Born
Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesPond Man of India[1][2]
EducationB. Tech
Alma materKCC Institute of Technology and Management
Occupation(s)Social activist, Environmentalist
OrganizationSay Earth
Known forWater conservation, pond beautification, revival of water bodies, and developing urban forest
AwardsKarmaveer Chakra Award (2019)

Tanwar is the founder of the social organization 'Say Earth'[3] and the 'Jal Chaupal' campaign, focused on the revival of water bodies and promoting environmental awareness.[2][8] He serves as the brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Mission, appointed by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation[9] and holds the position of Ghaziabad district coordinator for the Ground Water Force under the Government of Uttar Pradesh.[10]

Early life and education edit

Ramveer Tanwar was born in Dadha village in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.[11] He is the youngest of five siblings.[3] He received his primary education in his village.[11] In 2014, Tanwar graduated from KCC Institute of Technology and Management with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical engineering.[11]

After graduating, Tanwar worked as an engineer briefly before committing to full-time environmental and water conservation work.[12] He received groundwater conservation training from the Central Pollution Control Board of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.[13]

Work edit

In 2015, Tanwar launched the 'Jal Chaupal' campaign to conserve water and revive water bodies, starting in Dadha village. He expanded the initiative to raise awareness on water conservation in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, including Dabra, Kulipura, Chauganpur, Sirsa, Rampur, and Salempur. Initially focused on awareness, Tanwar later engaged in removing illegal encroachments, beautifying, and reviving ponds.[14]

By 2021, Ramveer had revived about 40 ponds, including Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, Palwal, Manesar, and Delhi.[15] By 2023, Ramveer Tanwar has completed the cleaning and renovation of about 80 ponds in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat.[3][7]

In 2018, he launched the 'Selfie with Pond' initiative to actively involve the youth. Under this campaign, young individuals began capturing selfies with ponds and sharing them on social media. To specify the locations, participants were encouraged to include the pond's name. The initiative garnered widespread attention, as the images of cleaned water bodies served as inspiration, and motivated local officials to clean them. The campaign also received support from individuals of Indian origin residing abroad, as well as citizens from the United States, Canada, and Indonesia.[16][17][13]

In 2020, Ramveer Tanwar founded the non-profit, Say Earth, which is engaged in its ongoing pond cleaning efforts. Major contributors include NGOs like HCL Foundation, Green Yatra, and Sleep Well Foundation.[18]

Tanwar is currently creating several urban forests using Japan's Miyawaki method.[19] In this process, he converts barren land allotted by the government into fertile land and then plants trees to conserve urban land, protect soil quality, and reduce air and land pollution.[7][14][20]

Mann Ki Baat edit

In the October 24, 2021 broadcast of the radio program Mann Ki Baat on All India Radio, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Ramveer Tanwar for his outstanding work in cleaning and conserving ponds.[21]

In the 100th episode of the Mann Ki Baat program in April 2023, Ramveer Tanwar was selected as one of the 100 guests nationwide. During the five-day program, he participated in the National Conclave at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on April 26, 2023. Activities included a visit to the Rajpath at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya on April 27, followed by a yoga session, a tour of the Red Fort, and Rajghat on April 28, 2023. On April 30, 2023, Ramveer attended a Mann Ki Baat session with Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.[22][23][24]

Jal Choupal edit

Jal Chaupal is an initiative launched by Ramveer in 2015 to raise awareness about water scarcity and related factors. It serves as a platform for discussions on topics like groundwater, drainage, water pollution, rainwater harvesting, and water budgeting.[25]

In popular culture edit

His life story was featured in Volume 4 of the Ministry of Culture's comic book Mann Ki Baat, published by Amar Chitra Katha in July 2023.[26] In 2022, on World Environment Day, National Geographic, as part of its 'One for Change' initiative, showcased a series of short films featuring social activists, including Ramveer Tanwar, who has worked to make the world a better place.[27] The series was also broadcast on Disney+ Hotstar.[28]

Awards and recognition edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Yadav, Shalu (23 November 2023). "Meet India's 'pondman' who gave up a plush job to restore polluted ponds". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. ^ a b c Bhagat, Mallika (6 September 2023). "Meet India's 'Pond Man' Who Is Restoring Water Bodies For A Sustainable Future". Indian Express.
  3. ^ a b c d e Attygalle, Randima (31 May 2023). "Passion for ponds". Daily FT.
  4. ^ Sharmila, Bhaumik (7 April 2019). "26-year-old engineer helps bring 10 ponds back to life in Greater Noida". The Times of India.
  5. ^ Abraham, Bobins (22 August 2023). "This Noida Engineer Left His Job To Revive India's Dying Ponds And Urban Forests". The Times of India.
  6. ^ Thakur Nanda, Shweta (29 October 2020). "Meet the young engineer who gave up his plush job to revive wetlands in Greater Noida". Scroll.in.
  7. ^ a b c Shah, Amita (26 January 2023). "Ramveer Tanwar: Eco Cleanser". Open.
  8. ^ M., Poona (8 April 2019). "Meet India's Aquaman: 26-year-old Ramveer Tanwar who has been fighting the water crisis". Indian Express. IndulgeXpress.
  9. ^ a b Varma, Lokesh (15 September 2022). "देश के पॉन्ड मैन रामवीर तंवर ने गार्बेज फ्री सिटी बनाने के लिए युवाओं से की ये अपील". Patrika.com.
  10. ^ "जिलाधिकारी ने किया भूजल सेना का गठन". Dainik Jagran. 5 July 2017.
  11. ^ a b c Singh, Sudhir (January 18, 2023). "Ramveer Tanwar: UP के नोएडा का इंजीनियर जो अपनी नौकरी छोड़ गंदे तालाबों को साफ करने में जुटा है". The Times of India.
  12. ^ Narang, Gauravi (20 January 2023). "India's pond man didn't stop with just Ghaziabad village. He has revived 48 ponds". ThePrint.
  13. ^ a b Narayanan, Jayshree (22 April 2019). "World Earth Day 2019: Meet the environmentalist behind the #SelfieWithPond campaign". Indian Express.
  14. ^ a b Madaik, Devyani (22 March 2023). "Meet Ramveer Tanwar, Who Gave Up His Lucrative Job To Revive Water Bodies And Build Urban Forests". NDTV.
  15. ^ Yadav, Mangal (24 October 2021). "जानिए कौन हैं यूपी के रामवीर तंवर, 'मन की बात' में जिनकी पीएम मोदी ने की जमकर तारीफ". Dainik Jagran.
  16. ^ Sriram, Rakesh (7 June 2022). "इंजीनियर ने तालाबों की सफाई के लिए छोड़ी नौकरी, 6 राज्यों में 42 तालाबों का कर दिया कायाकल्प". News18 India.
  17. ^ Mishra, Raghavendra (22 July 2019). "MNC की नौकरी छोड़ पानी के लिए काम करने लगा ये इंजीनियर, UN करने जा रहा सम्मानित". The Times of India.
  18. ^ ज्योति, करकी (30 April 2023). "ग्रेटर नोएडा के पोंड मैन रामवीर तंवर को पीएम मोदी ने बुलाया, योगी आदित्यनाथ बोले- आप पर यूपी को गर्व". Tricity Today.
  19. ^ "Meet Ramveer Tanwar, Environmental Activist Who's Growing an Urban Jungle on the Landfill Sites". Zee News. 12 May 2023.
  20. ^ Tiwari, Vinay Kumar (4 June 2021). "ऑक्सीजन का संकट कम करने के लिए गाजियाबाद में विकसित किया जाएगा वन, जापानी पद्धति का होगा इस्तेमाल". Dainik Jagran.
  21. ^ Saxena, Anurag (24 October 2021). "मन की बात: इंजीनियर की नौकरी छोड़ ठानी तालाबों को संवारने की जिद, पीएम ने की तारीफ". Amar Ujala.
  22. ^ "PM Narendra Modi के मन की बात में स्पेशल गेस्ट रामवीर तंवर कौन हैं? सीएम योगी ने भी दी बधाई". Navbharat Times. 30 April 2023.
  23. ^ "मन की बात ने बदल दी पोंडमैन रामवीर तंवर की जिंदगी". Amar Ujala. 1 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Mann ki Baat 100 Episode: देश ही नहीं विदेशों में भी सुनी गई पीएम मोदी के मन की बात, UN हेडक्वॉर्टर में हुआ लाइव टेलीकास्ट". GNT TV. Aaj Tak. 30 April 2023.
  25. ^ Mohita, B. (24 July 2023). "Know the Pondman of India Ramveer Tanwar, who revived Dasna Pond". Ground Report.
  26. ^ Mann Ki Baat, Vol 4 (PDF). Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Amar Chitra Katha. July 2023. p. 6 से 8. ISBN 978-81-19596-06-5.
  27. ^ Khandekar, Nivedita (5 June 2022). "World Environment Day: NatGeo's part II of change makers series from Sunday". Daji World.
  28. ^ "Ramveer left his corporate life to dedicate his time to reviving dried-up ponds and lakes across India". Hotstar. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Meet the water Hero". 20 May 2022.
  30. ^ a b Swati, Bansal (4 June 2021). "Not all heroes wear capes, some fight amongst us". Indiawaterportal.org.
  31. ^ "Sahbhagita: National Workshop for Conservation and Wise-Use of Wetlands Convened". Wetlands.org. 27 May 2022.
  32. ^ "पॉण्डमैन रामवीर को सीएम से मिला राज्य भूजल पुरस्कार". Noida: Navbharat Times. July 2022.
  33. ^ "मुख्यमंत्री ने 'भूजल सप्ताह-2022 के राज्य स्तरीय समापन समारोह' को सम्बोधित किया". UP CM News. 23 July 2022.

External links edit

Interviews
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