tag on profile.
Name- Raman Kant
Designation- Founder Director of NEER Foundation,
Program associated- creating awareness on various issues related to water involving the community in finding various solutions for sustainable future.
Keeping in view, the urgency of enlightening the
community and making efforts at the grassroots level in order to meet the
growing need of water demand, Raman Kant initiated his work towards
water conservation in the year 2004. As such, he formed NEER Foundation with an objective of
creating awareness on various issues related to water involving the community
in finding various solutions for sustainable future. With a contribution of
about 120 articles published in the Hindi national dailies, magazines
etc., Raman Kant has a wide range of experience
with a deep understanding of various issues concerning water
across the country.
As the Founder Director of NEER Foundation, it is the belief of Raman
Kant that environment
problems can only be addressed adequately if local people are involved in
decision-making at all levels and have control over resources. Lead by him, NEER
Foundation acts as an independent, not-for-profit making voluntary
organization working towards environment protection and management by means of
water conservation and rural development. NEER
Foundation is involved in research, campaigns, grassroots level practical
work and advocacy on issues related to environment and human rights.
As a public interest organization, NEER
Foundation has focused on strengthening the community through their active
participation to achieve sustainable development. NEER
Foundation has the distinction of bringing out the first detailed census of
natural
water resources structures entitled “Talabo ki Stithi”. The 35 pages study
report has earned wide appreciation by the National and international
organizations like CEEW and others. As such, it will be highly beneficial for
the country. NEER
Foundation has also constructed a number of natural water resources
structures like ponds (tanks), JOHADs and wells in the villages in Meerut
district with the active participation of the community. The unique work
for water conservation undertaken by the community by offering shramdaan
(manual labor) has earned national popularity. The organization for the first
time since independence gave a call to the community to clean the 5000 years
old historical Gandhari Talaab in Parikshatgarh, some 20 kilometers from Meerut.
It was at the behest of Raman Kant that the Students came forward to offer
shramdaan along with the farming community and traders of Parikshatgarh so as
to clean the pond by de-silting it.
Raman Kant
also has the distinction of establishing the country’s first Rural Rain
Centre in village Poothi at Meerut with the active support of the
local leaders. The Rural Rain Centre is a water literacy spreading center with
an exhibition which portrays basic issues concerning water with the support of
colorful panels. It also has a small library with books, cassettes, CDs and
video films on water. School children, farmers, engineers and various civil
society groups pay a visit to the Rural Rain Centre regularly. The Rural Rain
Centre has a live model of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting so that the community
gets sensitized on the important issue of water conservation. The Rural Rain
Centre has been visited by the former Union Minister and Member of Planning
Commission Mr. Sompal Shastri, Peasants’ leader Ch. Rakesh Tikait and many
scientists. Meerut Development Authority (MDA), UP Avas evam Vikas Parishad,
Minor Irrigation Department, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), 40 Trainees of Indian
Forest Service batch 2014-15, State Ground Water Board (SGWB) of UP, UP Jal
Nigam and other departments have been sending their engineers to visit the
Rural Rain Centre which is the first of its kind in Northern India. Raman Kant
and his associates have taken the torch of water conservation to more than one
lakh people in the urban and rural areas of western U.P. It is just because of
his efforts that the district plan of Meerut
enhanced their water conservation priority particularly in rural areas based on
the census of NEER
Foundation. According to Raman Kant ”I would like to see the day when
people at least in my region have access to pure drinking water”. He further
adds that “We would strive to bring back the lost image of water scarce and
contaminated drinking water region to water sufficient and pure drinking water
area”.
Raman Kant
in the year 2006 took the pledge to clean the highly polluted Kali
River (East), Hindon
River, Kali River (West) and Krishna
Rivers. As such, a massive signature campaign supported by
PADYATRAS and awareness programs, the Kali River issue was undertaken under his
leadership. As a mission of his organization, Raman Kant has undertaken the
responsibility of motivating the community to adopt Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
(RWH) in urban areas. He was also instrumental in establishing an RWH model at
the near about 200 buildings in Meerut and BDS public school Meerut in western
U.P. Raman Kant has delivered power point presentations and has addressed more
than 100 meetings on the important issue of water conservation in the different
parts of the country and out of the country like Turkey, UAE, Thailand and
Nepal.
Since the whole of Western U.P witnesses
excessive use of chemicals and pesticides. Hence, there is a great loss to the
fertility of agricultural soil here. Worried about the threat to the
agriculture in Western U.P, Raman Kant decided to initiate organic farming
along with the promotion of traditional ways of farming. He is the pioneer
of promoting organic farming in the area covering 50 villages in
Meerut district and much more in the adjoining districts of Bijnor,
Baghpat, and others. Farmers have been taught about the various methods of
preparing organic manures, bio-pesticides, and other biotechnologies which serve
as inputs in organic farming. The former union minister Sompal Shastri had
visited Meerut along with his technical advisor to see the grassroots level
work which Raman
Kant is promoting in the area. He appreciated the work being done by him.
Raman Kant has participated in a number of National and International
conferences on organic farming and has delivered presentations on the subject.
He is among the few environmentalists in the country who has brought the threat
of POPs to the surface by organizing meetings and conducting research in the
community.
As a visionary, Raman Kant
also would like to see that Uttar Pradesh formulates its own
River policy. After participating in a number of meetings with the
Ministers and Government Officials related to water he has also contacted a
number of experts to extend their supports towards the formulation of the River
policy in U.P. Known across the country as a JAL DOOT (water warrior) Raman
Kant has inducted 500 JAL DOOTS and activists who have volunteered themselves
towards the efforts of water conservation. He through his organization
regularly brings out a bimonthly newsletter on water entitled PARYAVARN SANDESH
which is popularly known throughout the country. Raman Kant is a well-known
name in the field of water conservation and wants to serve the nation by his
activism at the grassroots level efforts so that the water problems are solved
at the local level.
National and International Exposure
- Appointed as the National Coordinator of World Water
Monitoring Day Programme in India from 2011 by International Water
Association and World Environment Federation.
- Invited by the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul
(Turkey) to deliver a presentation for the Water Experts on March 2009.
- Invited by the Thammasat University (7th South East
Asia Water Symposium) in Bangkok (Thailand) to address the students
participating from different countries, through a presentation, on October
2009.
- Invited by the Nepal Engineering College, Kathmandu
(Nepal) to deliver a presentation for the Water Experts on May 2010.
- Invited by the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
(India) to deliver a presentation for the Water Experts on June 5, 2010.
- Invited by the India International Centre, New Delhi
(India) to deliver a presentation for the Kali River Presentation.
- Invited by Jila Panchayat, Meerut to deliver a
presentation on Kali River Pollution and efforts of the foundation to save
the river on March 24, 2012.
- Invited by Biotechnology Department, Sardar Vallabh
Bhai Patel Agriculture University, Meerut, to deliver a lecture on rural
water technology, on March 21, 2015.
- Invited by District Administration of Saharanpur to
deliver a lecture on Rain Water Harvesting technology, on May 14, 2015.
- Invited by the Hapur-Pilkhua Development Authority to
deliver a presentation for the Water Experts on July 21, 2015.
- Invited by the Indian Industries Association to
deliver a presentation for the Water Experts on July 22, 2015.
- Invited by the International Conference on Education as
a Driver for Sustainable Development Goals to deliver a presentation for
the water expert on January 11-13, 2016.
Awards
- The NEER Foundation has won the “Oasis Award” for its
participation in World Water Monitoring Day at the hand pump near Tajmahal
on August 22, 2010. The Oasis Award is awarded by WEF and IWA to the
group that conducted water quality monitoring in the highest air
temperature.
- The organization has been awarded the prestigious
“World Water Champion Award 2009, 2010 and 2011” by WEF and IWA, for its
outstanding contribution in the sector of Water.
- The Meerut-based NEER Foundation has been conferred
upon with the prestigious “Water Digest Award 2010-11 and 2011-12. It has
been selected as the Best Water NGO, for the Water Education category
amongst the organizations working on the issue of water conservation
across the states.
- The organization has been awarded the prestigious
“International Green Apple Award-2012” by The Green Organisation,
UK.
- The organization has been awarded the prestigious
“National Status Award for Intellectual Development-2012” by The Republic
of Seychelles.
- The organization has been awarded the prestigious
“International Green Hero Award-2012” by The Green Organisation, UK.
- “International Green Hero Award 2013” for its
outstanding contribution towards environment conservation programs by the
UK-based The Green Organization.
- “National Environment Jewel Award 2013” by Vishwamitr
organization, New Delhi.
- “Vardan Karamveer Chakra Silver 2014” for its
contribution towards environment conservation and youth role.
- “Best Water Award 2016” by Ground Water Department,
Uttar Pradesh Government.
- “Vardan Karamveer Chakra Gold 2016” for its
contribution towards environment conservation and youth role.
- Krishi Kumbh Award 2016 for its contribution towards
the environment and water conservation by Indian Institute of Farming
System Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI.
Personal Details:
Birth Date – 5th November 1980
Father’s Name – Shri Mahendra Singh
Educational Qualification – Graduation from
C.C.S. University Meerut, Computer Diploma and one year course of
Journalism.
Permanent Address:
Village and Post – Poothi
Block – Parikshitgarh
Tehsil – Mawana
District – Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Present Address:
307/9, Ajanta Colony
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Office Address:
NEER Foundation
Ist Floor, Samrat Shopping Mall, Garh Road
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Ph : 0121-4030595, 09411676951
Email: raman4neer@gmail.com
