Octogenarian shepherd Kame Gowda has dug 16 ponds over the past few decades. And for his efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to him as one of the “water warriors” in the country in his Mann Ki Baat programme on June 28. This farmer had also spoken to Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. In Netherlands, Dutch farmers wrote heartwarming messages of hope in the blooming tulip fields amid the coronavirus outbreak.
82-Year-Old Shepherd Converts Barren Hillock Into Bed Of Lakes
Kame Gowda is an 82-year-old shepherd from Dasanadoddi village in Mandya district and since many decades has been digging ponds and helped convert a barren hillock in Sasanadoddi village of Malavalli taluk into a bed of lakes. Applauding his efforts, PM Modi referred to him as one of the “water warriors” of India. In Jodhpur, hundreds of fish died due to water scarcity.
The man with extraordinary determination started constructing such water-storing ponds around 40 years ago. When he took his cattle to the hills for grazing, he noticed that no wild animals were found on the hill. This was due to lack of water bodies. So, Kame Gowda reportedly started digging the land while his sheep grazed.
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PM Modi Praises Kame Gowda For His Efforts In Mann Ki Baat
Our PM referred to Mr. Gowda and said that he is an “ordinary farmer with an extraordinary personality”, PM Modi said he had achieved a feat that would leave anyone awestruck. “Mr. Kame Gowda, aged 80 to 85 years, takes out his animals for grazing, but at the same time, he has taken it upon himself to build new ponds in his area. He wants to overcome the problem of water scarcity in his area and is engaged in work on constructing small ponds. Today, the entire area has got a new lease of life on account of these ponds,” the Prime Minister said.
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A little effort on our part helps nature and the environment in a very significant way. Many of our compatriots are making extraordinary efforts in this endeavour, said the Prime Minister. Kamegowda brought his sheep and goats near a hill for grazing. After finding no water for the sheep, he began digging ponds to address the water shortage. Thanks to the collection of rainwater, these lakes are full of water even in summer. When it comes to Karnataka you must visit the Sanapur Lake in Hampi.