On World Water Day, Cauvery Calling organized a large-scale rainwater harvesting technical seminar titled “Van Amirtham” in Tiruchirappalli, bringing together over 2,000 people including farmers, general public and others, to explore practical solutions for water security.

The seminar focused on addressing declining groundwater levels and increasing salinity in both agricultural lands and residential areas. Experts emphasized a crucial point: the challenge is not a lack of rainfall, but how effectively we store and manage the rain we receive.

Several distinguished experts and practitioners shared their insights:

• Dr. Panneerselvam highlighted the urgent need for water conservation in agriculture and households. He explained that even small amounts of daily water wastage can translate into tens of thousands of liters annually, and shared how improved irrigation technologies can significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining yields.
• Dr. Sivakumar stressed the importance of shifting our mindset from “water scarcity” to better water management, noting that rainfall levels remain largely consistent and that effective storage can create lasting change.
• Sujatha Ayyappa Masagi shared practical methods to revitalize borewells in rainfed regions through appropriate rainwater harvesting structures.
• Sivasubramanian demonstrated innovative rainwater storage solutions, including systems capable of capturing up to 4,000 liters from a single rainfall event, while also emphasizing the quality of rainwater as a drinking source.
• Dr. Ravikumar presented innovative water conservation techniques for agricultural lands, and Thangarasu shared practical approaches for rainwater storage in homes.

The event also recognized several “Water Warriors” for their impactful work in restoring water ecosystems and promoting rainwater harvesting practices. Honorees included Manikandan, Sujatha Ayyappa Masagi, Selvaraj, representatives from Olirum Erode, and Sivasubramanian, along with the seminar speakers.

Alongside the technical sessions, the seminar hosted a large exhibition of rainwater harvesting systems, modern irrigation technologies, and natural farming solutions, enabling participants to directly explore tools and methods they can implement. 

By bringing together scientific expertise and grassroots experience on a single platform, Cauvery Calling continues to help farmers and communities adopt scalable water conservation practices, a vital step toward long-term ecological and agricultural resilience.