Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 26 July praised the surging public participation in the 'Catch The Rain' campaign during his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', urging every citizen to take personal responsibility for conserving water bodies and saving rainwater at the source. The campaign, which has been running as a nationwide initiative since 4 July, focuses on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, revival of traditional water bodies, and tree plantation.

What the Campaign Covers

Modi explained that the core message of 'Catch The Rain' is straightforward: conserve water right where and when the rain falls. “That is why a special nationwide campaign has been underway since July 4. Under this initiative, fresh momentum is being given to rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, the rejuvenation of old water bodies, and tree plantation,” he said.

The campaign has drawn participation from villages and cities alike, with panchayats, local bodies, and social organisations all contributing. Disused borewells are being repurposed as groundwater recharge channels, silted ponds are being dredged, and centuries-old stepwells are being restored to active use.

State-Level Progress and Key Highlights

Modi cited several encouraging examples from across the country. In Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district, nearly 1,500 ponds have been constructed under the campaign. In Narsinghpur, Amrit Sarovars have been restored, while Nashik in Maharashtra has recorded a significant increase in water storage capacity.

In Andhra Pradesh's Nandyal district, every gram panchayat joined the initiative, reviving old ponds and restoring their utility. Urban centres have also contributed: Korba in Chhattisgarh, Bhubaneswar in Odisha, and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh have all reported encouraging results.

Modi's Appeal to Citizens

“Come, let us also take responsibility for a pond, well, or stepwell in our vicinity — save every drop of water. Every drop saved today serves as the greatest asset for the future of coming generations,” Modi said during the broadcast.

He expressed satisfaction at what he described as “overwhelming participation” and called for the campaign to be sustained beyond its current phase, framing water conservation as an intergenerational responsibility rather than a seasonal exercise.

Broader Context

The 'Catch The Rain' campaign is not a new concept — it was first launched by the National Water Mission in 2021 under the Jal Shakti Ministry with the tagline ‘Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls.’ Its revival and expansion in the current monsoon season reflects the Centre’s continued push to address India’s chronic groundwater depletion, which affects hundreds of millions of people. This is the campaign’s most extensive grassroots mobilisation to date, according to the Prime Minister’s remarks.

As the monsoon season progresses, the government is expected to release updated data on water body restoration and groundwater recharge levels across participating districts.