Simon Oraon Minj, popularly known as the Waterman of Jharkhand in the media and Simon Baba among his villagers, is an Indian environmentalist and social worker, who is known to have worked to combat drought in the state of Jharkhand.[1] His efforts have been reported behind the construction of five irrigation reservoirs as well as an environmental project which included mass tree plantation and digging of wells and ponds in the Bero Block near Ranchi, covering 51 villages.[2] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to society.[3]
Simon Oraon
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Simon Oraon, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 12, 2016
Simon Oraon was born in Khaksi Toli village, a small village under the Bero Block, around 35 km away from Ranchi,[4] in a catholic farmer's family[5] and had school education only up to class IV.[6] His villagers relied heavily on rainwater for their agriculture and did farming only for a limited period every year due to scarcity of water. This is known to have prompted Oraon in building a reservoir at the footsteps of the nearby hills which he did with the assistance of his fellow villagers in 1961. Though the initial attempt and the subsequent attempt the next year did not last long, the third dam, built with the help of local authorities survived and is providing irrigation assistance to the village to the day. This was followed by two more dams at Deshbali and Jharia and several ponds in the neighbouring villages of Hariharpur, Jamtoli, Khaksitoli, Baitoli and Bhasnanda.[7] In all, he helped construct five check dams in the region.[8]
In 1964, the villagers elected him as the Parha Raja (Chief of the tribe) and he initiated the social forestry program at his ancestral property which he continues, planting 1000 trees every year, to prevent soil erosion and depletion of water resources.[7] He formed a 25-member village committee with the representation of all the nearby villages which administers the forestry drive. He also heads the people's movement which fights against deforestation and illegal felling of trees. His efforts are reported to have assisted in the cultivation of over 2000 acres of land, producing three crops a year and yielding 20,000 mt of vegetables annually.[9] He served as the Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellow during 2012–14.[7] The Government of India honored him with the civilian award of the Padma Shri in 2016.[10][11]
^"Jharkhand's waterman gets Padma Shri for waging war against drought". Hindustan Times. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^"Jharkhand's octogenarian water warrior". India Water Portal. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^(PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
^"Meet the Waterman from Jharkhand". Holdsome Detail. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^"Indian octogenarian honored for preserving the environment". UCA News. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^"A 73-year-old who saves rainwater and jungles". Indian Express. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^ abc"Simon Baba is still continuing his life-long struggle to conserve jungles of Jharkhand". PMRD Fellows. 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^Niranjan Pant; R. K. Verma (2010). Tanks in Eastern India: a study in exploration. IWMI. pp. 53–. ISBN978-92-9090-731-2.
^"Power Of Traditional Knowledge". The Logical Indian. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^"How Jharkhand's Waterman Is Ensuring All Year Water Supply in 51 Villages & Bringing Back the Forest". The Better India. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
^"India honours elderly Catholic for preserving environment". Vatican Radio. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
External linksedit
"Padamshree Simon Oraon - Interview". YouTube video. Ruben Minj. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
"Padamshree Simon Oraon - Public address". YouTube video. UCA News. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
Further readingedit
"I would not accept Padma award if govt. doesn't take up farmers' cause: Simon Oraon". News report. India Tomorrow. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
"Change your habits to save nature and self: Simon Oraon". News report. Daily Pioneer. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
April 10, 2024
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Simon Oraon Minj popularly known as the Waterman of Jharkhand in the media and Simon Baba among his villagers is an Indian environmentalist and social worker who is known to have worked to combat drought in the state of Jharkhand 1 His efforts have been reported behind the construction of five irrigation reservoirs as well as an environmental project which included mass tree plantation and digging of wells and ponds in the Bero Block near Ranchi covering 51 villages 2 The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2016 for his contributions to society 3 Simon OraonThe President Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Simon Oraon at a Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 12 2016BornKhaksi Toli Jharkhand IndiaOther namesWatermanSimon BabaOccupation s EnvironmentalistSocial workerYears activeSince 1961Known forEnvironmental effortsAwardsPadma ShriPrime Minister s Rural Development Fellow Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External links 5 Further readingBiography editSimon Oraon was born in Khaksi Toli village a small village under the Bero Block around 35 km away from Ranchi 4 in a catholic farmer s family 5 and had school education only up to class IV 6 His villagers relied heavily on rainwater for their agriculture and did farming only for a limited period every year due to scarcity of water This is known to have prompted Oraon in building a reservoir at the footsteps of the nearby hills which he did with the assistance of his fellow villagers in 1961 Though the initial attempt and the subsequent attempt the next year did not last long the third dam built with the help of local authorities survived and is providing irrigation assistance to the village to the day This was followed by two more dams at Deshbali and Jharia and several ponds in the neighbouring villages of Hariharpur Jamtoli Khaksitoli Baitoli and Bhasnanda 7 In all he helped construct five check dams in the region 8 In 1964 the villagers elected him as the Parha Raja Chief of the tribe and he initiated the social forestry program at his ancestral property which he continues planting 1000 trees every year to prevent soil erosion and depletion of water resources 7 He formed a 25 member village committee with the representation of all the nearby villages which administers the forestry drive He also heads the people s movement which fights against deforestation and illegal felling of trees His efforts are reported to have assisted in the cultivation of over 2000 acres of land producing three crops a year and yielding 20 000 mt of vegetables annually 9 He served as the Prime Minister s Rural Development Fellow during 2012 14 7 The Government of India honored him with the civilian award of the Padma Shri in 2016 10 11 See also editList of people from Jharkhand nbsp India portalReferences edit Jharkhand s waterman gets Padma Shri for waging war against drought Hindustan Times 26 January 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Jharkhand s octogenarian water warrior India Water Portal 28 February 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2016 Archived from the original PDF on 3 August 2017 Retrieved 3 January 2016 Meet the Waterman from Jharkhand Holdsome Detail 3 April 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Indian octogenarian honored for preserving the environment UCA News 15 April 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 A 73 year old who saves rainwater and jungles Indian Express 3 December 2010 Retrieved 4 August 2016 a b c Simon Baba is still continuing his life long struggle to conserve jungles of Jharkhand PMRD Fellows 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Niranjan Pant R K Verma 2010 Tanks in Eastern India a study in exploration IWMI pp 53 ISBN 978 92 9090 731 2 Power Of Traditional Knowledge The Logical Indian 28 February 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 How Jharkhand s Waterman Is Ensuring All Year Water Supply in 51 Villages amp Bringing Back the Forest The Better India 29 March 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 India honours elderly Catholic for preserving environment Vatican Radio 18 April 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 External links edit Padamshree Simon Oraon Interview YouTube video Ruben Minj 6 May 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Padamshree Simon Oraon Public address YouTube video UCA News 20 May 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Further reading edit I would not accept Padma award if govt doesn t take up farmers cause Simon Oraon News report India Tomorrow 31 January 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Change your habits to save nature and self Simon Oraon News report Daily Pioneer 19 April 2016 Retrieved 4 August 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simon Oraon amp oldid 1150146957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
