Namami Devi Narmade” -Seva Yatra on its 86th day proceeded from village Ramgarh of Badwah block-district Khargone. Villagers participating in yatra were raising slogans toward conservation of Narmada river like “Nadi Nahin Janni hai -Raksha Humko Karni Hai”, “Nadi Nahin Yeh Mata Hai- Hum Sabki Bhagya Vidhata Hai” and “Pedh, Patthar Aur Puran-Narmada Maiyya ki Pehchaan”.
Yatra on its 4th day in Khargone district proceeded from Ramgarh and reached Badwah Nagar covering Mehtakhedi. In the entire route from Ramgarh to Katghara, it did not feel like yatra has reached from one village to other. A unique tradition to welcome Narmada Seva yatris was witnessed in the entire route.
On reaching Badwah, all the sections of the society especially representatives of minority communities welcomed the yatra with overwhelm. Immense enthusiasm was seen among the residents when yatra reached Badwah nagar. Sikh community held kalash and Jain community held the flag while entering the town. Not only this, flowers were showered by Muslim community to welcome yatra. Harmeet Singh, a representative of Sikh community said that his family is a resident of Badwah since last 75 years. He mentioned that people taking resolution to conserve Narmada river are joining Narmada Seva Yatra started at the initiative of the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Narmada Seva Yatra is transformed into a people’s movement now. Representatives believed that Narmada river gives life to the people of all religions. It will be wrong to link Narmada river with any particular religion. Narmada river will be conserved in real sense with the strong commitment of all the sections of the society.
Yatra was welcomed by President Nagar Palika Sushri Priti Rai on entering Badwah. Women and girls holding kalashs were accompanying yatra. Citizens showering flowers welcomed people walking along with yatra in large number on the main road. MlA Hitendra Singh Solanki, MP Subhash Patel, Chairman Scheduled caste Commission Bhupendar Arya and MlA Rajkumar Mev walked with yatra holding Narmada flag.
Narmada river flows 1079 k.m. covering 16 districts of the state. The river provides potable water to about 4 crore citizens of Madhya Pradesh. Khargone district is known as Narmadanchal. Pledge towards conservation of Narmada river was administered to citizens from place to place during the yatra. Also Jan –Sanvads were held to encourage people to undertake fruit plantation on the banks of the river. Villagers were informed that an amount of Rs 20,000 per hectare till three years will be provided by the state government for planting saplings on private land. Also Narmada Seva Committees were formed in the villages situated on the banks of river. Committee members will cooperate constantly for sanitation on Narmada ghats. Moreover, women participation is ensured in the seva committees. As many as 66 villages of Kahrgone district are situated on the bank of Narmada river.