Lucknow: Shipra Pathak made the headlines when she undertook a 4,000 km journey from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram. To prevent water crises in India, she has been dedicated to conserving river water for several years. She recounts what prompted her to embark on this journey. Even as a kid, she disliked how some people wasted water for no reason. The sound of water flowing and going in the drains sparked her passion for the cause. 

Shipra Pathak was previously employed in educational and event management companies until in 2016, she realized the necessity of committing herself to water conservation. In the year 2017, she left everything behind to devote herself to the cause of water conservation. 

Receiving support

As Shipra embarked on this journey, she began receiving support from many people. This boosted her morale to continue with her efforts. Gradually, she learned that many people wanted to contribute their bit into saving river water but lacked direction. Presently, her organization, Panchtatva works with around 10 lakh people across the country. The initiative has been expanded over the last few years, and today, Panchtatva works in states of Uttar Padesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and others. 

 

Padyatra

On November 27th of last year, Shipra undertook a remarkable foot journey from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram. Lasting for 105 days, the purpose of this journey was to advocate for the preservation of the rivers. She has campaigned for the conservation of various rivers including Narmada, Shipra, Saryu, Braj Chaurasia, and Kosi through her Padyatras (on-foot journeys). She is a devotee of Lord Ram and believes that the forests and rivers must be restored for a better and greener future. 

15 lakh saplings

Remarkably, Shipra Pathak has already planted 15 lakh saplings. She aims to plant a total of 1 crore saplings across India. Moreover, she also wishes to establish Ram Janki Van Vatikas in multiple locations. She receives support from thousands of volunteers for her water conservation campaigns. Her efforts have also been recognized through numerous awards and honours.