The 5th National Water Awards 2024 was presented by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi and recognized exemplary efforts of individuals and organizations in water conservation and management across nine categories: Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Bets Urban Local Body, best School or College, Best Industry, best Water User Association, Best Institution, and Best Civil Society.
Odisha won the first prize in the National Water Awards 2024, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat/Puducherry as second and third. Indore, Madhya Pradesh, was awarded for its water management efforts. Other winners included Pullampara, Surat, Government Upper Primary School in Rajasthan, and The Art of Living Social Projects.
During the event, the President of India made keynote addresses emphasizing the critical importance of water conservation and management. She said that water is a basic necessity and a fundamental human right for every individual. She highlighted the negative effects of water unavailability and poor sanitation on health, food security, and livelihoods, particularly for the underprivileged. She urged reviving traditional water conservation practices and emphasized the collective responsibility for a water-secure India, including the Jal Jeevan Mission.
