**Executive Summary**
On 17 June 2026, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was celebrated across 813 project areas under the WDC–PMKSY 2.0 scheme. The event, organized by the Ministry of Rural Development, focused on promoting soil and water conservation and restoring degraded lands. Key outcomes included the initiation of 1,444 new works and the inauguration of 8,341 completed watershed assets to enhance agricultural resilience and farmer income.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Scope and Objectives**
* **National Implementation:** The program was observed across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC–PMKSY 2.0).
* **Core Goals:** The scheme aims to restore degraded lands, promote soil and water conservation, and enhance the resilience of rainfed agriculture.
* **Sustainable Interventions:** Implementation focuses on constructing check dams, percolation tanks, and farm ponds to improve water security.
**Commemorative Activities**
* **Infrastructure Development:** 1,444 new watershed development works commenced via Bhoomi Poojan.
* **Asset Completion:** 8,341 completed watershed assets were officially inaugurated (Lokarpan).
* **Environmental Conservation:** 51,299 saplings were planted as part of the nationwide "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign.
* **Public Commitment:** A public pledge was administered under the theme: “For a Developed India, Let Us Build a Drought-Free India.”
**Community and Institutional Engagement**
* **Collaborative Effort:** The celebrations saw active participation from Panchayati Raj Institutions, watershed committees, self-help groups, and local communities.
* **Awareness Raising:** The initiative aimed to strengthen collective action toward achieving a drought-resilient and environmentally sustainable future.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Rainfed Regions**
**Impact**
Improved water infrastructure enables farmers to undertake a second or third crop cycle.
**Action Required**
Utilize new watershed assets like farm ponds and check dams to increase agricultural productivity and income.
**Local Communities and Self-Help Groups**
**Impact**
Increased awareness of sustainable land management and empowerment through community-led conservation efforts.
**Action Required**
Participate in the maintenance of watershed assets and engage in ongoing plantation and conservation initiatives.
**Department of Land Resources / Government Officials**
**Impact**
Significant contribution toward national goals of land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable rural development.
**Action Required**
Oversee the execution of the 1,444 newly initiated works and continue monitoring the effectiveness of WDC–PMKSY 2.0 interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
WDC-PMKSY 2.0: The Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, a central scheme focused on soil and water conservation, restoring degraded lands, and enhancing rainfed agriculture.
Department of Land Resources: The department under the Ministry of Rural Development responsible for implementing watershed development interventions across the country.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: An international observance used as a focal point for reinforcing community participation in land restoration and sustainable water management projects.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: A nationwide plantation campaign integrated into the policy activities to promote environmental sustainability and combat land degradation.
Ministry of Rural Development
World Day to Combat Desertification and
Drought Celebrated Across WDC–PMKSY 2.0
Project Areas in the Country
प्रव तथ: 17 JUN 2026 8:49PM by PIB Delhi
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 17
June 2026 across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC–PMKSY 2.0) throughout the country.
The Watershed Management Division, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural
Development, is implementing WDC–PMKSY 2.0 to promote soil and water conservation, restore
degraded lands, and enhance the resilience of rainfed agriculture through sustainable watershed
development interventions. Under the WDC PMKSY scheme, works like check dams, percolation tanks,
and farm ponds are undertaken, which enable farmers in rainfed areas to undertake second or third crop,
leading to higher income for farmers.As part of the nationwide celebrations, a series of activities were organized in project areas to reinforce
community participation and commitment towards combating land degradation and drought. These
included:
Bhoomi Poojan of 1,444 new watershed development works
Lokarpan (inauguration) of 8,341 completed watershed assets
Plantation of 51,299 saplings under the nationwide campaign “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”
Administration of a public pledge on the theme: “For a Developed India, Let Us Build a Drought-Free
India.”
The observance witnessed active participation from local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions,
watershed committees, self-help groups, government officials, and other stakeholders.
The celebration aimed to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable land and water management,
promote community-led conservation efforts, and strengthen collective action towards achieving a
drought-resilient and environmentally sustainable future. It also reaffirmed the commitment of WDC–
PMKSY 2.0 towards restoring degraded landscapes, improving water security, and enhancing livelihoods
in rainfed regions across the country.
Through these initiatives, the Department of Land Resources continues to contribute significantly to the
national goals of land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable rural development.
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