Network18 and Harpic partner for a Mission Paani Special

Addressing the critical cause of water conservation with nation-wide Mission Paani campaign, Network18 along with Amitabh Bachchan and Reckitt Benckiser with its premium brand Harpic is set to make every Indian rethink their daily lives through a special episode - urging people to adopt water-efficient lifestyles. Slated to air across the network on November 2, Saturday, and November 3, Sunday. The show will witness Amitabh Bachchan in a conversation with the Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks from across the country.

The campaign was launched with a three-fold objective of creating awareness, urging people to take actions and building impactful solutions towards the cause. The special episode will see campaign ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan take a pledge towards water conservation from his home. The show features him discussing small yet impactful changes that can be inculcated in our homes such as adoption of water efficient lifestyles by reducing shower time, fixing leakages, turning off the tap while not in use and reusing waste water. The show will also see Bachchan engage in an inspiring interaction with India’s Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks at his home ‘Pratiksha’. The show will shed light on how across India, ordinary citizens have made extraordinary strides towards the cause and acknowledge their unparalleled contribution in building a water-wise India.

Featuring eminent activists and personalities; the team of Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks comprises of Dr Ayyappa Masagi, Managing Director at the Water Literacy Foundation in India, Dr Sekhar Raghavan, RWH pioneer, Chennai's rain man, and the Director of Rain Centre, Tavishi Singh, a school and Kasturi Rangan, MR Co-Founder and CTO of Smarter Homes Technologies Pvt Ltd (WaterON). Through their tireless work the crusaders of water have inspired others to follow their lead and raise the water literacy quotient of the country. 

Driving home the message of using the precious resource judiciously, Dr. Ayyappa Masagi has been instrumental in transforming the water-management systems in thirteen states across India. Known as Chennai’s “Rain Man”, Dr Sekhar Raghavan has been an avid activist of rainwater harvesting in Chennai for over two decades. Youngest of the lot, 16 year old Tavishi Singh, a student of Pathways School, Gurugram, she saw many homeless and abandoned people living in unhealthy conditions. She felt the need to provide them with basic amenities such as clean drinking water. She took her project to an online crowdfunding platform to raise funds along with the door-to-door campaign & was able collect Rs 1.78 lakh to build rainwater harvesting system for the old and destitute. Kasturi Rangan’s start-up seeks to reduce water wastage and bills, one house at a time.

Talking about the dire need to conserve water, Bachchan said, “Our country is struggling with depleting groundwater tables, droughts and poor quality of drinking water. So many of our cities are threatened with impending water scarcity. I have decided to implement small but impactful steps towards water conservation within my daily life in my home. I would like to urge each one of you to start the water revolution from our homes by adopting a water-efficient and sustainable lifestyle.”

Amitabh Bachchan officially launched the campaign in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Hon. Minister of Road transport and highways on August 27, 2019. The launch featured video interactions with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Rally for Rivers, who connected via a Live Link to express their support to this cause.

The campaign was launched internationally launch on the August 29 by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Stockholm World Water Summit. The campaign has seen months of programming across 21 channels in 18 languages focusing on the national issue of water conservation. As it grows in momentum, the #MissionPaani campaign will reach out to different stakeholders across the country. To stay updated about the campaign and contribute your ideas and suggestions, follow #MissionPaani.