Nadi-Mitra – Vishwamitri River Edition – Paper Ball Educational Innovation | Vadodara | Environmental Sustainability NGO | Climate Change | Nature & Sustainability Education

Vishwamitri – The River of Vadodara

The Vishwamitri has flown through this land for thousands of years. Even before we were here, there was always this river that we fondly named Vishwamitri. It is more than just flowing water — it is a living ecosystem, home to diverse species including the iconic mugger crocodile, and an integral part of Vadodara’s identity – our identity. Over time, urbanization, waste, land-use changes, and misconceptions have distanced us from our very own river. We have forgotten about the river and have begun to look at it as just a water body hosting the muggers and the monsoon fury it channels on to the city.

Is the ground water that it replenishes not important any more, or the untreated sewage can be thrown directly into the river, or the river ravines can become a dumping ground for construction and demolition waste from the city?

The importance that this river once held for the city and its citizens has gradually diminished. Although we, the humans, no longer revere the river like we once did, or need the river or its ghats to go and wash clothes, or to bathe, or for festivals, does it mean that the ecosystem that this river supports no longer needs it?

This river has always been an integral part of our lives – in ways visible or invisible, and it is time that we as citizens of the city understood its importance in our lives. To stand up and to take up the stewardship of the river and other things natural that help us live our lives. To understand that the river is not some rudiment of the past but a living entity that keeps the ecosystem working.

નદી-મિત્ર – Vishwamitri River Edition

Paper Ball Educational Innovation is now offering a short course નદી-મિત્ર (Gujarati, meaning “Friends of the River”) on our very own Vishwamitri RIver.

This course has been inspired by the work of number of organisations and concerned citizens of Vadodara who have been working tirelessly to ensure that the river gets its due place and the juggernaut of our ‘development’ spree does not crush the river and our future with nature.

This is a first of its kind course that allows participants to understand the hyperlocal issues that are most relevant to them for now and for a better future of the city and the citizens.

This short course (Level 1) aims to reconnects citizens – including young learners – with the Vishwamitri by helping them see the river through ecological, cultural, and human lenses.

Course Objective

The objective of નદી-મિત્ર (Vishwamitri River Edition) is

“To promote awareness and stewardship of the Vishwamitri River watershed through community engagement in understanding the river ecology, and its interaction with the city and citizens.”

What Will The Participants Learn?

This short three-hour course is intended to:

(1) Increase awareness about the history, culture and relationship of city with the river

(2) Increase participants’ awareness and understanding of the Vishwamitri River as an ecosystem

(3) Allow participants to understand the meaning of river health and why it is important

(4) Empower participants to apply knowledge and awareness gained through the Watershed Education and Conservation Project to identify and address environmental issues in the Vishwamitri River watershed and beyond.

(5) Provide opportunities for communities and students to engage in hands-on, real-world stewardship of the river, through bio-diversity mapping, monitoring of solid waste dumping, engaging in clean-up drives in and around the Vishwamitri River and promoting awareness about importance of the river.