H2Ooooh! – Waterwise program for the Children of India

• 25 Mar 2022

Why in News

On the occasion of World Water Day (22^nd March), National Mission for Clean Ganga, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and other partners released three animation films under its initiative “H2Ooooh! – Water Wise program for the Children of India''.

• The films are based on the stories submitted by school students focusing on protection and conservation of Indian Rivers.

What is UNESCO?

• About:
  
  • It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
  • UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
  • It has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members. India joined UNESCO in 1946.
    
    • In 2019, the USA and Israel formally quit UNESCO.
  • It is headquartered in Paris, France.
  • UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) is leading a global effort to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems as part of an overall multi-hazard disaster reduction strategy.
    
    • Last year (2020), UNESCO-IOC approved the recognition of two communities of Odisha viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities.
• Other Initiatives of UNESCO
  
  • Man and Biosphere Programme
  • World Heritage Programme
  • UNESCO Global Geopark Network
  • UNESCO's Network of Creative Cities

What is H2Ooooh! Initiative?

• About:
  
  • It was launched by UNESCO in July 2021, jointly with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and others.
  • H2Ooooh! is a unique program crafted for Indian school students from Standard 1-8.
• Objectives:
  
  • It aims to increase awareness about the limited availability of water, its sustainable use, its conservation, its exploitation and much more.
  • It seeks to enable the students to share their own experiences and proposals for the protection of the environment.
  • Divided in three phases, the project aims to spur creativity and raise awareness on water conservation and its sustainable use for students between the age of 6-14 years, by providing training and encouraging them to submit paintings and story ideas for the animated short films.
    
    • Since its launch, nearly 31000 students from 53 schools in 18 Indian states have been engaged actively, with the support from over 400 teachers.

What are the other Major Initiatives of India to Conserve Water?

• Jal Kranti Abhiyan.
• National Water Mission.
• National Rural Drinking Water Programme.
• NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index.
• Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana.
• National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by (2018)

(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(b) The UNEP Secretariat
(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat
(d) The World Meteorological Organisation

Ans: (c)

Source: PIB