The Ministry of Rural Development, through its Watershed Management Division, Department of Land Resources, celebrated the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 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 WDC–PMKSY 2.0 scheme aims to promote soil and water conservation, restore degraded lands, and enhance the resilience of rainfed agriculture through sustainable watershed development interventions. The scheme implements works such as check dams, percolation tanks, and farm ponds that enable farmers in rainfed areas to undertake second or third crops, leading to higher farmer income.
As part of the nationwide celebrations, a series of activities were organized to reinforce community participation and commitment towards combating land degradation and drought. These included Bhoomi Poojan (groundbreaking) 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', and 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 sustainable land and water management, promote community-led conservation efforts, and strengthen collective action toward achieving a drought-resilient and environmentally sustainable future. It reaffirmed the commitment of WDC–PMKSY 2.0 towards restoring degraded landscapes, improving water security, and enhancing livelihoods in rainfed regions across the country.