Green lady's new feat

Jaya Devi. Picture by Amit Kumar

“Green lady” of Munger Jaya Devi is scheduled to deliver a lecture on “Water conservation methods and role of youths of India” on Monday at a national integration camp in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh.

The woman, who has received national and international acclaim for helping poor and illiterate villagers in Maoist-ravaged areas through self-help measures, would also receive “real hero award”, presented by Reliance Foundation, at Mumbai on March 24.

Jaya reached Patna on Sunday on her way to Etawah to join the camp organised by Nehru Youth Kendra. Participants from Manipur, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar would be attending the camp.

“It’s a rare privilege for me to address people from different places in the country about my struggle and the success stories on water conservation methods,” she said.

At the camp, Jaya will speak about the Karaili watershed project in which villagers, mostly illiterate and poor, brought water from the top of the Karaili hills to the ground through an 800ft-long pipeline. The project has proved to be a big boost for the low-rainfall area.