Dr Shiv Singh Rawat, is a village Bahin (Palwal) born, top-engineer, working passionately for rural Development-making it his life’s mission.
Dr Rawat, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Gurgaon, Government of Haryana, is a man of many traits. Apart from being an honest and diligent government officer, he has done tremendous work for the development of the community at the rural level under the aegis of different Non-Government Organizations.
After graduating as Civil Engineer from NIT Kurushetra, he completed his MTech, in Highways from PEC, Chandigarh. Then he joined the government service and engaged in solving the water crisis that grips the state of Haryana for decades. Further, during his service he did MBA (HR) from IGNOU, Delhi. A PhD from IIT Delhi, his thesis focused on the modelling of River Yamuna, Water Resources, Canals and Crops of Haryana.
With a work experience over 29 years, Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat says, “I was posted at District Urban Development Authority Rohtak for three years, worked as a Lecturer at NIT Kurukshetra in Civil Engineering department for three and half years and from last twenty-three years working at Irrigation and Water Resources Department. In between, I have also got International Exposure at Canberra in Australia for Intensive development of the source model of upper Yamuna river and Irrigation Canal System of Haryana and presented the research work at the International Conference”.
Dr. Rawat’s research papers have been published in national, international journals and conferences. He is also the recipient of award for outstanding water management by Education Minister, Government of Haryana on the Republic day in 2018.
Having travelled to different countries, Dr. Rawat kept his eye open to new innovations and models that made any society better in any aspect of governance. “I have learnt a lot travelling to these countries. I was really surprised at the sense of law-abiding citizen of Australia. People follow the traffic signal even at wee hours of the day although there is no traffic on the streets. That I really liked,” added Dr. Rawat.
Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat has wide experience of working on major Irrigation Projects like reuse of recycled wastewater of STP Effluent Channel Gurgaon for irrigation in Jhajjar area; Drinking water through NCR channel to Millennium City, Gurgaon and various villages of Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Mewat Districts; Mewat Canal Project through Pipeline got approval from Government for dry and arid Mewat District; Construction of ‘Water Courses’ in Sonipat district to ensure ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’; Scheme for irrigation of 25 villages at the tail of Hathin distributary by lifting the flood water of Gaunchi drain; Scheme for treatment of polluted water of Agra canal and Gurgaon canal got approved from the department; Project for rejuvenation of 49 water bodies of the area above 10 hectares prepared and four projects got cleared from the department to store rainwater during monsoon and to recharge groundwater.
In order to work for the development of society beyond irrigation, he kept himself associated with several NGOs and social welfare organizations such as Lions Club Faridabad, Human Rights Association Gurgaon, Mahaveer International Gurgaon and Patarkar Press Mahasangh (PPM) Delhi, NEEV- an IIT Delhi Alumini social initiative and KBC welfare society Palwal to name a few.
Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat also worked as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Swachhata Initiative Program of IIT Delhi Alumni association that was got launched by Hon'ble Chief minister of Haryana. He has adopted 50 villages in Palwal district. He has also contributed by organising water conservation awareness campaigns in the villages of Hathin area of Palwal district where ‘Jal Panchayats’ were organized to motivate the people to save and store rainwater.
Invested in water conservation efforts, he worked for the renovation of Manpur village pond of 1.5 Acres through NGOs & organisations. According to Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat, water conservation is need of the day and people should try to store and conserve rainwater during the coming monsoon season to recharge depleting groundwater in the area.
Focusing on Agriculture, Dr. Rawat has worked on emphasizing on crop diversification. He has motivated farmers to grow less water-intensive crops such as maize, pulses, oilseeds and horticulture crops instead of growing water intensive paddy. Dr. Rawat added "The Government is providing incentives of Rs 7000 per acre to farmers who do not grow paddy under scheme 'Mera Pani-Meri Virasat' and also providing subsidies from 85-100 percent on micro irrigation schemes for efficient use of water resources of the state ".
Dr. Rawat has initiated massive plantation drive in the Palwal region since last 5 years. He has planted more than 1 lakh fruit saplings in 50 villages to fight poverty, hunger, pollution and climate change. “Fruits trees are also beneficial for health. It increases farmers' income thereby making them self-dependent. This year we are planning to plant 1Lakh such fruit plants in Palwal district,” said Dr. Rawat.
Dr Shiv Singh Rawat has worked on education and literacy in Hathin area of Haryana as well where literacy rate is below 50 percent. Through his interventions and initiatives, nearly 4000 rural children have been benefited. “We have distributed laptops, laptop bags to hundreds of meritorious students. We have provided scholarships of Rs.500 per month to 120 students based on a written test. Government school students particularly girls were taken on tours to IT Company located in Gurgaon for technical knowledge enhancement & exposure. I have also set up a public library in my ancestral village Bahin to promote education,” shared Dr. Rawat. Through his engagement with different NGOs in the region of Palwal, Dr. Rawat has successfully made a positive impact on Green energy initiatives, Swachchta and ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ intiatives.
Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat has lent support to different sporting events in the regions too. Doning many hats, he motivates young and old people of the area to work with all their hearts and might for the development of their region, the state and most of all their country.
Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat is in reality a beacon of hope for rural areas!
