The International Trade Show organized in Noida is evolving beyond business prospects and celebrating UP’s culture to also raise awareness about water conservation.One of its major attractions this year is an exhibition on water conservation by the UP Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Set up in Hall 7 under the banner Swachh Sujal Gaon, the stall is using audio-visual story telling methods and interactive games to highlight how life in Bundelkhand has changed since the Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019. Once a region known for its crippling water shortages, Bundelkhand now has clean tap water reaching rural households, a shift that is transforming lives and livelihoods. The 500-square-metre space features a gallery showing how villages are now getting tap connections and how the new supply of water has opened up jobs for young people. For children, a selfie point and gaming zone provide a playful way to learn water-saving habits, while giving city kids a glimpse of rural life.The JJM staffers explain importance of every drop to the attendees. The school children are also getting tips on how to save water. Visitors say the exhibition makes the story of Bundelkhand’s turnaround feel more real. Reena, a Noida resident originally from Mahoba, said that she used to hear about the changes in my village over the phone, but seeing it here made it real and emotional. Shalu from Delhi added that she had heard of trains carrying water to Bundelkhand years ago, but the side-by-side display of the region’s past and present truly showed the scale of change. On Friday, the awareness drive was combined with celebration, as traditional Bundelkhand music and dance filled the exhibition hall, drawing large crowds and adding a cultural flourish to the event.
