In a quest to keep up with the old Indian tradition of ‘Athiti Devo Bhava,’ Parmarth Pi-Lo served free RO drinking water at Humayun Tomb on the first day of New Year as the launch of a nationwide plastic free campaign across 100 iconic monument sites
ew Delhi, 1st January 2019: Pi-Lo Shudh Pani Seva Foundation, an NPO working towards serving clean RO drinking water tothe masses, in partnership with Parmarth Niketan, a Rishikesh basedashram working for the welfare of all, & the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, the world’s first ever interfaith alliance for improved WASH for all, inaugurated its smart water ATM at Humayun Tomb on the 1st of January 2019 as a start to the ‘Plastic Free India’ resolution for the nation. The smart water ATM was inaugurated by Hon’ble (MoS) Ministry of Culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma along with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President, Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) and Secretary & DG/ADG of Archaeological Survey of India(ASI).
Upon identifying that access to potable drinking water is still a far cry across India, Pi-Lo Shudh Pani Seva Foundation, Parmarth Niketan and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance decided to work towards eliminating its two main causes – availability and affordability of drinking water. To cater to this immediate concern of common people, Team Parmarth PiLo has successfully installed water ATMs at various ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) locations of India such as Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Safdarjung Tomb, Qutub Minar and Old Fort. They recently achieved another milestone by providing Smart Water ATM at ‘Humayun Tomb’. It was a moment of great joy to see a crowd gathered and queued at the water ATM to experience the goodness of pure drinking water.
Commenting on this initiative of Pi-Lo, Hon’ble (MoS) Ministry of Culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, said “The installation of Pi-Lo Smart water ATM at Humayun Tomb is symbolic of striving ahead towards supporting the mission of Swachh Bharat – Swasth Bharat as it helps in reducing the use of plastic bottles which amount to major plastic waste generation in India. In order to move ahead and propagate this mission, Archeological Survey of India and Pi-Lo should install more such Smart Water ATMs at 100 Adarsh ASI monuments and crowded locations before the forthcoming summer season.”
Commenting on this occasion Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan, Co-Founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance shared, “When we think only about ‘what for me’ then our resolutions are merely about our limited self but when we think ‘what through me’ then our resolutions are for our planet and the well being of all. This is the culture that the Ministry of Culture is celebrating today on the first day of the New Year by resolving for a Plastic Free India campaign by the installation of these Parmarth PiLo Pani systems across 100 of the iconic monuments of India. However this is not the endeavour of one Ministry or even one man but should be the mission of everyone. Let’s us all connect and pledge to make a plastic free and zero waste India. In order to do this we must also provide greater education, awareness and empower people to know that they are an integral and vital part of the solution.” In addition to this, Mr. Jatin Ahlawat, Co-Founder, Pi- Lo Shudh Pani Seva Foundation said, “It was a heartfelt moment to see local crowd and tourists queued on the first day of inaugurating the Pi-Lo water ATM at Humayun Tomb earmarking, another milestone achieved by Team Pilo to serve safe and pure drinking water. We are extremely grateful to LIC of India for trusting in this concept of ours and motivating us. In the future as well, we will continue to install more Smart Water ATM in pan India location to ensure drinking water will no more be a far cry for common people.”
