10/08/2026
Congratulations Sumer Singh Bhati Ji on receiving the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Rangeland Restoration Award 2026.
A traditional camel herder, environmentalist and co-founder of the ‘Oran Bachao’ movement, Sumer Ji has devoted his life to protecting Rajasthan’s Orans, the sacred grasslands that sustain pastoral communities, livestock, wildlife and cultural memory.
As a UNCCD-accredited (prov.) civil society organisation, it has been our privilege to collaborate with him across projects centred on water conservation, grassland restoration, heritage conservation, women empowerment and responsible tourism.
THE ORAN BACHAO MOVEMENT
A series of intergenerational workshops facilitated by Sumer Singh Bhati Ji, Parth Jagani ji, Fearless Foundation and us brought together the women of the Oran Bachao Movement for conversations about land, water, famine, ritual and resilience.
Their voices became the starting point for several of our initiatives, including the revival of beris, community murals and efforts to strengthen Jaisalmer’s craft clusters.
BERI REVIVAL
In the heart of Degrai Oran, one of Rajasthan’s largest sacred groves, stands Maniyara Tala, a 500-year-old beri, or traditional community well. Its revival was a community-led initiative to restore this vital source of water in Sanwata village.
Today, the restored beri supports more than 6,000 people across 10 villages and 36 communities, as well as nearly 50,000 cattle and 5,000 camels.
An initiative by The I Love Foundation Fearless Foundation Sumer Singh Bhati Sanwata and Parth Jagani
MURAL OF ABUNDANCE
Within Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the walls of Annapurna Bhandar, an ancient granary became the canvas for a new story.
A collective act of art-making, the Mural of Abundance honours the indigenous knowledge, labour and resilience of generations of women from the Orans and the Oran Bachao Movement.
CTD…
…The mural brings their relationship with land, water and abundance into one of Jaisalmer’s most historic spaces, ensuring their stories are seen and remembered.
An initiative by Fearless Foundation Jaisalmer Fort Palace Museum
