BETTIAH, Aug. 3 -- Rubbing his hands in glee, 47-year-old Jitendra Kumar Singh, the village headman of Belwa panchayat in Bihar's East Champaran district, is on cloud nine at the thought of his efforts under the "Catch the Rain" campaign being recognised. Sharing similar excitement is Ankita Jha, the village head of Aura panchayat in Samastipur district. Singh and Jha are among 15 beneficiaries from Bihar who have been invited as special guests during the Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony in New Delhi this year by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Proudly displaying a letter forwarded by the Bihar State Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission (JJHM) under the Rural Development Department, Jitendra Kumar Singh credited his recognition to consistent efforts in addressing ecological challenges, with a focus on water conservation, afforestation, and sustainable agricultural practices. "As part of the Catch the Rain campaign, 25 ponds were constructed and water harvesting initiatives were undertaken in Belwa panchayat over the past two years," said Singh. Highlighting her contributions, Ankita Jha said, "To help maintain ecological balance, around 100 water recharge pits and 20 ponds were dug to support sustainable development for future generations." Those handpicked as special guests from Bihar on the occasion of Independence Day include Desh Bandhu Kumar Singh and Jitendra Kumar Singh (both from East Champaran), Ankita Jha and Prema Devi (Samastipur), Shiv Kumar Chauhan and Pawan Pandit (Gaya), Vinod Kumar and Prince Kumar (Nawada), Bholendra Roy and Anamika Kumari (Saharsa), Munni Kumari and Kumari Premlata (Nalanda), Husne Ara Begam (Katihar), and Kumari Archana and Ajit Kumar (Sitamarhi). A letter signed by Archana Varma, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Water Mission, lists them among the top 100 performers of the "Catch the Rain Abhiyan" across the country. "In recognition of the exemplary work done by grassroots leaders in furthering the objectives of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the Ministry of Defence, in coordination with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has decided to invite 100 best performers along with their spouses as special guests of the Government of India to witness the Independence Day ceremony 2025 in New Delhi," the letter reads....