"The rich can buy bottled chill water, but what of the man on the street, the humble rickshaw puller or average worker on his bicycle. It is this mass of humanity that our Jal Sewa network caters to," Agratoday.in was told by Bankey Lal Maheshwari as he sat at the Raja ki Mandi pyaoo to sort out logistical problems of his band of "thirst quenchers" mostly old men and women who have no other source of livelihood. "Ice rates have gone up phenomenally and the labor also charges more than it used to be some years ago, but some how we are managing this Sri Nathji Nishulk Jal Sewa, which was born out of a railway accident at the Raja ki Mandi station back in 1987," Maheshwari explained.

 Two new Prerna Pyaoos were inaugurated by Vrindavan's famous saint Swami Sharanand ji Maharaj two days ago. "On MG Road almost every crossing has a Sri Nathji Nishulk Jal Sewa water hut, and then there are mobile rickshaws that can reach any crowded gathering within minutes," says Rajan Kishore, a Jal Sewak.

 The unique service is now a quarter century old and is run as a voluntary movement headed by the Lord himself Sri Nathji in whose name donations are collected and spent to run 50 odd water points in the city by a group of professional thirst quenchers.

 Renowned physician Dr. MC Gupta who formally inaugurated the network said "providing safe and cool drinking water in this scorching heat was a true social service to mankind. It is a unique group of volunteers who want no name, or fame but continue with passion to ensure no one goes thirsty." The Jal Sewa is unique because it has no formal structure. It is not an NGO. The volunteers provide drinking water to passengers in trains and buses. "The water we use is generally safe as we do not use municipal corporation water. The water points are manned by retired people who are daily paid for their services."

Four years ago the London Rotarians donated a three wheeler which now ferries ice slabs and emergency water supplies, said Maheshwari.

"We also care for animals and birds. Arrangements are made for them too," said Acharya Gopi Ballabh Shastri.

In a city that is perpetually thirsty for water, a service like this one is indeed a boon and a relief to commoners, says eminent homeopath Dr. RS Pareek.