An integrated initiative led predominantly by women focuses on water security and sustainability across 123 villages.
Mumbai (India CSR): In a partnership poised to make a significant impact, the Piramal Foundation and Standard Chartered Bank have reached out to 5 lakh beneficiaries in India’s rural hinterland. Their joint venture ensures the provision of safe drinking water through Piramal Sarvajal and Enable Health Society.
This initiative, notably led by women making up half of the Village Water Committee (VWC), has matured into a holistic water management program. Its outreach spreads across 123 villages and 25 schools in seven Indian states.
Empowering Communities through Grassroot Efforts
Facing a harsh water crisis, the duo has instilled community ownership. They have set up village institutions for planning and supervising water conservation endeavors. The emphasis has been on decentralized drinking water units to foster collective water security, particularly in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Today, 417 women from the VWC play pivotal roles at the grassroot level. Their commitment extends to water conservation, agriculture efficiency, and managing greywater. An impressive tally of 34 female operators, trained under this initiative, are now local ambassadors. Their mission? To evangelize water-savvy practices across villages.
Reaching Out to India’s Aspirational Districts
Of the targeted villages, 49% are nestled in districts with a less than optimal Human Development Index (HDI). Besides providing water, the program centers on nurturing community ownership over water resources. Farmers too have reaped the benefits. Agri-efficiency training sessions and a window into government schemes have amounted to Rs 1.9 crore in aid for agricultural activities.
Karuna Bhatia, Head of Sustainability at Standard Chartered Bank, India, lauds the initiative. “Our WASHE program, in alliance with Enable Health Society and Piramal Foundation, is making strides in fashioning water-secure rural settings,” she remarked.
Sangeeta Mamgain from Piramal Foundation expressed gratitude, saying, “Our collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank and Enable Health Society has left an indelible mark on half a million beneficiaries.”
Incorporating Tech for Enhanced Reliability
Piramal Sarvajal is pioneering tech use to bolster reliability in their decentralized ventures. By leveraging IoT to monitor 751 water solutions, they’ve overseen the conservation and restoration of a whopping 2.79 crore liters of water.
Finally, the positive health impact cannot be overstated. An impact study by Enable Health Society unveiled a 76% dip in water-borne ailments for those drinking safe water. Furthermore, Sarvajal users saw a 61% cut in medical costs over an eighteen-month span when pitted against non-users, underlining the crucial health advantages of accessing potable water.
Piramal Sarvajal has been at the forefront in using technology to enhance reliability and accountability in its decentralized programs. Monitoring 751 water solutions through IoT, they measure the conservation and replenishment of 2.79 crore liters of water, ensuring efficient management of storage and bore well recharge structures.
The impact study conducted by Enable Health Society reveals 76% reduction in water borne illness for users consuming safe water. Furthermore, the data demonstrates over 61% lower medical expenses for Sarvajal users compared to non-users during the eighteen month period, highlighting the tangible health benefits of having access to safe drinking water.
