For years, the people of Kuttanad, also known as the “rice bowl of Kerala”, suffered from the lack of clean drinking water. The inhabitants of this region, known for its paddy fields, backwaters, and biodiversity, relied on public taps or spent much of their earnings on bottled water, often of poor quality during the dry months. Water-borne diseases were rampant and financial strain weighed heavily on the community for whom farming was the primary source of income.
Recognizing the need for safe drinking water for the community, a major financial services company launched a rainwater harvesting program, as part of their CSR initiatives. It helped install 20 rainwater harvesting tanks across ten panchayats to ensure a steady supply of safe drinking water for 840 households which transformed the lives of 3,360 people.
Families could now save some money that was spent earlier on unreliable water sources. Rainwater Harvesting Self-Help Groups (SHGs) were formed, training was imparted to locals to maintain the tanks and spread awareness about water conservation to sustain the efforts. The tanks were filled with each rainfall and the parched community now had access to a dependable resource. This initiative proved that the simplest solutions could often bring about profound change.
SoulAce Report on Impact of CSR on India’s Water Security
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, spearheaded by public and private sector enterprises in India, are playing a crucial role in driving sustainable water management practices through a host of initiatives such as access to clean drinking water, lake rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, and rainwater harvesting, according to a new research by SoulAce, India’s leading CSR consulting, monitoring and evaluation firm.
The report – The Impact of CSR Initiatives on India’s Water Security – is a result of over 100 impact assessment studies conducted in FY 2023-24 of CSR programs being implemented across diverse geographic settings such as:
– Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: In these areas, the focus is on technologies such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to maximize limited water resources.
– Rural Agricultural Zones: Emphasis is placed on community-based water management practices and the integration of IoT technologies for irrigation.
– Urban and Peri-Urban Areas: Initiatives focus on waste-water recycling and efficient water use of technology to reduce strain on municipal water supplies.
– Flood-prone Areas: Programs here aim to improve water retention and storage to mitigate the impact of flooding and enhance agricultural productivity.
– Coastal Areas: Programs often address salinity management and the efficient use of freshwater resources in agriculture.
“Water sustainability is not just an environmental priority. It’s a business imperative for organizations globally. As business goals become more aligned with CSR and ESG, water security has emerged as a top priority for long-term growth and sustainable community development. By investing in water conservation initiatives, companies protect this vital resource, drive innovation, reduce risk, and create lasting value for society and shareholders. CSR is playing an important role in helping India meet its commitment to SDG 6 while complementing the government’s efforts,” says Adarsh Kataruka, Managing Director, SoulAce.
Businesses are collaborating with gram panchayats, government bodies, NGOs, and tech providers to expand CSR impact. Case studies and impact assessments highlight key findings from ongoing CSR projects nationwide.
Drinking Water Programs: Key Impact Indicators
– 50 – 60 percent reduction in contaminants such as fluoride, arsenic, and bacteria in treated water.
– 100 percent of the population in the intervention areas can access purified water through RO plants and water purification units.
– 50 – 60 percent reduction in water-related diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, and typhoid, due to access to safe drinking water through Water ATMs, water supply from RO plants, and fluoride filters.
– 30 percent of households are involved in maintenance and monitoring of community assets created.
Watershed Conservation: Key Impact Indicators
– 20 – 35 percent increase in water storage capacity, achieved through the construction of farm ponds and percolation tanks.
– 30 Litres of increased water availability per person per week led to enhanced hygiene, convenience, and the ability to perform household chores more effectively.
– 5 – 6 feet of average increase in groundwater levels have been attributed to the recharge wells and other harvesting structures.
Urban Water Security Through Lake Restoration: Key Impact Indicators
– 3 – 5 feet of measurable increase in groundwater levels annually facilitated by enhanced infiltration from the restored lake.
– 30 – 50 percent reduction in cases of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, due to improved water quality and reduced pollution.
– 20 – 30 percent increase in community use of lakeside recreational areas, reflecting enhanced aesthetic value and improved public access.
Restoring Water Security in Amravati
In Maharashtra’s Amravati, rural families struggled with erratic water supply that forced many villagers to travel long distances to fetch clean drinking water. However, a transformative water project by a leading consumer products company helped transform the landscape. As part of its CSR initiative, it built 91 new water tanks, renovated 23 existing ones, laid 37,700 meters of pipelines, and installed solar-powered motors. Wells were rejuvenated and it replenished 18.6 crore litres of water which benefited 18,740 people.
Water Users Committees were formed under the guidance of the gram panchayats to ensure a sustainable water rejuvenation program. The community secured year-round access to clean water and maintained it through a small user fee model. Families could now focus on education, livelihood, and health as they were no longer burdened by water scarcity.
From Crisis to Conservation: Ensuring India’s Water Security
Water is a key to India’s development to sustain agriculture, industries, and daily life. But, the country faces severe water scarcity and pollution, making it one of the most water-stressed nations globally. The competition for resources is severe with 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater.
In 2022, the Central Ground Water Board classified over 2,300 groundwater units as ‘critical’ or ‘overexploited.’ By 2030, 21 major cities, including Delhi and Bengaluru, may deplete their groundwater, affecting nearly 100 million people.
Water pollution is a major crisis which renders many sources unsafe. Water scarcity threatens food security, forcing farmers to scale back production, switch to less profitable crops, or migrate to cities in search of work.
India’s water crisis could destabilize local economies, increase poverty, and strain urban infrastructure and addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring long-term water security for the nation.
CSR Projects Reduce Water Dependence, Boost Income and Sustainable Farming
The SoulAce study highlighted CSR programs promoting livelihood diversification to reduce dependence on water-intensive farming, enhanced food security, and build resilience to water scarcity.
The report noted a case from a tribal village in Udaipur which adopted integrated water-efficient practices into farming, encouraging agroforestry, horticulture, aquaculture, and livestock rearing. Communities reduced reliance on traditional farming and strengthened their livelihood security amid climate change by diversifying income sources and promoting sustainable water management.
Gaps in CSR Programs in Water Security
CSR programs in water security have picked up traction in the last few years. However, some gaps could be addressed to make these programs more efficient
– Need for Long-Term Interventions – Many CSR programs focus on short-term solutions like clean-up drives or temporary water access and fail to tackle the root causes of water insecurity. Watershed restoration, infrastructure upgrades, and community-driven governance is needed for sustainable management.
– Lack of Stakeholder Collaboration – Many companies implement CSR initiatives in isolation, and do not collaborate with businesses or governments. This fragmented approach leads to duplicated efforts and reduced impact.
– Gaps in Water Security Data Mapping – Real-time data on regional water availability and risks is often inaccessible which hinders informed decision-making by policymakers, CSR professionals, and local organizations. Open access to this data would enhance water security solutions.
About SoulAce
SoulAce is India’s leading CSR consulting and monitoring & evaluation firm. Over the last 15 years, SoulAce has delivered over 3,000 CSR projects across 28 states and 200+ districts in India. Some of the clients include Tata Sons, P&G, Infosys, Oracle, Reliance Foundation, Hindustan Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Asian Paints, Aditya Birla Group, Bajaj Auto, among others. SoulAce’s major verticals include CSR Impact Assessment and Fund Utilization Reviews, Advisory, CSR Monitoring & Evaluation, and Employee Volunteering. It also has a CSR project management platform to help organizations meet CSR compliance.
For further information and to learn more about our services, please contact: [email protected]
