Decades of hardship have turned into a story of revival for 46-year-old Sanjay Khot, a farmer from Gholvad, a coastal village in Maharashtra. With water salinity and rising scarcity, growing Chickoos – the region’s agricultural backbone, became increasingly challenging. Every year, as the summer months approached, Sanjay and other farmers faced an uncertain future, relying on expensive and unreliable water sourced from a dam to meet their irrigation needs.
“Earlier, we had to walk miles to fetch water, and our crops suffered,” recalled Sanjay.
The turning point came with Tata Motors’ innovative water conservation initiative. Tata Motors took responsibility for rejuvenating water bodies in the Palghar district in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra. The existing village pond in Gholvad was cleaned, and desilted, restoring the water capacity of around 4 crores litres and revitalising the community’s future.
Sanjay Khot, who once struggled to secure enough water for his orchards, now sees a significant improvement with a steady and reliable water supply. “My water well did not go completely dry and our Chickoo trees flowered for the second time in the year. I enjoyed the fruits of one more crop cycle. The revived pond has reduced the time and money spent on sourcing water for the village. The large pond also has the potential of becoming a tourist spot, thus offering additional livelihood opportunities to the villagers.” he said. With steady access to fresh water, his Chickoo orchards are thriving once again, ensuring a stable income for his family.
Emphasising the importance of community-driven solutions, Vinod Kulkarni, Head of CSR at Tata Motors, stated “Water security is fundamental to rural prosperity. By working together with the government and NGO partners like NAAM Foundation, we are not only restoring water bodies but also revitalising entire communities, ensuring sustainable benefits for farmers like Sanjay Khot.”
The once-dry pond now glistens with fresh water, an improved water table, and thriving Chickoo trees.
Recently, the Maharashtra government has awarded Rs 10 lakh to Gholvad gram panchayat under the R R Patil Beautiful Village Award Scheme. As Gholvad moves towards a future with sustainable water resources, Sanjay’s journey stands as a testament to how targeted interventions can transform lives, reaffirming Tata Motors’ commitment to empowering communities through responsible and impactful CSR initiatives.
