Researchers with the working group for Sustainable and Resilient Communities collaborated with locals in Nagla Chandi to find a solution, especially for wastewater that was flooding the primary school compound and affecting the Jivamritam system for safe drinking water.

From February 4 to 9, 2023, a team from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham visited Nagla Chandi, a small village in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura District. One of the major problems is the mismanagement of drainage systems, which causes wastewater to flow through shallow drains and get collected in a pond adjacent to the wall of the village’s only Government primary school.

The results are frequent flooding in the school compound, which also affects the Jivamritam drinking water treatment system there. Jivamritam was installed by the Ashram in 2019 to provide the community with safe drinking water. The pond’s proximity to the school wall also compromises its integrity and puts the children at risk.

The team from the university included researchers with the Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, who are under the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development. They are also contributing to the Civil 20 Working Group for Sustainable & Resilient Communities that is an initiative of the Indian Government’s G20 Presidency.

Taking part were Martin Kanyagui, E4LIFE PhD Scholar; Renjith Mohan, Live-in-Labs® Coordinator; Dr. Yogesh Velankar, Program Director, UNESCO Chair and Faculty member; and Dr. Sajithkumar K.J., Senior Research Scientist. The larger mission is to follow up on ongoing research and development to advance sustainable development in the community.