Mera Gaon Digital Platform for Water Sustainability
Amrita has developed an accessible, participatory platform, Mera Gaon Hamara Jal (My Village, Our Water), to educate communities on reducing, reusing, and conserving water through sustainable practices. By December 2023, over 750 communities across India have been trained and actively engaged with the platform, fostering a culture of water stewardship.
Through the direct involvement of community members, the platform collects and geo-spatially maps real-time data, which is then assessed, monitored, and benchmarked against national standards. This data-driven approach not only promotes water-wise communities but also supports the development of localized, actionable solutions.
Designed with inclusivity at its core, the platform empowers community members, irrespective of literacy levels, to address water challenges such as quality, availability, pollution, and waterborne diseases. Through a user-friendly interface, it enables real-time data collection and geo-spatial mapping, providing insights benchmarked against national standards.
This data-driven approach fosters collaboration among local governments, NGOs, private organizations, and citizens, facilitating holistic solutions. By integrating spatio-temporal data, the platform supports location-specific strategies, allowing communities to assess and compare water sustainability indices across national, state, and village levels.
Mera Gaon Hamara Jal exemplifies a transformative model of participatory water management, inspiring collective action and empowering communities to create sustainable, water-wise future.
In a collaborative effort between Amrita, Wheels Global, and the ATE Chandra Foundation, significant strides have been made toward the rejuvenation of ponds and the promotion of sustainable water conservation practices. This initiative, supported by YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) and UP (Uttar Pradesh authorities), has impacted 27 communities, transforming local water ecosystems and educating thousands on water stewardship.
Research and Extension Projects
Projects in Clean Drinking Water by UG Students
Undergraduate students at Amrita have undertaken 17 innovative research and extension projects focused on providing clean drinking water solutions. These initiatives address critical issues like water purification, access, and sustainability, fostering community impact while enhancing practical learning. The projects aim to create scalable, affordable solutions to improve water quality and accessibility in underserved areas.
E4Life PhD Program on Water Sustainability
The E4Life PhD Program on Sustainable Development by Amrita School for Sustainable Futures fosters research addressing global challenges. Five PhD students in the program are focused on pursuing their PhD in Water Sustainability. The titles of the projects are as follows:
Project Details
Scholars of Sustainable Futures – Research Projects from Community.pdf
Amrita’s Water Sustainability Efforts Recognized in International Journal
Amrita’s water sustainability efforts were recognized in the prestigious journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change (December 2022). The study, titled Empowering communities in addressing drinking water challenges using a systematic, participatory and adaptive approach and sustainable PPP model and authored by Vineeth Ajith, Reshma A.S., Renjith Mohan, and Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, highlights a systematic, participatory, and adaptive approach with a sustainable PPP model to empower communities in addressing drinking water challenges.
National Workshops on Water Sustainability Education by Amrita: A Landmark Event on World Water Day
World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, is a global reminder of the critical importance of water in sustaining life and ecosystems. Amrita University took a leading step in raising awareness and building capacity for water sustainability by hosting a series of national workshops on water sustainability education from 22 to 30 Mar 2023. These workshops aimed to empower educators, students, and community leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to address water challenges effectively. With 500 participants from 15 states, the workshops were designed as an interactive blend of lectures, hands-on activities, and collaborative discussions. The participants included students, community members and teachers.
Pond Rejuvenation and Community Empowerment
In a collaborative effort between Amrita, Wheels Global, and the ATE Chandra Foundation, significant strides have been made toward the rejuvenation of ponds and the promotion of sustainable water conservation practices. This initiative, supported by YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) and UP (Uttar Pradesh authorities), has impacted 27 communities, transforming local water ecosystems and educating thousands on water stewardship.
The collaboration led to the successful rejuvenation of 33 ponds across the region, addressing critical water scarcity issues and restoring ecological balance. Over 4,500 community members have been educated through this initiative, gaining essential knowledge about water conservation techniques and their role in sustainable development.
Stakeholder Efforts
The project was driven by the active participation of:
Educational and Community Impact
Workshops, awareness drives, and community engagement programs formed the cornerstone of the project, ensuring that water conservation practices extend beyond physical rejuvenation efforts. The curriculum emphasized sustainable usage, waste reduction, and the significance of maintaining clean water bodies. The partnership with YEIDA and the UP authorities was instrumental in mobilizing resources and ensuring project scalability.
Amrita’s Water Sustainability Efforts Recognized in International Journal
Amrita’s Water Sustainability Efforts Recognized in International Journal
Amrita’s water sustainability efforts were recognized in the prestigious journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change (December 2022). The study, titled Empowering communities in addressing drinking water challenges using a systematic, participatory and adaptive approach and sustainable PPP model and authored by Vineeth Ajith, Reshma A.S., Renjith Mohan, and Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, highlights a systematic, participatory, and adaptive approach with a sustainable PPP model to empower communities in addressing drinking water challenges.
News
Mera Gaon Digital Platform for Water Sustainability
Amrita has developed an accessible, participatory platform, Mera Gaon Hamara Jal (My Village, Our Water), to educate communities on reducing, reusing, and conserving water through sustainable practices. By December 2023, over 750 communities across India have been trained and actively engaged with the platform, fostering a culture of water stewardship.
Through the direct involvement of community members, the platform collects and geo-spatially maps real-time data, which is then assessed, monitored, and benchmarked against national standards. This data-driven approach not only promotes water-wise communities but also supports the development of localized, actionable solutions.
Designed with inclusivity at its core, the platform empowers community members, irrespective of literacy levels, to address water challenges such as quality, availability, pollution, and waterborne diseases. Through a user-friendly interface, it enables real-time data collection and geo-spatial mapping, providing insights benchmarked against national standards.
This data-driven approach fosters collaboration among local governments, NGOs, private organizations, and citizens, facilitating holistic solutions. By integrating spatio-temporal data, the platform supports location-specific strategies, allowing communities to assess and compare water sustainability indices across national, state, and village levels.
Mera Gaon Hamara Jal exemplifies a transformative model of participatory water management, inspiring collective action and empowering communities to create sustainable, water-wise future.
Research and Extension Projects
Projects in Clean Drinking Water by UG Students
Undergraduate students at Amrita have undertaken 17 innovative research and extension projects focused on providing clean drinking water solutions. These initiatives address critical issues like water purification, access, and sustainability, fostering community impact while enhancing practical learning. The projects aim to create scalable, affordable solutions to improve water quality and accessibility in underserved areas.
E4Life PhD Program on Water Sustainability
The E4Life PhD Program on Sustainable Development by Amrita School for Sustainable Futures fosters research addressing global challenges. Five PhD students in the program are focused on pursuing their PhD in Water Sustainability. The titles of the projects are as follows:
Project Details
Scholars of Sustainable Futures – Research Projects from Community.pdf
Amrita’s Water Sustainability Efforts Recognized in International Journal
Amrita’s water sustainability efforts were recognized in the prestigious journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change (December 2022). The study, titled Empowering communities in addressing drinking water challenges using a systematic, participatory and adaptive approach and sustainable PPP model and authored by Vineeth Ajith, Reshma A.S., Renjith Mohan, and Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, highlights a systematic, participatory, and adaptive approach with a sustainable PPP model to empower communities in addressing drinking water challenges.
In a collaborative effort between Amrita, Wheels Global, and the ATE Chandra Foundation, significant strides have been made toward the rejuvenation of ponds and the promotion of sustainable water conservation practices. This initiative, supported by YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) and UP (Uttar Pradesh authorities), has impacted 27 communities, transforming local water ecosystems and educating thousands on water stewardship.
The collaboration led to the successful rejuvenation of 33 ponds across the region, addressing critical water scarcity issues and restoring ecological balance. Over 4,500 community members have been educated through this initiative, gaining essential knowledge about water conservation techniques and their role in sustainable development.
Stakeholder Efforts
The project was driven by the active participation of:
Educational and Community Impact
Workshops, awareness drives, and community engagement programs formed the cornerstone of the project, ensuring that water conservation practices extend beyond physical rejuvenation efforts. The curriculum emphasized sustainable usage, waste reduction, and the significance of maintaining clean water bodies. The partnership with YEIDA and the UP authorities was instrumental in mobilizing resources and ensuring project scalability.
National Workshops on Water Sustainability Education by Amrita: A Landmark Event on World Water Day
World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, is a global reminder of the critical importance of water in sustaining life and ecosystems. Amrita University took a leading step in raising awareness and building capacity for water sustainability by hosting a series of national workshops on water sustainability education from 22 to 30 Mar 2023. These workshops aimed to empower educators, students, and community leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to address water challenges effectively. With 500 participants from 15 states, the workshops were designed as an interactive blend of lectures, hands-on activities, and collaborative discussions. The participants included students, community members and teachers.
A Policy dialogue on Water Governance and Environmental Sustainability
The Civil 20 India 2023 Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities at Amrita hosted a policy dialogue on “Water Governance and Environmental Sustainability,” featuring experts from California State University, IISER Bhopal, Watershed Organization Trust, and Peace Institute Charitable Trust. The event fostered collaborative discussions on innovative strategies and policies to promote sustainable water management and environmental stewardship.