Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Efforts to Promote Conscious Water Usage in the Wider Community

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at addressing global environmental challenges, with water conservation being a key focus. Through a combination of education, community engagement, and innovative projects, the university actively promotes conscious water usage beyond its campuses. These efforts reflect Amrita’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, fostering a culture of mindful water use in the wider community.

1. Educational Outreach and Awareness Programs

A core component of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s strategy is raising awareness about the importance of water conservation. The university regularly conducts community-level programs, where residents are educated about sustainable water practices. Such programs were held from Jan 2023 to Aug 2023 across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh etc. These programs emphasize the need to reduce daily water consumption, maintain clean water sources, and adopt environmentally friendly habits.

Workshops and seminars are tailored to address local challenges, making the content relevant and actionable for the communities involved. Participants are given booklets that promote sustainable practices for conscious usage and conservation of water.

Amritapuri Campus in collaboration with Ayudh conducted a Water Walk on the occasion of World Water Day Celebrations in March 2023. 100 Students and faculty participated spreading awareness on the growing need of water conservation

2. Practical Demonstrations and Training

To bridge the gap between knowledge and action, Amrita University integrates practical training into its outreach initiatives. For instance, community members are taught to measure water quality, enabling them to monitor and maintain clean water sources effectively. Training sessions on rainwater harvesting, efficient irrigation methods, and water recycling further empower communities to implement sustainable practices.

3. Cleanliness Drives and Ecosystem Restoration

Every quarter, the university organized a week-long cleanup drive focused on restoring local water bodies around its campuses. Faculty and students collaborated with community members to remove waste and pollutants, significantly improving the health of these ecosystems. These drives serve as a catalyst for promoting responsible waste disposal and collective action to protect water resources.

4. Live-in-Labs® Program and Grassroots Projects

Amrita’s Live-in-Labs® program immerses students and researchers in rural communities, where they address real-world challenges through innovative solutions. Many of these projects focus on water conservation, such as implementing rainwater harvesting systems, developing water-efficient farming techniques, and introducing affordable water purification technologies. These grassroots initiatives create long-term impact by equipping communities with sustainable solutions tailored to their needs.

5. C20 Initiatives and Global Advocacy

As part of India’s G20 presidency, Amrita University’s involvement in Civil 20 initiatives has been testament to our water conservation message on a global scale. The university collaborates with international partners to share best practices, develop innovative solutions, and raise awareness about the critical need for conscious water usage. This global engagement reinforces the importance of addressing local water challenges through a wider lens of sustainability.

Policy Recommendations from Civil 20 India 2023 Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities to G20: 

• G20 must establish strong water governance frameworks that consider climate change, ensuring sustainable and high-quality water availability. Legislation, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms should be implemented, along with promoting water-efficient practices at the community level. Collaboration on integrated water management, climate-resilient infrastructure, and leveraging wastewater for economic growth is crucial. Capacity building for community water champions, along with the allocation of specific schemes and funding, are necessary. Furthermore, the creation of certification and ranking systems for water-wise communities should be prioritised.
• Incentivize transitions to energy, food, water, and resource self-sufficiency – on-site renewables and micro-grids, household-level food production, resource sharing, life-enhanced and efficient products, reuse and recycling, incentivize shift to plant-based diet
• Based on the food intake and the water consumed at community level, people need to be made aware of sustainable practices according to resource availability and changing climate patterns. 

Read the complete Civil 20 India 2023 Policy Pack here: Download

6. Impact on the Wider Community

In 2022-2023 time period, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has been providing an average of 40000 litres /day back to the community for 3 weeks every year.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s efforts have led to measurable improvements in water conservation and awareness in the wider community. These include:

• Enhanced access to clean water through restored water bodies and improved water management practices.
• Increased community engagement in sustainability efforts, fostering a collective sense of responsibility.
• Empowered individuals with the knowledge and tools to make conscious water usage a part of daily life.

News

Amrita Actively Promotes Conscious Water Usage in the Community on World Water Day

Mar.24.2023

Civil 20 India SRC Working Group’s C-Chaupal on Water Conservation: A Nationwide Initiative

Sep.01.2023