Date : February 28, 2023
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Esri India jointly launched the “Mera Gaav, Hamara Jal” program to advance water sustainability in rural India, a project underscoring their commitment to address water security through local engagement and technological innovation. Launched on 24th March during the International Symposium on Water Sustainability, this initiative is in partnership with the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development. The program focuses on transforming community attitudes toward water, viewing it as a collective resource rather than an individual one, which aligns with India’s national water security objectives and UN SDG 6 goals.
The project empowers community members to map and monitor water resources and assess water quality, climate impacts, and water management practices through the Amrita Empower community app. The ArcGIS system from Esri will further support this by creating real-time dashboards and maps to visualize water availability, consumption patterns, and sustainability challenges at the village level. This data, which will be gathered by local participants and supported by researchers, allows stakeholders such as local government, NGOs, and citizens to take informed, effective action on water conservation and resource management.
Strategic Phased Approach
This program, currently in its pilot phase across villages in Kerala, is expected to expand to over 1,000 communities in a year, reaching a scale that will provide a significant data-driven foundation for water security strategies across India. By directly involving local populations, future generations, and policymakers, Mera Gaav, Hamara Jal establishes a collaborative model for water resource sustainability essential to achieving national and global water security goals.