SDG-6 is about achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation, emphasizing the sustainable management of water resources, wastewater, and ecosystems creating an enabling environment. Within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development framework, nations have committed to monitoring and reviewing progress toward the goals and targets. This process entails utilizing a standardized set of global indicators to assess advancements made in fulfilling the objectives outlined in SDG-6.
Global data indicates that approximately two billion people consume water from sources contaminated by fecal matter. Despite progress in basic sanitation since 2000, around 2.4 billion people still lack that access, with 673 million individuals practicing open defecation. In India, 163 million people lack access to safe water, and 210 million lack improved sanitation. Most households in India face challenges related to unhygienic practices, leading to water contamination. The lack of proper water and sanitation facilities has significant economic consequences, reducing the country’s GDP by about 6.4%. Despite government initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, open defecation remains.
Besides the government initiatives, is there any other way the country can tackle such issues?
Public-Private Partnerships
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become common in the urban utility sector, although the water sector is mostly predominantly governed by the state. However, rural India presents a different scenario. Given the limitations of reach and funding that state and central governments face, a collaborative model works best.
Socioeconomic and cultural issues in India continue to hinder water management in rural areas. Since this is primarily state-level, PPP models in the water sector have mainly been project-level initiatives, particularly in rural areas. The introduction of public-private partnerships has established a framework that bridges the gap between the government’s vision and intent, the private sector’s technical expertise and funding, and the nonprofit sector’s dedication. Consequently, the long-term strategic benefits for rural India are slower to materialize.
Nonetheless, large corporates, rural development NGOs in India like S M Sehgal Foundation, and governments collaborate under corporate social responsibility (CSR) or voluntary initiatives to advance the goal of ensuring safe water for all, carrying out the groundbreaking work through this model.
S M Sehgal Foundation
Every individual aspires to lead a secure, prosperous, and dignified life. Keeping this vision at the forefront, S M Sehgal Foundation empowers rural communities, bringing about positive social, economic, and environmental change throughout rural India.
S M Sehgal Foundation is a rural development NGO established in 1999, committed to improving the quality of life of rural communities. As a public charitable trust, the foundation operates with a team of skilled and devoted individuals who design sustainable programs to address the most critical needs of rural India. The five main program areas are Water Management, Agriculture Development, Local Participation, and Sustainability, Transform Lives one school at a time, and Outreach for Development. Guided by a proficient research team, the foundation actively engages and collaborates with various corporates to achieve sustainable outcomes.
RECHARGE PONDS IN MAHENDRAGARH
Narnaul, located in Haryana, is renowned for its thriving agriculture and farming practices, which form the core of the region’s economy. The residents rely heavily on the agricultural produce for their livelihoods. However, the groundwater level in Narnaul, Mahendragarh, has been rapidly depleting, posing a threat to the community. The geographical distance and isolation from the town have further exacerbated the challenging situation. The villagers had to endure long waits for water tankers, resulting in inconvenience and hardships. Water scarcity has also affected their livestock’s well-being, leading to a decline in milk production.
To address these issues, S M Sehgal Foundation and HDFC Bank collaborated to construct johads, which are redundant ponds, in the villages of Sarelli and Panchnota as part of the Parivartan Prayojana initiative. With the construction of the johad, mere two to three hours of heavy rainfall caused the pond to overflow, providing sufficient water supply for the entire year. The increased water storage in the pond facilitated ground seepage, replenishing the water table and resulting in higher groundwater levels. The depth and diameter of the pond were expanded to maximize water collection, ensuring its availability for an extended period, even after evaporation. This positive development extended beyond the johad itself, as neighboring villages observed their wells becoming fuller, enabling them to cater to the needs of a larger population. The impact of this project was undeniable, as it instilled a sense of awareness and confidence among the locals regarding effective water management and its various applications.
POND DEVELOPMENT FOR FARMERS
Gwalior, located in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, has an extreme climate, especially in summer, with scorching temperatures in April, May, and June. The maximum temperature in peak summers reaches 43 to 48 degrees centigrade. Agriculture is the main livelihood in the community, and the agricultural community depends on surface water to provide irrigation for their crops. Still the region has a diminishing water table that threatens farmers’ livelihoods.
S M Sehgal Foundation implemented a project called “Jal Vikas” in partnership with DCB Bank Limited in the Morena and Ghatigaon blocks of Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh in 2021–22, with a primary objective to replenish the depleting water table by implementing solutions such as ponds with recharge wells., 38 million liters of surface water storage capacity was created in Dugnawali and Bhatpura Dang villages to ensure an abundance of water to meet the farm community’s agricultural needs, directly benefitting 364 households—a population of over 1,950 people and 825 livestock. The recharge well in Dugnawali village created additional water storage and recharge capacity. The intervention improved the volume and quality of groundwater in the long run and provided greater water security for households and livestock.
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