India is a large country with some very significant water-related problems. According to a 2018 Niti Aayog assessment, by 2030, almost half of India’s 600 million inhabitants may experience acute water shortage. The quality of the nation’s water is likewise subpar. The contamination rate in India’s water supply is close to 70%. The two main pollutants are nitrate and iron. Even worse, India’s groundwater supply is gradually depleting. Out of 700 districts, 256 have reported “over-exploited” or “critical” groundwater levels. Involving the community with NGO working for water conservation in Maharashtra can be a terrific strategy to better equip people to address climate change.

1. A Community’s Role In NGO Working For Water
Conservation In Maharashtra
India is a large country with some very significant water-related problems. According to a
2018 Niti Aayog assessment, by 2030, almost half of India's 600 million inhabitants may
experience acute water shortage. The quality of the nation's water is likewise subpar. The
contamination rate in India's water supply is close to 70%. The two main pollutants are
nitrate and iron. Even worse, India's groundwater supply is gradually depleting. Out of 700
districts, 256 have reported "over-exploited" or "critical" groundwater levels. Involving the
community with NGO working for water conservation in Maharashtra can be a terrific
strategy to better equip people to address climate change.
In an effort to save water, WOTR has been actively restoring communal ponds in and around
Gurugram by educating the locals and working with them. Ponds replenish urban
groundwater levels and provide a safe haven of water during months when drought is likely.
Neglect and rubbish dumping are severe problems for many ponds, especially in
metropolitan areas. We intend to start a joint effort to save the aforementioned pond by
teaching the public about its advantages, as the local community will directly benefit from
their efforts. The management of biodiversity, water-proofing against leaks, and rainwater
collection are some of our other noteworthy activities.
Why Community Participation Is Important?
The success of any conservation initiative greatly depends on the active engagement of the
community. A community-led conservation effort guarantees that the people have direct
control over their lives and means of subsistence, meaning they bear direct responsibility for
their actions. In contrast to policy-driven conservation, which only takes into consideration
the legal and judicial framework, such conservation activities are symbiotic and allow for

2. grassroots reforms. Therefore, as opposed to a latent policy-driven reaction, a
community-driven effort may instill behavioural response and a sense of entitlement that can
function as a catalyst for actual action.
Concerned citizens and several non-governmental organisations are trying to find a solution
to the coming water catastrophe. WOTR, situated in Pune, has worked in up to 3754
communities and has had an influence on 3.8 million Indians, including farmers. They are
well-known for their "integrated and efficient water management, climate resilient sustainable
agriculture, participatory watershed development and ecosystems restoration, and climate
change adaptation" discussion approach. Their well-known practise is to hire Jal Sevaks,
who are local volunteers, to supervise water conservation initiatives in nearby communities.
Similar NGO working for water conservation in Maharashtra is Jal Sahelis run by women
and is part of the Pani-Panchayats of Bundelkhand. This movement is noteworthy for
bringing about a societal shift in an area that was previously recognised for its conservative
attitudes on women's leadership and involvement outside the home. Apart from preserving
ponds, the initiative has also resulted in the establishment of kitchen gardens and raised
awareness of gender equality by allowing women to participate directly in gram panchayat
meetings and decision-making over water resources.
How To Involve The Community?
● Education: Awareness-raising and education are crucial components of every
community-driven strategy by NGO working for water conservation in
Maharashtra are necessary for bringing about social change. In the conservation
effort, education aims to make people aware of the immediate advantages that
individuals may obtain from their joint efforts while making sure that young children
are educated about their environmental responsibilities.
● Water Harvesting: In many regions of the nation, the restoration of aquifers via the
use of rooftop water harvesters, check dams and borewells has proven to be a highly
successful approach. Many NGOs have taken the initiative to include the local
community in conservation activities. Via a number of rainwater gathering initiatives,
WOTR actively engages the community in water conservation.
● Community Toilets: The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to address open defecation,
which is a major sanitary issue that contributes to airborne illnesses in the nation.
Although it was claimed that there will be no open defecation in the nation in 2019,
there are contradicting reports indicating that many of the restrooms lack running
water and maintenance. Community-maintained low flush toilets can further enhance
SBM's ability to raise sanitation standards by improving the hygienic conditions.
● Women's Representation: data from 61 countries in a 2018 UN research indicates
that 80 percent of families without access to clean water are headed by women and
girls who do the water collecting duties. Additionally, girls' education and school
hours are lost due to the load of collecting water. Though they make up just 17% of
the work force in developing nations' Wash (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) sector,
women are underrepresented in technical and decision-making sectors. Any
community may benefit from an inclusive communal approach that considers
women's concerns about participation, education, and cleanliness.

3. ● Economic Incentive: Since big improvements may not directly help the economy,
conservation is often disregarded. Lakes and ponds can provide irrigation and
aquaculture with a reliable source of revenue. In addition to helping with water
retention during drought-prone months, conservation techniques like check dams and
rainwater collecting may also store water for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and
residential usage.
● Practical Incentives: Both urban and rural areas are increasingly experiencing water
shortages. Groundwater levels can be organically restored by still-water features by
NGO working for water conservation in Maharashtra, such as ponds. Rooftop
water harvesters within gated apartment buildings can also be financially motivated in
methods that increase water availability year-round. Water conservation ought to be
portrayed as a solution to issues rather than a financial burden.
Closing Remark
Global warming and impending water scarcity pose a serious concern. The inviolability of
policy frameworks notwithstanding, bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tape can cause policy
changes to go slowly. Community involvement is essential to ensuring that people
understand the significance of environmental concerns and that grassroots improvements
are implemented successfully. Although large-scale infrastructure projects, such as sewage
treatment, can be an efficient way to purify water for alternative water resources, they are
expensive and may even have negative ecological effects, as demonstrated by some of the
previous large-scale hydroelectric projects. Therefore, it has to be well studied ecologically
before being implemented by an NGO working for water conservation in Maharashtra.
On the other side, community initiatives by WOTR like pond restoration, borewell upkeep,
and check dam construction are reactive strategies that date back many generations. These
are tried-and-true techniques with little financial outlay and no negative environmental
consequences that can successfully prevent water crises. In addition, while encouraging
active engagement, community involvement may also successfully foster a sense of shared
ownership, a sense of belonging, peace within the community, and gender equality.
Community members can become stakeholders in the creation of public goods and urban
commons, such as ponds, lakes, and rainwater harvesting systems.