Anandana

The Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) and its adjacent forest areas, renowned for their tiger conservation efforts, have long suffered from inconsistent grid electricity supply, adversely affecting the quality of life in surrounding villages. The Corbett Foundation, in collaboration with the Coca-Cola India Foundation, implemented a solar energy project encompassing 62 villages across Uttarakhand, including 3 in Almora, 28 in Nainital, and 31 in Pauri districts. The initiative involved the installation of solar-powered lanterns and the training of 50 women in lantern maintenance and repair. The project led to an improved quality of life, benefiting over 16,250 villagers residing in approximately 2,500 households.

In collaboration with Mahila SEWA Trust (MST) of Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Anandana initiated two projects in Rajasthan to empower women through solar lanterns. Trained women were identified to instruct 10 others in lantern fabrication, eventually imparting their skills to 200 women. These women collectively produced over 15,000 lanterns. Furthermore, an additional 10 women received training in hand pump installation, repair, and maintenance. The impact was significant, with lanterns reaching approximately 15,000 households, benefiting around 57,000 villagers through solar lantern distribution and hand pump installations.

To combat the issue of unsafe drinking water in the Sambhar Lake region, where saline water posed a problem, a pilot project was initiated through collaboration with the Foundation for Rural Recovery & Development (FORRAD) and a local NGO called MANTHAN. This initiative included the installation of five RO units produced by the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) in the affected villages. These units were powered by solar energy and had the capacity to generate 7,000 liters of potable water daily. The project resulted in a significant reduction of salt content from 8,000 parts per million to 500, thereby benefiting approximately 5,000 villagers.

In the village of Dantla, located in Sikar District, Rajasthan, surface run-off water used to flow away from the recharge area into lower-lying regions. To address this issue and maximize water conservation, the NGO - Social Action for Rural Advancement (SARA), with support from Anandana, successfully executed a project. This initiative involved the treatment of three major drainage channels that fed an existing pond and the renovation of the pond. As a result, the project created the capacity to store over 500 million litres of water and revitalized 75 hand pumps and 300 wells across six villages, benefiting more than 15,000 villagers.

In its endeavour to advance water sustainability in economically disadvantaged regions of India, Anandana collaborated with the SOCIAL ACTION FOR RURAL & TRIBAL INHABITANTS OF INDIA (SARTHI) to implement projects aimed at reviving traditional local water sources. These projects involved the construction of three check dams in the villages of Kosamaba, Vagphal, and Panchmuwa within Gujarat's Panchmahal district. The result was the creation of substantial storage capacity, benefiting approximately 8,000 villagers in the area.

The Bundelkhand region in central India, plagued by water scarcity, land degradation, and socioeconomic challenges, saw the successful implementation of watershed projects in the Parasai-Sindh region, covering nearly 1,250 hectares across three villages. These initiatives included constructing six check dams and 15 farm ponds, renovating 60 existing structures, and recharging 100 wells. This resulted in a substantial water storage capacity of 100 million litres, a 30% increase in cropping intensity, and a rise in groundwater levels by 2 to 5 meters. Notably, 100 acres of previously unusable land became cultivable, offering an additional income source of up to Rs. 20,000 per acre.