Partners

The Springs Initiative consists of a diverse group of partners. From NGOs working in rural Maharashtra to State Governments in the Himalayas, each has their own areas of specialization. Working in parallel, partners now combine experience to share learning and leverage resources.

Below is a short summary of each partner working in the Initiative including the focus of their work, scope of their impact to date and future plans.

ACWADAM – Knowledge Partner Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM) is a research and capacity-building organization comprised of hydrogeologists and other experts. Based in Pune, Maharashtra they provide technical support, training and materials in hydrogeology to all network partners as well as others in India and the region.
 

CHIRAG – Implementing Partner

Central  Himalayan Action and Research Group (CHIRAG), an NGO based in Utterakhand, works on health, education, livelihoods and natural resource management including spring protection for village water supply. Their springs programme focuses on a scientific approach to source identification, restoration and recharge via conservation measures and water harvesting structures. They work closely with ACWADAM to better understand the relationship of geology and groundwater. In the Kumaun region they have implemented participatory restoration on 80 springs across 40 villages, and an additional 120 springs in partnership with other NGO’s. Current plans include the study and treatment of 70 springs reaching 1,600 households across 54 villages, and setting up of institutions, processes with women as key decision makers.

GRAMPARI -Implementing Partner
Grameen Var Paryavaren Kendra (GRAMPARI) is the rural development programme under Initiatives of Change India. Based in Satara District, Maharashtra they focus on health, livelihoods, governance and environment including spring protection for rural drinking water. Their programme uses hydrogeologic mapping to identify and protect source areas. They conduct outreach and training programmes in spring management and construction offspring boxes. In the Western Ghats Region, they have conducted outreach to 60 villages across 4 blocks in 2 districts, and have partnered with 12 villages to restore and protect 22 springs over the last 3 years. 

HSS – Implementing Partner
With headquarters in Delhi, Himalayan Seva Sangh (HSS) works toward community-based development through conservation and livelihoods in Uttarakahnd and the Himalayan region. Since joining the Initiative in 2007 they have worked in 17 villages and have restored 150 chaals (traditional ponds for harvesting rainwater) and restored over 65 hectares of springshed. They have also implemented sand filters for improving water quality, ecosanitation for protecting aquifers and they specialize in ecological restoration.

Keystone Foundation – Implementing Partner
Based in Kotagiri, Keystone Foundation has been conducting conservation and capacity building in partnership with indigenous people of the Niligris for over a decade. They specialize in policy – advocacy in the environment sector. The newest partner in the Initiative, Keystone is currently conducting and inventory and assessment of springs in their area and planning for upcoming spring protection. 

PSI – Implementing Partner
People Science Institute (PSI) is based in Dehradun and works in Uttarakhand and the region. With a focus on participatory, science-based development, their spring protection programme is based on community-based management of natural resources. They specialize in water quality monitoring and produce a variety of field kits and training opportunities. To date, they have worked on 55 springs by partnering with gram panchayats and conducting village based training to facilitate mapping and protection of spring sources.

VJNNS – Implementing Partner
Visakha Jilla Nava Nirmana Samithi (VJNNS) works with remote communities in the Eastern Ghats on health, education, livelihoods and environment. They specialize in water and sanitation activities and under this project their focus is on gravity-fed water supply systems. To date they have completed comprehensive distribution systems in 40 villages. Their approach to protecting and harnessing spring water, and using a central sand filter, has been adopted by local government agencies and is being replicated in numerous districts in Andhra Pradesh.