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The tank irrigation systems of South India

India's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), constituting 30% of the GDP, employing 110 million workers, and contributing 49% to exports, stand as the backbone of the economy. However, limited access to affordable finance and technical know-how hampers their transition to cleaner, energy-efficient technologies.

India is fast hurtling towards acute water scarcity. The reasons are many. While groundwater overdependence, changing rainfall patterns, poor water management practices are to blame, recent research shows that poor water quality is also adding up to this scarcity while also threatening the health of populations.

This case study explores the transformative journey of Janki Devi, a resident of Sangnyadi village, located 20 kilometers away from Almora city in India. Janki Devi's life was marked by struggles arising from water scarcity, affecting her family's livelihood and overall well-being.

Introduction

The simplification of access to the Global Positioning System (GPS) via smartphones, along with mapping solutions built to leverage these in the form of easy-to-use apps, has contributed to the widespread adoption of geospatial technologies in the rural landscape.

India, with just 4% of the world's freshwater for 18% of the global population, grapples with a worsening crisis exacerbated by climate change and erratic monsoons, impacting urban and rural areas alike.

Masru Bai, a 35-year-old woman along with her husband Naval Singh and their three daughters (Radhika, Sonu, and Vishal) and one son, resides in Beedpura village, Gram Panchayat Bakaner (Dhar district). Both Masru Bai and her husband work as labourers to support their family.

Access to improved water and sanitation, still a challenge for India

The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), which has been entrusted with the pivotal role of overseeing the development and management of India's water resources, serves as the bedrock for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, through flagship initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).