Organization:Water Literacy Foundation
| Founded | 2005 Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ayyappa Masagi |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Focus | Water conservation, Rainwater harvesting |
Area served | India |
| Website | http://www.waterliteracyfoundation.com/ |
Water Literacy Foundation [1] is a non-governmental environmental organisation based in Bangalore, Karnataka, whose high goal is to make India a "water efficient nation" by raising awareness about water scarcity and establishing rainwater harvesting in all areas of India.
History
Ayyappa Masagi,[2] who had been working as mechanical engineer at Larsen & Toubro for 23 years, started to experiment with rainwater harvesting and non-irrigational agricultural methods in 1994.[3] After a few years of successful results in his native region, Gadag, Karnataka, India , he quit his job to focus on working in the field of rainwater harvesting.
It was in 2004 when he earned the Ashoka fellowship for his work on water conservation.[4] One year later, with the support of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, he started Water Literacy Foundation, located in Bangalore, India. To obtain a change in India by 2020, the NGO is working to support farmers by giving them knowledge about non-irrigational agriculture and rainwater harvesting and realising projects that fight water scarcity.[5] The activities of the foundation expand to individual houses and industries, trying to create solutions to the shortage of water linked to the fast-growing population of Bangalore.[6]
In 2008, the foundation became associated with a new project: Rain Water Concepts Pvt Ltd (I) [7] in a cross subsidisation model. The social business implements rainwater harvesting systems for industries. Besides, it is funding the campaigns of the foundation among farmers and schools.[8] Ayyappa Masagi was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2009.[9]
Only four years later, the associated organisation entered the Limca Book of Records for constructing 500 lakes - that is the highest number of artificial lakes created by one company.[10] Furthermore, the NGO claim to have indirectly recharged more than 70,000 borewells and reached around 1.5 million people in 36,000 locations.[11]
Activities
The goal of the foundation is raising awareness about water shortages and implementing rainwater harvesting systems in to farms, houses, and industries. It offers several systems:[12]
- Rooftop rainwater harvesting
- Lake type borewell recharging
- Infiltration wells
- Stream water harvesting
- Seepage recharging
- Sump type borewell recharging
- Non-irrigational agricultural practices
- Tree-based agriculture
To raise awareness, the foundation attends rallies, sponsors lectures, and gives talks at conferences such as TEDx conference,[13] school education programs, or world water day events.
The foundation publishes books that instruct farmers to implement rainwater harvesting systems by themselves.[14] The foundation is helped by international volunteers mainly hosted through a program of FSL India.[15]
See also
- Rainwater harvesting
- Water conservation
References
- ↑ "Water Literacy Foundation & Rainwater Concepts A water efficient nation, water for everyone.". www.social-impact.org. http://waterliteracyfoundation.perso.rezel.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Water-Literacy-Foundation-on-Social-Impact.pdf. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ Nikesh, Thapaliya (March 2011). "The Water Warrior: Ayyappa Masagi harvesting every drop of water to save India". Youth Leader India. http://www.india.youth-leader.org/2011/03/the-water-warrior-ayyappa-masagi-harvesting-every-drop-of-water-to-save-india/. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ Badhri, Jagannathan. "Interview: Ayyappa Masagi of Water Literacy Foundation". ThinkChange India. http://www.thinkchangeindia.org/2011/08/14/interview-ayyappa-masagi-of-water-literacy-foundation/. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ "AYYAPPA MASAGI". ashoka.org. Ashoka. https://www.ashoka.org/fellow/ayyappa-masagi.
- ↑ "Examples of Successful Projects of WLF". http://www.rainwaterconcepts.co.in/Success%20Stories.htm.
- ↑ "City-based water conservationist to receive Jamnalal Bajaj Award". The Hindu. 19 October 2009. http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/19/stories/2009101957810200.htm. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ "Rain Water Concepts Pvt Ltd (India)". http://rainwaterconcepts.co.in/.
- ↑ Unsung beacons, stories of people for whom humanity matters. Chennai, 199-205: CSIM. 2012.
- ↑ "Jamnalal Bajaj Awards Archive". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/awards/archives/2010.
- ↑ "Ayyappa Masagi, recipient of Jamnala Bajaj award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development - 2009". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. http://www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org/media/pdf/JBA_2009_Bio_Ayyappa_Masagi.pdf. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ Yamini, Deenadayalan (19 February 2011). "Ayyappa Masagi, 54, rainwater harvester". Tehelka Magazine. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne190211INSPIRATIONS.asp. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ Antonin, Borgnon. "Water Literacy Foundation, Technology". Water Literacy Foundation. http://waterliteracyfoundation.perso.rezel.net/wordpress/?page_id=78. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ "Theme: Ideas for India". TEDx Velammal. http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/945. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ Ayyappa, Masagi (2012). Bhageertha. India: Water Literacy Foundation.
- ↑ "Homepage of FSL India". http://fsl-india.org/.
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