Reviving water, livelihoods, and ecosystems across rural India
Across India, lakes, ponds, rivulets and streams are under severe stress - overwhelmed by untreated sewage, choked by invasive weeds, and weakened by years of neglect. Responding to a growing number of rejuvenation requests from across the country, The Art of Living Social Projects signed a nationwide MoU on 18 February 2026 with Autocracy Machinery, a water infrastructure and heavy equipment firm. The agreement was formalised between Br Pragyachaitanya, Chairman of The Art of Living Social Projects, and Ms. Santhoshi Sushma Buddhiraju, CEO of Autocracy Machinery.
This partnership strengthens the organisation's capacity to undertake scientifically designed lake and pond restoration projects across India — supported by technical expertise and structured implementation.
What This Enables
- Mechanical desilting and sludge removal
- Clearing invasive weeds and stabilising lake beds
- Bio-remediation using beneficial microorganisms
- Phyto-remediation through toxin-absorbing aquatic plants
- Advanced nano-bubble oxygenation technology
By combining mechanical, biological and technological interventions, restoration shifts from episodic clean-ups to engineered ecological recovery - designed for long-term resilience.
Reviving Communities Through Water
Lakes and ponds are not idle water bodies; they function as climate buffers, groundwater recharge systems and anchors of community life. Their revival improves biodiversity, strengthens livelihoods and restores ecological balance across urban and rural landscapes alike.
The Art of Living Social Projects has implemented a compact nature-based system (NBS) to treat polluted drainage water during dry-weather flow — blending traditional ecological knowledge with modern engineering.
Guided by civil engineers and plant specialists, the modular system moves water through natural treatment zones, including trash screens, baffle walls, and charcoal-gravel filtration, reducing pollutants and supporting biological purification.
Phytoremediation using selected wetland plants further absorbs toxins, while stationary wetlands with RCC rings and gabion-supported bunds maintain optimal water levels.
This low-cost, eco-friendly approach offers a practical, replicable model for communities seeking sustainable, nature-driven water restoration.
In partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, a district-wide Natural Farming Awareness Campaign has been launched across 100 villages in Anand district.
Farmers were seeking practical solutions to:
- Rising fertiliser costs
- Declining soil fertility
- Erratic rainfall patterns
The intervention addressed these through structured outreach, scientific validation, and trust-based engagement.
From Dialogue to Adoption
Door-to-door outreach by trained Local Resource Persons initiated sustained engagement. Training programs blended traditional agricultural knowledge with soil science and field demonstrations.
Farmers were trained in:
- Indigenous seed preservation
- Cow-based formulations — Beejamrut (seed treatment that introduces beneficial microbes), Jeevamrut (liquid microbial culture that stimulates soil biological activity), Ghanjeevamrut (solid form used for sustained soil nourishment)
- Natural pest management (Neemastra, Agniastra)
- Soil regeneration and crop diversification
- Intercropping strategies to stabilise income
Economic sustainability remained central. By preparing biological inputs from locally available resources, farmers reduced dependency on purchased chemicals and lowered cultivation risk.
Science in the Farmer's Hands
Five portable soil-testing devices were distributed to Farmer Producer Organisations.
Earlier: Soil reports took days.
Now: Results are available within 30 minutes.
Natural farming moved from perception-based practice to data-supported precision. Collaboration with Anand Agriculture University reinforced scientific validation and technical confidence.
Community & Youth Participation
Awareness efforts extended beyond formal training through village meetings, educational film screenings and structured Gujarati manuals. Youth Leadership Training Programme (YLTP) members supported mobilisation, while school initiatives such as 'Chote Kisan — Nurturing Nature' encouraged environmental responsibility through plantation drives and seed-ball preparation.
A long-standing advocate of natural farming, Shri Acharya Devvrat expressed strong support and emphasised the need to reduce chemical dependency in agriculture. Subsequent review meetings held under his leadership have strengthened state-level alignment and reinforced institutional support for the campaign.
Impact Snapshot
- Value-addition equipment provided to FPOs
- During Gujarat's heavy rainfall in 2024, participating farmers reported stronger crop resilience and reduced losses
- Lower input costs. Regenerating soil. Increased farmer confidence.
Natural Farming and Organic Farming are often assumed to be the same. They differ in philosophy and practice.
Natural Farming emphasises farm-based self-reliance, typically using cow-based biological preparations such as Beejamrut and Jeevamrut. It minimises external inputs and prioritises soil microbiology, biodiversity, and low-cost cultivation practices.
Organic Farming, while avoiding synthetic chemicals, allows approved organic inputs that may be sourced externally. It often follows defined standards and certification frameworks, and may involve practices such as composting, tillage, and managed soil interventions.
Both approaches promote ecological balance. Natural Farming centres on input self-sufficiency, while Organic Farming operates within a structured regulatory system.
Jalyukt Shivar 2.0 is charting a new course for water security in Maharashtra. Anchored by a formal MoU between The Art of Living Social Projects and the Government of Maharashtra, the initiative drives large‑scale desilting, groundwater recharge, and community‑led restoration across drought‑prone regions. With groundwater levels falling and monsoons becoming unpredictable, this structured approach supports long‑term water stability for communities throughout the state.
India’s water crisis is now a lived reality, with groundwater supplying nearly 80% of agricultural and domestic needs. Over-extraction has steadily outpaced natural recharge, pushing water tables downward across many regions. Erratic rainfall and disruptions in the hydrological cycle have only deepened the stress, leaving aquifers increasingly depleted.
From Drought to Flood
Large parts of Maharashtra swing between extremes. Failed or uneven monsoons bring acute scarcity, while heavy rains rush away unchecked, causing damage. Streams and rivers that once held water longer are now shallow and silted, reducing storage and weakening groundwater recharge. Communities face frequent droughts, declining agricultural productivity, crop losses, flood damage, and dependence on tanker water. This cycle makes it clear: the challenge is not rainfall alone, but how water is managed.
Converting Monsoons into Security
Jalyukt Shivar 2.0 focuses on three clear goals:
- Harvest and store rainwater efficiently
- Strengthen groundwater recharge
- Support stable, productive agriculture
By restoring natural water-holding systems — desilting, deepening and widening channels — this initiative converts short-lived monsoons into year-round water security.
Reviving Rivers and Streams
Rivers, ponds, and lakes are being revitalised through desilting, deepening, and widening. Pond and lake silt is repurposed to enhance soil fertility on marginal farms. These interventions increase groundwater infiltration from around 6% to 25–35%, ensuring aquifers recharge effectively and water is retained where it is most needed.
Phased Action, Measurable Impact
| Phase | Period | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | 2013–2019 | Targeted drought-prone areas with desilting and stream restoration |
| Phase II | 2024–2026 | Expanding coverage and consolidating long-term water security |
By the Numbers
- 2,90,64,668 cubic metres of silt removed from rivers including Gharni, Tavarja, Jana, Mudgul, and more
- 16,716 million litres of water conserved since 2013
- 12,38,175 total beneficiaries
Farm-Level Gains
- Higher yields: Reliable soil moisture supports better cultivation and crop rotation
- Stronger incomes: Multiple crop cycles and diversified farming stabilise earnings
- Flood resilience: Wider, desilted streams reduce waterlogging and soil erosion
- Lower drought risk: Recharged aquifers ensure water availability during dry periods
In November 2025, The Art of Living Social Projects was honoured by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with two national awards - Best Civil Society at the 6th National Water Awards 2024 (for the second consecutive year) and Best NGO award under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB 1.0).
Jalyukt Shivar 2.0 demonstrates how science, community, and structured conservation can combine to deliver measurable, long-term water security for India.
News Brief
In the Media: Read, Share & Amplify the Impact
Dharma Sthambha Yojana (DSY)
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's vision finds expression in two complementary streams: individual transformation and community upliftment. Together, they form a sustained movement that strengthens both people and place.
The Dharma Sthambha Yojana (DSY), under The Art of Living Social Projects, serves as a structured platform enabling individuals to support large-scale grassroots initiatives across India. Contributions are channelled transparently into programmes spanning water conservation, afforestation, free education, integrated village development, renewable energy, gaudhan preservation and waste management.
By encouraging consistent, responsible giving, DSY transforms individual commitment into measurable, collective impact — reinforcing long-term resilience for communities nationwide.
