Water Literacy Foundation

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://waterliteracy.tk

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]

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

References

  1. ↑ "Water Literacy Foundation & Rainwater Concepts A water efficient nation, water for everyone." (PDF). www.social-impact.org. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Nikesh, Thapaliya (March 2011). "The Water Warrior: Ayyappa Masagi harvesting every drop of water to save India". Youth Leader India. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Badhri, Jagannathan. "Interview: Ayyappa Masagi of Water Literacy Foundation". ThinkChange India. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "AYYAPPA MASAGI". ashoka.org. Ashoka.
  5. ↑ "Examples of Successful Projects of WLF".
  6. ↑ "City-based water conservationist to receive Jamnalal Bajaj Award". The Hindu. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "Rain Water Concepts Pvt Ltd (India)".
  8. ↑ Unsung beacons, stories of people for whom humanity matters. Chennai, 199-205: CSIM. 2012.
  9. ↑ "Jamnalal Bajaj Awards Archive". Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.
  10. ↑ "Ayyappa Masagi, recipient of Jamnala Bajaj award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development - 2009" (PDF). Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  11. ↑ Yamini, Deenadayalan (19 February 2011). "Ayyappa Masagi, 54, rainwater harvester". Tehelka Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  12. ↑ Antonin, Borgnon. "Water Literacy Foundation, Technology". Water Literacy Foundation. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  13. ↑ "Theme: Ideas for India". TEDx Velammal. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  14. ↑ Ayyappa, Masagi (2012). Bhageertha. India: Water Literacy Foundation.
  15. ↑ "Homepage of FSL India".
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