FEED Validator

for Atom and RSS and KML

Congratulations!

This is a valid RSS feed.

Recommendations

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

line 87, column 0: content:encoded should not contain fetchpriority attribute [help]
```
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19 ...
```
line 87, column 0: content:encoded should not contain decoding attribute (35 occurrences) [help]
```
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19 ...
```
line 87, column 0: content:encoded should not contain sizes attribute (35 occurrences) [help]
```
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19 ...
```
line 108, column 0: content:encoded should not contain loading attribute (32 occurrences) [help]
```
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19724 si ...
```
line 406, column 0: style attribute contains potentially dangerous content: box-sizing (2 occurrences) [help]
```
<p>By catering to the capital needs of micro-enterprises, PMEGP not only cre ...
```

Source: https://sambodhi.co.in/feed/

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>Sambodhi</title>
<atom:link href="https://sambodhi.co.in/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in</link>
<description></description>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:16:07 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-US</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1</generator>
<image>
<url>https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/sambodhi-favicon.png</url>
<title>Sambodhi</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in</link>
<width>32</width>
<height>32</height>
</image>
<item>
<title>Sambodhi Recognized as the Youth in Evaluation Champion 2025 at the Evaluation Conclave</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/sambodhi-recognized-as-the-youth-in-evaluation-champion-2025-at-the-evaluation-conclave/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ankita Valecha]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:17:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19801</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>From May 27–30, a delegation from Sambodhi participated in the Evaluation Conclave & Summit for the Future of Evaluation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. </p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sambodhi-recognized-as-the-youth-in-evaluation-champion-2025-at-the-evaluation-conclave/">Sambodhi Recognized as the Youth in Evaluation Champion 2025 at the Evaluation Conclave</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>From May 27–30, a delegation from Sambodhi participated in the Evaluation Conclave & Summit for the Future of Evaluation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event brought together voices from 32 countries, underscoring the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and elevating local experiential knowledge to build a contextually relevant, forward-looking evaluation ecosystem.</p>
<p>From panel discussions to paper presentations, our team actively contributed to conversations about making evaluation practices not only methodologically sound but also deeply rooted in local realities.</p>
<p>What made this experience especially meaningful was the recognition we received: Sambodhi was named the Youth in Evaluation Champion 2025 for the second year in a row.</p>
<p>At Sambodhi, helping policymakers build a robust evaluation ecosystem and equipping young professionals with the skills and tools to drive meaningful change is central to our mission of fostering an informed, evidence-driven society. This recognition reaffirms our commitment, and we are determined to keep pushing this momentum forward.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sambodhi-recognized-as-the-youth-in-evaluation-champion-2025-at-the-evaluation-conclave/">Sambodhi Recognized as the Youth in Evaluation Champion 2025 at the Evaluation Conclave</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/water-sustainability-and-cultural-traditions-in-urban-india-a-balancing-act/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:29:59 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[WASH]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[urban india]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[water Sustainability]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19722</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/water-sustainability-and-cultural-traditions-in-urban-india-a-balancing-act/">Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>Water is one of India’s most important natural resources, and it also symbolizes our country’s spiritual purity and cultural continuity. The combination of rapid urban growth, environmental stress, and inadequate government management has intensified water shortages throughout Indian cities. Due to these current challenges, environmental debates now center on cultural traditions that depend heavily on water resources.</p>
<p>This blog examines the intricate relationship between traditional water-based festivals and the increasing need for sustainable water management systems in urban areas of India. Based on real-world examples and recent public debates, it presents an evidence-based narrative on rethinking conservation through inclusivity, responsibility, and moderation.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Water in Culture: A Source of Joy and a Moral Dilemma</strong></span></h2>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19727 size-full" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1005613216.jpg" alt="Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1005613216.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1005613216-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1005613216-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1005613216-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>Water has always played an essential role in shaping the cultural fabric of India. The Ganga Aarti ceremony in Varanasi joins Chhath Puja in Bihar, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Onam in Kerala as water-based celebrations that symbolize prosperity and renewal. Water has increasingly become a central feature of Holi celebrations as well. This growing scarcity requires us to examine the ethical implications of these traditional celebrations. Should cultural practices be left unchanged as heritage symbols, or should they be modified to match current ecological conditions?</p>
<p>This conflict between cultural heritage preservation and environmental needs has become a central issue in Indian conservation debates, particularly in urban areas where this disconnect is expanding.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Skewed Conservation Narratives: Why Festivals Bear the Brunt</strong></span></h2>
<p>Major festivals create a surge of public interest in water conservation practices. Social media platforms double as a conflict zone where people debate over water conservation demands and traditional practices. Yet, this episodic outrage overlooks the structural inefficiencies plaguing India’s water system year-round.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19726 size-full" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1930296821.jpg" alt="Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1930296821.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1930296821-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1930296821-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1930296821-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The celebration of Holi serves as a fitting example in this scenario. The critics who usually oppose water usage during Holi often overlook the root causes of water loss that put India at a disadvantage during dry months—leaking pipelines, unregulated borewells, and excessive tanker use. The way people choose to focus on these issues only during specific times of the year can be seen in other environmental discussions as well. For instance, people discuss air pollution extensively during Diwali, but industrial waste and vehicular emissions get little to no attention throughout the rest of the year. Because of this growing practice of seasonal moralizing, environmental governance often faces potential dilution.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Urban Water Management: Structural Gaps and Inequities</strong></span></h2>
<p>The water infrastructure of urban areas in India operates at a high level of inefficiency. The water distribution networks of Delhi and Mumbai experience <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/40-per-cent-of-water-supply-gets-wasted-Study/article16836247.ece#:~:text=40%20per%20cent%20of%20water%20supply%20gets%20wasted%3A%20Study" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30 to 40 percent losses</a> due to leakage, theft, and unmetered consumption. This non-revenue water reflects not only infrastructure decay but also administrative oversight.</p>
<p>Furthermore, inconsistent water pricing across different regions of India adds to the already growing problem. The cost of private water tankers becomes prohibitive for low-income residents who must purchase their water supply from these vendors. Formal supply systems leave out informal settlements and, with them, the most exposed segments of marginalized populations. These governance gaps warrant far more attention than the seasonal water usage of festivals, but remain underrepresented in policy and public discourse.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Cultural Adaptations: Conservation without Compromise</strong></span></h2>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19725 size-full" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1626944077.jpg" alt="Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act" width="1000" height="667" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1626944077.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1626944077-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1626944077-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1626944077-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>India’s festivals are not static—they transform and evolve as they adapt to new generational needs and cultural settings. Across the country, communities have found innovative ways to celebrate while conserving water. The traditional Holi celebration in West Bengal uses abir, a dry powder, instead of mixing colors with water. Communities in parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra use flower petals instead of water during their communal religious ceremonies.</p>
<p>Urban communities need to move away from extravagant water-intensive celebrations and instead focus on organizing community events that cater to sustainability. These examples will show that cultural preservation and ecological responsibility can exist together successfully. Adaptation, rather than abandonment, needs to be the way forward.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Toward a Culture of Moderation and Shared Responsibility</strong></span></h2>
<p>The real challenge lies in making sustainability an integral part of daily affairs rather than viewing festivals as environmental threats. Most water misuse happens quietly through daily practices, municipal inefficiencies, and policy blind spots, even though festivals receive high public visibility.</p>
<p>The practice of sustainability needs to evolve into a civic habit because it requires a fundamental change in community values. This transformation demands active governance alongside public participation and a new perspective that views conservation as an ongoing civic responsibility. In this way, the cultural perspective can be a facilitator instead of an obstruction during this transformation process.</p>
<p>Water management needs systemic reform and should be aligned with the principles of sustainability now. Municipalities must introduce metering systems that work, carry out regular audits, and improve infrastructure to address non-revenue water loss. Implementing a tiered pricing model ensures responsible water conservation and protection for the most vulnerable. Community-led awareness campaigns need to extend their reach further than festival seasons to establish enduring behavioral modifications.</p>
<p>Conservation narratives must be inclusive, recognizing both traditional practices and current constraints.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Reframing the Discourse for Generational Impact</strong></span></h2>
<p>The water crisis in India requires solutions that go beyond festival enforcement. The solution requires a complete transformation of how water is valued, governed and conserved. Cultural traditions can serve as powerful platforms for change when approached with respect, creativity, and a sense of responsibility.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19724 size-full" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1927655321.jpg" alt="Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1927655321.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1927655321-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1927655321-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1927655321-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The proverb “Boond boond se sagar banta hai” represents the power of accumulation through small contributions. The path to sustainable water futures requires us to preserve our traditions by integrating responsible stewardship practices. Holi and other festivals should serve as examples of resilience and collective care instead of being viewed solely as wasteful events.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das –</em></strong><i>Knowledge & Insights Coordinator</i><em>, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/water-sustainability-and-cultural-traditions-in-urban-india-a-balancing-act/">Water Sustainability and Cultural Traditions in Urban India: A Balancing Act</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sanitation in Rural India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/sanitation-in-rural-india-progress-challenges-and-the-road-ahead/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 05:32:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[WASH]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[rural india]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Sanitation]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19643</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Sanitation is one of the most basic determining factors of public health, environmental resilience, and human dignity.</p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sanitation-in-rural-india-progress-challenges-and-the-road-ahead/">Sanitation in Rural India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>Sanitation is one of the most basic determining factors of public health, environmental resilience, and human dignity.<a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1894901#:~:text=The%20Survey%20notes%20that%2065%20per%20cent%20(2021%20data)%20of%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20population%20lives%20in%20the%20rural%20areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> In rural India, where more than 65% of the population lives</a>, poor sanitation has been a major factor in the spread of disease, malnutrition, and social injustice.</p>
<p>In the last decade, India has launched multiple extensive programs aimed at improving rural sanitation performance. This blog evaluates these achievements through data while identifying current challenges and essential policy directions for sustained rural sanitation development.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>1. Institutional Reform and Accelerated Coverage: The Case of the Swachh Bharat Mission</strong></span></h2>
<p>The Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) was launched as a new frontier in rural sanitation by the Government of India <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Swachh+Bharat+Mission-Grameen+(SBM-G)+launched+its+operations+in+2014&oq=The+Swachh+Bharat+Mission-Grameen+(SBM-G)+launched+its+operations+in+2014&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBBzc4M2owajSoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#:~:text=Responding%20to%20the%20imperative%20for%20comprehensive%20sanitation%20coverage%2C%20the%20Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%20was%20launched%20on%20October%202%2C%202014%2C%20by%20the%20Hon%27ble%20Prime%20Minister%2C%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20making%20India%20Open%20Defecation%20Free%20(ODF)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 2014</a>. As of 2018, rural sanitation coverage in the <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1534926#:~:text=the%20rural%20sanitation%20coverage%20of%20India%20has%20now%20risen%20to%2085%25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">country touched 85%</a>, with over <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1534926#:~:text=7.4%20crore%20toilets%20have%20been%20built%20across%20rural%20India%2C%20and%20as%20an%20outcome%2C%20over%203.8%20lakh%20villages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7.4 crore toilets built and over 3.8 lakh villages</a> declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) during this period. This mission is unique from previous sanitation programs through its focus on behavioral change, community engagement, and outcome-based statistics. The foundation of SBM-G Phase I was used to launch SBM-G Phase II in 2020 to maintain ODF status and promote comprehensive waste management.<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=+As+of+December+2023%2C+over+5+lakh+villages+had+achieved+ODF+Plus+status%2C&sca_esv=1c525e0389ef8c5d&ei=U0v_Z_7mBY7H4-EP4sLMmQE&ved=0ahUKEwi-3PLY89uMAxWO4zgGHWIhMxMQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=+As+of+December+2023%2C+over+5+lakh+villages+had+achieved+ODF+Plus+status%2C&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiSCBBcyBvZiBEZWNlbWJlciAyMDIzLCBvdmVyIDUgbGFraCB2aWxsYWdlcyBoYWQgYWNoaWV2ZWQgT0RGIFBsdXMgc3RhdHVzLEiCClCgBligBnABeAGQAQCYAcYBoAHGAaoBAzAuMbgBA8gBAPgBAfgBApgCAaACDagCFMICFBAAGIAEGJECGLQCGIoFGOoC2AEBwgIUEAAYgAQY4wQYtAIY6QQY6gLYAQHCAhAQABgDGLQCGOoCGI8B2AECwgIQEC4YAxi0AhjqAhiPAdgBAsICEhAAGAMYtAIY6gIYChiPAdgBApgDDfEFXWJ-UVz08bW6BgQIARgHugYGCAIQARgKkgcBMaAHfLIHALgHAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#:~:text=Ministries%20of%20Agriculture%20and%20Farmer%27s%20Welfare%3B%20Fisheries%2C%20Animal%20Husbandry%20and%20Dairying%3B%20and%20Minority%20Affairs%20observed%20Swachhata%20Pakhwada%20from%2016th%2D31st%20December%2C%202023.%20Over%205%2C12%2C598%20of%20India%27s%20inhabited%20villages%20have%20declared%20themselves%20ODF%20Plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> As of December 2023, over 5 lakh villages had achieved ODF Plus status,</a> indicating the implementation of solid and/or liquid waste management systems.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>2. Synergistic Integration with Water Supply: The Role of the Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19646 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2441420199.jpg" alt="Sanitation in Rural India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2441420199.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2441420199-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2441420199-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2441420199-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched in 2019 to fulfill the water and sanitation interdependence goal by providing tap water access to all rural households before 2024. The target of providing tap water access to <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=The+target+of+providing+tap+water+access+to+100%25+of+rural+households+remains+active+for+2023+with+77%25+coverage+achieved+so+far.&sca_esv=1c525e0389ef8c5d&ei=3Uv_Z4O7JLyPseMP-7GpuA8&ved=0ahUKEwjDnfia9NuMAxW8R2wGHftYCvcQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=The+target+of+providing+tap+water+access+to+100%25+of+rural+households+remains+active+for+2023+with+77%25+coverage+achieved+so+far.&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAif1RoZSB0YXJnZXQgb2YgcHJvdmlkaW5nIHRhcCB3YXRlciBhY2Nlc3MgdG8gMTAwJSBvZiBydXJhbCBob3VzZWhvbGRzIHJlbWFpbnMgYWN0aXZlIGZvciAyMDIzIHdpdGggNzclIGNvdmVyYWdlIGFjaGlldmVkIHNvIGZhci5IAFAAWABwAHgBkAEAmAEAoAEAqgEAuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAkgcAoAcAsgcAuAcA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#:~:text=According%20to%20official%20data%20from%20the%20Jal%20Jeevan%20Mission%2C%20about%2077%25%20or%2014.88%20crore%20rural%20households%20in%20India%20now%20have%20access%20to%20tap%20water%20connections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100% of rural households remains active, with 77% coverage achieved</a> so far. Merging SBM-G with JJM has established village-level integrated water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>3. Binding Constraints: Institutional, Social, and Operational Gaps</strong></span></h2>
<p>Though there have been some significant successes, systemic constraints regarding the sustainability and equity of rural sanitation in India remain. Recent reports state that the long-term sustainability of an ODF status is still a challenge as behavioral changes have not yet been institutionalized, and as a result, some ODF villages have fallen back to practicing open defecation again.</p>
<p>When it comes to infrastructure, <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089254#:~:text=4%2C75%2C210%20villages%20have,Liquid%20Waste%20Management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">while about 5.14 lakh villages have liquid waste management and 4.75 lakh solid waste systems as of December 2024</a>, functionality and consistency vary widely. Fragmented operations and low local capacity result in the services being uncertain and unsustainable. The social and labor immorality of this issue is augmented by sanitation workers, most of whom are from historically marginalized communities and are still suffering the same stigmas and hazardous work environments. Despite being effectively banned under the law, manual scavenging still exists across many regions because of insufficient enforcement and deep-rooted societal malpractices.</p>
<p>The service delivery continues to show significant regional inequalities because states including <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Jharkhand%2C+Rajasthan%2C+and+West+Bengal+have+less+than+50%25+of+rural+households+access+to+piped+water.+&sca_esv=26ff8a3d5dba2cb8&ei=h03_Z9vJKdG-juMPtb2NwQo&ved=0ahUKEwibqY7m9duMAxVRn2MGHbVeI6gQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=Jharkhand%2C+Rajasthan%2C+and+West+Bengal+have+less+than+50%25+of+rural+households+access+to+piped+water.+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiZEpoYXJraGFuZCwgUmFqYXN0aGFuLCBhbmQgV2VzdCBCZW5nYWwgaGF2ZSBsZXNzIHRoYW4gNTAlIG9mIHJ1cmFsIGhvdXNlaG9sZHMgYWNjZXNzIHRvIHBpcGVkIHdhdGVyLiBIhDtQxDJYxDJwAngBkAEAmAGIAqABiAKqAQMyLTG4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgKgAheoAhTCAhMQABiABBhDGLQCGIoFGOoC2AEBwgITEC4YgAQYQxi0AhiKBRjqAtgBAcICEBAAGAMYtAIY6gIYjwHYAQLCAhAQLhgDGLQCGOoCGI8B2AECmAMO8QWMOC3drrax0roGBAgBGAe6BgYIAhABGAqSBwEyoAeYAbIHALgHAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#:~:text=The%20least%20coverage%20has%20been%20recorded%20in%20West%20Bengal%20at%2052.30%20per%20cent%2C%20Rajasthan%20at%2052.91%20per%20cent%2C%20Kerala%20at%2053.62%20per%20cent%2C%20Jharkhand%20at%2054.26%20per%20cent%2C%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20at%2064.84%20per%20cent%2C%20according%20to%20the%20data." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and West Bengal have just around 50% of rural households with access to piped water</a>.</p>
<p>The observed distributional asymmetries demonstrate the urgent need for intervention approaches that match specific contexts and require balanced resource distribution.</p>
<h2><strong style="color: #ff0000;">4. Emerging Approaches: Innovation and Community Mobilization</strong></h2>
<p>India has implemented several innovative and community-based solutions to address the ongoing sanitation problems and improve sustainability. The Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) model demonstrates success as a participatory method that enables behavior change at the local level without financial support to maintain ODF status over time. The Sato Tap represents a technological advancement because this low-cost handwashing device operates without needing a piped water supply to reach off-grid and resource-constrained areas.</p>
<p>In addition, incentive-based recognition programs like the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra have been a catalytic force in encouraging local leadership and enhancing accountability through public recognition of ODF Plus Model Gram Panchayats, thus reinforcing the commitment to sustained sanitation outcomes.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>5. Policy Priorities: A Strategic Framework for Sustained Impact</strong></span></h2>
<p>A comprehensive approach must be implemented to maintain and expand sanitation results in rural India. Geospatial systems for tracking functional, sustainable, and equitable service delivery of sanitation infrastructure need to be developed and monitored in real-time. The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) must develop technical and managerial capacity for enabling decentralized planning implementation as well as management of sanitation services.</p>
<p>In addition, long-term behavioral reinforcement campaigns should be run to solidify hygiene as the norm through modifying resistance in context-driven communication. Legal and social protection systems must be established to stop manual scavenging and enforce anti-discrimination laws while protecting the dignity of sanitation workers.</p>
<p>The successful implementation of cost-effective technological innovations at a large scale will be essential to address infrastructure gaps in underserved and resource-constrained areas.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Sustaining Momentum: The Future of Rural Sanitation in India</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19645 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1427743757.jpg" alt="Sanitation in Rural India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1427743757.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1427743757-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1427743757-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1427743757-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The rural sanitation transformation in India stands as one of the most extensive public health achievements worldwide. The results obtained through SBM-G and JJM demonstrate how integrated policy design combined with community participation and targeted investment can produce successful outcomes. System resilience and inclusive development need renewed attention because behavioral, institutional, and equity challenges continue to exist.</p>
<p>By addressing persistent challenges and leveraging successful strategies, India can continue to improve the health and well-being of its rural population, setting a global example in sanitation and public health.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das –</em></strong><i>Knowledge & Insights Coordinator</i><em>, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sanitation-in-rural-india-progress-challenges-and-the-road-ahead/">Sanitation in Rural India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Climate Change and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in India</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/climate-change-and-its-impact-on-rural-livelihoods-in-india/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 03:34:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Clean Energy and Climate Change]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Livelihoods and Natural Resources]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[rural india]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19427</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>In today's day and age, where globalization has outpaced sustainable and climate-inclusive development, rural India stands at a critical crossroads.</p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/climate-change-and-its-impact-on-rural-livelihoods-in-india/">Climate Change and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>In today’s day and age, where globalization has outpaced sustainable and climate-inclusive development, rural India stands at a critical crossroads. The dual challenge of fast-paced economic growth and environmental sustainability has led climate change to become a major disruptive force. Come summer or monsoon, the rural heartland bears the full brunt of climate change, where nearly 50% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture and allied activities for sustenance and livelihood.</p>
<p>Since the early 2000s, India has experienced a dangerous rise in climate variability. <strong><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=India+has+experienced+a+dangerous+rise+in+climate+variability.+The+average+surface+temperature+has+risen+by+about+0.7%C2%B0C+from+1901+to+2018+and+the+projections+indicate+a+possible+increase+of+1.6%E2%80%932.5%C2%B0C+by+mid-century+based+on+current+scenarios.&oq=India+has+experienced+a+dangerous+rise+in+climate+variability.+The+average+surface+temperature+has+risen+by+about+0.7%C2%B0C+from+1901+to+2018+and+the+projections+indicate+a+possible+increase+of+1.6%E2%80%932.5%C2%B0C+by+mid-century+based+on+current+scenarios.&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBBzg3NWowajSoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#:~:text=with%20regional%20changes%3A-,India%27s%20average%20temperature%20has%20risen%20by%20around%200.7%C2%B0C%20during%201901%E2%80%932018.,-This%20temperature%20rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The average surface temperature has risen by about 0.7°C from 1901 to 2018</a></strong>, and the projections indicate a possible increase of 1.6–2.5°C by mid-century based on current scenarios. The rainfall patterns have become more unpredictable while delayed monsoons complimented by unseasonal rains and dry spells last longer and affect more than 60% of India’s cultivated land which is rainfed.</p>
<p>These changes are not indicative of a dystopian future. They are already happening in real-time and transforming the already harsh realities of rural existence. Small marginal farmers, landless laborers, forest-dependent communities, and rural women—lacking in both institutional backing and financial stability mostly face the worst impacts of a warming world.</p>
<p>This blog explores the specific ways in which climate change is impacting rural livelihoods in India- outlining the nature of these disruptions, identifying the most vulnerable groups, and evaluating strategic adaptation options that can buffer against long-term livelihood erosion.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #03386a;"><strong>Climate Change Trends in India</strong></span></h2>
<p>India’s climate patterns have become increasingly unpredictable. <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1686173#:~:text=years%20(2006%2D2020)-,Past%20decade%20(2001%2D2010/%202011%2D2020)%20was%20also%20the%20warmest%20decade%20on%20record,-Rainfall%20over%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the country experienced its hottest decade on record from 2011 to 2020</strong>.</a> Simultaneously, the southwest monsoon—which contributes over 70% of annual rainfall—has seen a decline in reliability, with inconsistencies now a recurring phenomenon.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-19467 size-full" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog_image_1.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="662" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog_image_1.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog_image_1-300x199.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog_image_1-768x508.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog_image_1-360x238.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The regions of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Bundelkhand are experiencing chronic droughts, while parts of Assam and Bihar are experiencing recurrent flooding. The dual exposure to water scarcity and excess has resulted in seasonal distress and increased dependence on external coping mechanisms.</p>
<p>The period from 2000 to 2019 saw a significant rise in extreme weather events which led to more than 250 severe weather occurrences including cyclones, flash floods as well as heatwaves, and cold spells across the country. Cyclone Amphan (2020) affected more than 13 million people in India and Bangladesh, resulting in agricultural losses that <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cyclone-amphan-of-2020-resulted-in-14-billion-economic-losses-in-india-un-report/article34364773.ece#:~:text=Cyclone%20Amphan%20of%202020%20resulted%20in%20%2414%20billion%20economic%20losses%20in%20India" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exceeded $14 billion</a></strong>, demonstrating the extreme volatility that rural communities experience.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #03386a;"><strong>Impacts on Rural Livelihoods</strong></span></h2>
<h3><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Agricultural Productivity</strong></span></h3>
<p>The agricultural sector of India is already known to have a high sensitivity to climate change. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) together with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) predicts that major staples will experience a significant yield decrease by 2030, provided the current climatic patterns prevail. Rainfed areas, which account for nearly half of India’s food grain production, are especially at risk, complemented by a combination of climate-related changes in pest behavior, pollination cycles, and soil moisture patterns—making productivity challenges more severe than it already is.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Economic Vulnerability and Income Stability</strong></span></h3>
<p>Declining productivity directly affects rural incomes.<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/rural-poor-lose-5-of-income-to-heat-stress-every-year-more-vulnerable-to-future-climate-risks-94822#:~:text=Rural%20poor%20lose%205%25%20of%20income%20to%20heat%20stress%20every%20year%2C%20more%20vulnerable%20to%20future%20climate%20risks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> A 2024 report by Down To Earth estimates that the rural poor in India lose up to 5% of their annual income to climate-linked disruptions such as heat stress and flooding</strong>.</a> For households operating at or below subsistence levels, this translates into nutritional deficits, debt cycles, and increased reliance on informal credit.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Understanding Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities</strong></span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19429 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_1413483902.jpg" alt="Climate Change and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in India" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_1413483902.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_1413483902-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_1413483902-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_1413483902-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>The effects of climate change disproportionately affect women in rural India as most of them face barriers to land ownership and credit access, and are usually excluded from decision-making authority at the grassroots level. Under resource-scarce conditions, most women find it difficult to bear the responsibility of ensuring food and water security while already working as part-time laborers on farms. News agency ANI reported through a recent coverage that women in Dindori village of Madhya Pradesh had to climb a nearly empty 30-foot-deep well to retrieve the last available water supply. The situation reveals how environmental stress intensifies pre-existing gender inequalities. Research shows that warmer temperatures lead to more gender-based violence and elevated risks to maternal health, which worsens the many pre-existing vulnerabilities of women in these climate-affected areas.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #333333;"><strong>Mass Migration and Social Dislocation</strong></span></h3>
<p>As agricultural yields dwindle and natural resources degrade, rural households are increasingly resorting to distress migration. Seasonal migration to urban centers is increasing, often under precarious conditions. This has implications not only for urban infrastructures but also for rural economies that suffer from labor shortages and weakened community institutions.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #03386a;"><strong>Strategies and Policy Recommendations to Combat Climate Change</strong></span></h2>
<p> </p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19431 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2292899439.jpg" alt="Climate Change and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in India" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2292899439.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2292899439-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2292899439-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2292899439-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>Rural India needs adaptive strategies for climate resilience to tackle both system-wide weaknesses and specific community requirements. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) supports climate-smart practices through crop diversification, agroforestry, precision irrigation, and drought-resistant seed varieties that can be expanded through public-private partnerships and farmer cooperatives to boost productivity and decrease climate risks. Financial inclusion stands as a vital foundation because rural households need expanded access to crop insurance, affordable credit, and microfinance to absorb shocks and make investments in long-term adaptation.</p>
<p>However, schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) remain underutilized due to limited awareness and inefficient claim settlement systems. Strengthening community-based natural resource management is equally essential, with successful examples from states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan showing that empowering Gram Panchayats and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) can improve governance of water, forests, and grazing lands. Lastly, gender-inclusive planning must be embedded in all adaptation efforts. This includes actively involving women in climate action planning, improving their access to extension services, and formally recognizing their unpaid care work within rural policy frameworks. The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) offers a valuable model in this regard, though it requires greater funding and wider implementation to make a meaningful impact.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #03386a;"><strong>From Crisis to Capacity: Building a Climate-Ready Rural India</strong></span></h2>
<p>Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is a reality for millions in rural India. It endangers the economic foundation of rural life, deepens existing inequalities, and threatens to reverse development gains achieved over decades. However, with timely policy interventions, participatory governance, and robust social safety nets, the rural economy can be reoriented toward resilience and equity.</p>
<p>To achieve this, India must not only invest in climate adaptation but also redesign its rural development paradigm to be more inclusive, anticipatory, and systems-oriented. Climate resilience is not merely an environmental imperative—it is a socio-economic necessity.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das –</em></strong><i>Knowledge & Insights Coordinator</i><em>, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/climate-change-and-its-impact-on-rural-livelihoods-in-india/">Climate Change and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods in India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/sustainable-farming-and-food-security-in-india/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 01:02:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Livelihoods and Natural Resources]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19313</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>India has achieved a significant development milestone through its agricultural evolution, which brought food scarcity under control and led to self-sufficiency by the 1980s.</p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sustainable-farming-and-food-security-in-india/">Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>India has achieved a significant development milestone through its agricultural evolution, which brought food scarcity under control and led to self-sufficiency by the 1980s. Grains, fruits, and vegetables— India today is one of the largest producers in the world — a perfect demonstration that policy, innovation, and farmer resilience do work. While challenges around food security, environmental sustainability, and farmer livelihoods persist, they present an opportunity to build on past achievements. As India is marching ahead, sustainable agriculture needs to be more relevant than ever to secure long-term nutritional and ecological well-being.</p>
<p>This blog examines India’s current sustainable agriculture initiatives to provide recommendations for enhancing long-term food security and livelihood stability.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>The Duality of Abundance and Undernourishment</strong></span></h2>
<p>With around <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=11.8+million+metric+tons+of+wheat+and+63.09+million+tons+of+rice+reserves&oq=11.8+million+metric+tons+of+wheat+and++63.09+million+tons+of+rice+reserves&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDEwNjJqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QXkdhu3WxOM_fEF5HYbt1sTjP0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#:~:text=As%20of%20April%201%2C%20the%20country%27s%20wheat%20reserves%20stood%20at%20an%20impressive%2011.8%20million%20metric%20tons%2C%20a%2057%25%20increase%20from%20the%20previous%20year.%20At%20the%20same%20time%2C%20state%20reserves%20of%20rice%2C%20including%20unmilled%20paddy%2C%20reached%20an%20all%2Dtime%20high%20of%2063.09%20million%20tons." target="_blank" rel="noopener">11.8 million metric tons of wheat and 63.09 million tons of rice reserves</a>, India remains one of the world’s top producers of Cereals, pulses, fruits, and vegetables. Despite the availability of grain surpluses, a significant portion of the population continues to experience food insecurity. In a recent study in 2024,<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=+the+Global+Hunger+Index+ranked+India+at+105th+out+of+127+countries&sca_esv=da1b8a09527d5d5c&ei=sSMPaLjlJ5PhseMP2f6QgQs&ved=0ahUKEwj4gZaTkPqMAxWTcGwGHVk_JLAQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=+the+Global+Hunger+Index+ranked+India+at+105th+out+of+127+countries&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiQyB0aGUgR2xvYmFsIEh1bmdlciBJbmRleCByYW5rZWQgSW5kaWEgYXQgMTA1dGggb3V0IG9mIDEyNyBjb3VudHJpZXNIpCdQwiFYwiFwAXgAkAEAmAGgAaABoAGqAQMwLjG4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgGgAgeoAgrCAhQQABiABBiRAhi0AhiKBRjqAtgBAcICEBAAGAMYtAIY6gIYjwHYAQGYAwfxBXWZaP40o1jyugYECAEYB5IHATGgB3eyBwC4BwA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#:~:text=In%20the%202024%20Global%20Hunger%20Index%2C%20India%20ranks%20105th%20out%20of%20the%20127%20countries%20with%20sufficient%20data%20to%20calculate%202024%20GHI%20scores.%20With%20a%20score%20of%2027.3%2C%20India%20has%20a%20level%20of%20hunger%20that%20is%20serious" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the Global Hunger Index ranked India at 105th out of 127 countries</a>, reflecting the country’s serious food insecurity levels.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19316 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2125459193.jpg" alt="Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2125459193.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2125459193-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2125459193-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2125459193-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>Additionally, according to World Food Programme data, 74% of India’s population cannot afford a healthy diet. Malnutrition is also highly prevalent across the nation, especially among children and women, while anemia affects 67% of children and more than half of all women of reproductive age.</p>
<p>This paradox reveals a gap between agricultural production levels and nutritional outcomes. The Public Distribution Systems (PDS) provide enough calories to meet basic needs, but they do not guarantee that people will receive a diverse diet with sufficient micronutrients.</p>
<p>The need of the hour is to move beyond quantity-based approaches to food security and instead focus on quality aspects, including affordable, sustainable production methods, and easy access to food.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Emergence of Sustainable Farming Practices</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19317 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2622043335.jpg" alt="Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2622043335.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2622043335-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2622043335-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2622043335-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>Sustainable agriculture has slowly started to gain momentum throughout India. The combination of environmental requirements, policy support, and increasing farmer participation has led to a transition from chemical-based farming to environmentally friendly methods.</p>
<p>Natural farming serves as a government-endorsed approach to combat both soil deterioration and chemical substance dependence. <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/less-than-four-percent-indian-farmers-adopted-sustainable-agricultural-practices-says-study/articleshow/82165017.cms?from=mdr#:~:text=Natural%20farming%20is%20the%20fastest%20growing%20sustainable%20agricultural%20practice%20in%20India%20and%20has%20been%20adopted%20by%20around%20800%2C000%20farmers." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natural farming methods have been adopted by approximately 800,000 farmers throughout 12 states in 2024.</a> The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), which started in 2023, supports farming practices that restore soil health while protecting groundwater resources.</p>
<p>Similarly, even though organic farming maintains a restricted presence across 2% of India’s net sown area, it has received substantial support through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana schemes. The state of Sikkim has adopted complete organic farming practices, while Kerala and Uttarakhand are establishing farmer cooperatives, which help farmers obtain organic certification and seamless market access.</p>
<p>Regenerative agriculture is another approach to sustainable farming that has recently become popular among the farming community of the country. Examples like the REEL Regenerative Cotton initiative in Gujarat and the Bayer ForwardFarm model in Telangana show how models that are science-based and replicable can improve yields, restore soil health, and raise farm incomes.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Policy Framework and Financial Incentives</strong></span></h2>
<p>The Indian government has launched several policies to encourage sustainable agriculture. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is one such example. It aims to increase agricultural productivity through integrated farming practices, with a special focus on rainfed areas, water conservation, and soil health management.</p>
<p>The government has provided financial support to farmers through policy frameworks, which show that 54% of farmers received aid in 2024 to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. The 2024 Agriculture Budget demonstrates the government’s dedication to climate-resilient food security through its focus on innovative, sustainable farming methods.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Climate Vulnerability and the Role of Monsoons</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19318 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2197371953.jpg" alt="Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India" width="1000" height="643" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2197371953.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2197371953-300x193.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2197371953-768x494.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2197371953-360x231.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>With more than half of India’s cultivated land not having irrigation systems, the country is heavily dependent on monsoon rain for its agricultural output. The <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-receive-above-average-monsoon-rains-2025-government-says-2025-04-15/#:~:text=India%20forecasts%20above%20average%20monsoon%20rains%20in%20boost%20to%20crop%20output%2C%20economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">105% above-average monsoon rainfall predicted for 2025 will help drive up our agricultural production while maintaining</a> stable market prices for agricultural produce, as reported by Reuters. However unpredictable weather patterns and ongoing climate change effects tend to disrupt agricultural production cycles, which threatens both food security and drives up food prices.</p>
<p>In today’s context with unpredictable weather patterns, risk adaptation needs more than just cultivating weather-resistant crop varieties; it also requires building water harvesting infrastructure and implementing precision irrigation systems, including real-time agro-advisory services. These systemic interventions are needed to prevent climate-induced shocks from continuing to hamper the nation’s food security and farmer incomes.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Challenges in Implementation</strong></span></h2>
<p>Despite promising developments, adopting sustainable agriculture still faces multiple substantial obstacles that prevent its widespread implementation. Smallholder farmers face limited awareness about sustainable practices as they cannot access training programs, technical guidance, and demonstration models.</p>
<p>Secondly, the supply chain restrictions prevent most sustainably produced products from receiving premium prices, which diminishes the economic motivation for farmers to switch to these practices. The lack of proper post-harvest infrastructure, including cold storage facilities, processing units, and logistics systems in rural areas results in excessive food loss and wastage.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Strategic Pathways Forward</strong></span></h2>
<p>India needs to implement a systems-based approach to fill these gaps and make real progress. The foundation of this approach should start with farmer-centric knowledge dissemination, delivered through Panchayati Raj Institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and digital advisory platforms. The implementation of specific capacity-building programs targeting women farmers and marginalized communities will also drive equal participation.</p>
<p>We need to build markets for sustainable produce that are inclusive of all. Certificates, branding, and procurement incentives should be introduced for farmers to help them connect to conscious consumers and institutional buyers. Millets and pulses that are already promoted under the International Year of Millets 2023 should be included in the MSP to facilitate diversified cropping patterns while improving nutrition.</p>
<p>Moreover, enough focus should be directed towards attracting investments in climate-smart infrastructure like solar-powered cold storage, climate-resilient seeds, and decentralized water systems.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19315 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2249910265.jpg" alt="Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India" width="1000" height="666" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2249910265.jpg 1000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2249910265-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2249910265-768x511.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2249910265-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
<p>India’s agricultural sector is currently at a pivotal moment. This transition towards sustainable farming is not just a matter of owning up to long-standing environmental responsibilities—it is a national imperative for our food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. The way forward requires three main components: institutional support for sustainable practices, financial and knowledge gap bridging, and market realignment with ecological outcomes. Only then can India transform its agricultural landscape. The choices of today will determine whether the country can sustainably nourish itself in the long run while taking adequate care of its natural resources in the decades to come.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das – </em></strong><em>Content Strategist, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/sustainable-farming-and-food-security-in-india/">Sustainable Farming and Food Security in India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/women-bridging-the-gender-gap-in-agriculture/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2025 06:03:26 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Agriculture]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Gender]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19238</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>A few months ago, I watched the Oscar-nominated film Laapataa Ladies in theaters. Even after the credits rolled, Jaya's story lingered on and stayed with me.</p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/women-bridging-the-gender-gap-in-agriculture/">Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>A few months ago, I watched the Oscar-nominated film Laapataa Ladies in theaters. Even after the credits rolled, Jaya’s story lingered on and stayed with me.</p>
<p>Jaya, one of the central characters in the recent IIFA-winning film Laapataa Ladies, embodies the quiet struggles of millions of rural Indian women—unseen, unheard, yet crucial to the unseen fabric of society. She finds herself lost and forced to navigate a world that doesn’t know what to do with her kind—a story reflecting the plight of countless other women farmers in India. They farm the land, plant the seed, and harvest the crop, yet they are invisible at the forefront of our country’s agricultural sector.</p>
<p>In India’s farming realm lies a puzzling scenario: as per the <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1911142#:~:text=by%20PIB%20Delhi-,As%20per%20the%20Annual%20Periodic%20Labour%20Force%20Survey%20(PLFS)%20Report%202021%2D22,-%2C%20the%20estimated%20percentage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Report 2021-22</a>, women comprise around 62.9% of the agricultural labor force but <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/landownership-by-women-the-missing-link-in-indias-transformative-journey-in-agriculture#:~:text=gender%2Ddisaggregated%20data.-,India%E2%80%99s%20low%20rate%20of%20women%E2%80%99s%20land%20ownership%20%E2%80%94%20a%20mere%2014%20per%20cent,-%E2%80%94%20is%20a%20glaring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still own a meager 14% of the land</a>. Due to the lack of land rights, they are left out of receiving government perks, aid from institutions, and access to modern agricultural tools.</p>
<p>This gender discrepancy isn’t just about fairness; it’s an economic hurdle that hampers farming output, rural sustenance, and the country’s food security. To attain lasting growth in India’s agriculture sector, it is crucial to equip women farmers with the tools, rights, and acknowledgment they deserve.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>The State of Women in Indian Agriculture</strong></span></h2>
<p>Women farmers play a vital role in agriculture; however, they often face challenges in owning land and accessing resources, as well as training programs and rural markets.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Land Ownership: A Fundamental Barrier</strong></span></h3>
<p>Land ownership plays an extremely crucial role in agriculture. Still, traditional gender norms and inheritance laws pose obstacles for women to own land in the farming sector, where access to resources such as credit and government subsidies is crucial for independent decision-making on farms.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19243 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-scaled.jpg" alt="Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2567902991-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>In regions like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, women mostly work as tenant farmers on family-owned properties, putting them at a disadvantage in terms of financial autonomy due to reliance on male relatives for support. Although some states have introduced policies promoting joint ownership of land, the majority of the women still face struggles due to poor implementation and cultural resistance hindering their effectiveness.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Financial Exclusion and Credit Gaps</strong></span></h3>
<p>Lack of land ownership leads to another problem. Women farmers who lack collateral fail to qualify for most loan programs and get cut off from credit services needed to finance seeds and farming supplies like fertilizers and equipment. <a href="https://www.nabard.org/news-article.aspx?id=25&cid=552&NID=435#:~:text=Women%20are%20the%20best%20borrowers%2C%20and%20this%20is%20proven%2C%22%20G.R.%20Chintala%2C%20the%20chairman%20of%20India%27s%20National%20Bank%20for%20Agriculture%20and%20Rural%20Development%20(NABARD)%2C%20told%20IndiaSpend.%20Collectively%2C%2020%20million%20women%20who%20are%20part%20of%20self%2Dhelp%20groups%20have%20non%2Dperforming%20assets%20(NPAs)%20or%20bad%20loans%20of%20only%204%25%2C%20he%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener">As per NABARD reports</a>, women have been able to access only 27% of the credit they have deposited, while men have been able to access 52% of their deposits, having no option but to depend on high-interest informal lenders for financial support.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.jansamarth.in/kisan-credit-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Kisan Credit Card program</a> was created to offer farmers convenient credit options with a special focus on including women farmers. Still, its popularity among women has been limited because of the lack of awareness regarding such schemes. To ensure that women farmers have the support they need for farming investments, innovative financial solutions like collateral loans or group lending designed specifically for them could help bridge the gap.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Limited Access to Technology and Training</strong></span></h3>
<p>The gender gap in agriculture is worsened by the unavailability of updated farming methods for women farmers, who are often left out of agricultural initiatives. Introducing them to techniques for soil management, irrigation, and resilient crops will empower them to adopt a technology-based approach to farming. The<a href="https://digitalgreen.org/women-who-grow-how-women-farmers-in-odisha-india-are-at-the-forefront-of-the-digital-agriculture-revolution/#:~:text=Empowering%20Women%20through,to%20market%20negotiations." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Digital Green initiative</a> in Odisha and Jharkhand has demonstrated positive outcomes through mobile-based services to educate female farmers.</p>
<p>These endeavors have resulted in increased productivity, effective pest control measures, and greater financial autonomy. Nonetheless, these projects should be expanded nationwide through government and private-sector partnerships.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Market Exclusion: Women Farmers and the Value Chain</strong></span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19242 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-scaled.jpg" alt="Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2413776949-360x203.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Women farmers encounter obstacles when trying to sell their harvests, as they frequently do not have market access and instead depend heavily on intermediaries who take advantage of their limited bargaining power by offering reduced prices for their produce.</p>
<p>In Maharashtra, community-driven initiatives by women farmers—pooling resources and negotiating fair prices independently from mediators—are proving successful in improving women’s involvement in the market economy.</p>
<p><a href="https://sewabharat.org/#:~:text=2.9%20million%20workers%20are%20associated%20with%20the%20Self%2DEmployed%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Association%20across%2018%20states%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA)</a> has established thriving cooperatives in around 18 states, with around 2.9 million workers managed by women themselves. It aims to provide increased income security and financial stability to its women members through knowledge exchange, skill-building, and resource sharing. Expanding these models to the far reaches of rural India holds the potential to give more women autonomy over their farming produce and improve their economic well-being for the long term.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Bridging the Gender Gap</strong></span></h2>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Strengthening Land Rights for Women</strong></span></p>
<p>Laws need to guarantee that women possess the same entitlements to inherit and own land as men; policies like the Bhoomi Sena Initiative in Karnataka have made strides in enhancing land tenure security for women by digitizing land records.</p>
<p>Yet inconsistent inheritance laws across states still pose a challenge; it is imperative to enforce land ownership reforms nationwide to grant women the legal validation they deserve as farmers.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Credit Access</strong></span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19241 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-scaled.jpg" alt="Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2388585351-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Financial organizations should create credit options tailored to both genders that don’t mandate land as security against the loan amount. Offering increased access to low-interest loans, introducing credit schemes linked with SHGs, and microfinance programs can help women farmers secure financial resources for acquiring farming equipment and adopting environmentally friendly methods in agriculture.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Investing in Women-Centric Training and Technology</strong></span></h3>
<p>Women who work in agriculture urgently need agricultural training programs emphasizing farming practices that consider climate conditions, irrigation methods, and the use of machinery on farms. Moreover, implementing mobile-based services and teaching skills can help address information disparities and ensure women have up-to-date market trends and weather updates.</p>
<p>Governments and private agri-tech companies must collaborate to ensure women farmers benefit equally from tech-based solutions.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>Market Access and Women-Led Agricultural Enterprises</strong></span></h3>
<p><strong> </strong>Expanding the presence of women-led FPO operations and cooperatives can improve market access and fairer product prices while boosting incomes for those involved in these initiatives. To promote gender equality in agriculture markets, further support should be given to women-run businesses through government procurement programs by setting quotas that enable them to compete in the formal market system.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Conclusion: Women as the Future of Indian Agriculture</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19240 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986.jpg" alt="Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture" width="1599" height="900" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986.jpg 1599w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/phool_1715132765075_1715132794986-360x203.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1599px) 100vw, 1599px" /></p>
<p>In “Laapataa Ladies,” Jaya embarks upon a quest to rediscover her sense of self within a system that tends to ignore her presence. The gender disparity in this sector goes beyond mere concerns. It poses a significant economic obstacle to addressing India’s food security goals and fostering sustainable rural prosperity and agricultural development.</p>
<p>Since time immemorial, women have always played a silent but crucial role in driving India’s progress. It is now imperative that they get a chance to shine—not as supporting figures but as influential figures and key influencers shaping the trajectory of agriculture.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das – </em></strong><em>Content Strategist, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/women-bridging-the-gender-gap-in-agriculture/">Women Bridging the Gender Gap in Agriculture</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/scaling-success-sustaining-growth-how-pmegp-empowers-entrepreneurs/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sambodhi]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:25:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19227</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Abhay Kumar’s story, although one of many, is a powerful illustration of the successes of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP). </p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/scaling-success-sustaining-growth-how-pmegp-empowers-entrepreneurs/">Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p><em>“Until a few years ago, I struggled to keep my small tailoring shop running. I had the ability but not the capital and equipment. So, I could only make ends meet. Today, my business is successful, and I can employ workers too. Today, I can envision a future that I could not have imagined a few years ago.”</em>— Abhay Kumar, PMEGP Beneficiary, Hazaribagh.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19232 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2.jpg" alt="Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs" width="1399" height="1744" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2.jpg 1399w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2-241x300.jpg 241w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2-821x1024.jpg 821w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2-768x957.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2-1232x1536.jpg 1232w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-2-360x449.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1399px) 100vw, 1399px" /></p>
<p>Abhay Kumar’s story, although one of many, is a powerful illustration of the successes of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP). Despite his talent and determination, Kumar, a tailor, could not scale up his business to ensure financial stability. Like many rural entrepreneurs, he faced major roadblocks, such as uncertain cash flows and limited market access, which in turn inhibited their ability to invest in expensive—but critical—machinery or create a sizeable stock of raw materials.</p>
<p>However, things changed as Kumar was able to secure a PMEGP loan through the help of Grant Thornton Bharat under their Atmanirbhar Hazaribagh initiative. As we shall discuss in the following section, the structure of the loan under the program not only meets the immediate capital needs but also has a revolving component that ensures the cyclicity of an entrepreneur’s business needs is met.</p>
<p>Since it began in 2008, PMEGP has benefitted over <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/around-7-9-million-jobs-created-under-pmegp-since-2008-09-msme-ministry-124072201143_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 lakh microenterprises</a> and created over 80 lakh jobs. In recent years, however, the program has experienced a concerning downturn—in the current financial year, 2024-25, the volume of loans sanctioned under the program has <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/economics/pmegp-msme-loans-drop-45-in-fy25-1859498" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declined by 45%.</a> Given the scale of its impact and our experience interacting with the woodworking and textile artisans under the Atmanirbhar Hazaribagh initiative, we propose that the Union Government consider expanding and continuing PMEGP beyond FY 2026, when it is set to expire.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Understanding PMEGP: The Structure of the Program</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19231 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-scaled.jpg" alt="Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs" width="2560" height="1677" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-300x197.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-768x503.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-2048x1342.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-3-360x236.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>PMEGP is a union government program implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission <a href="https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revisedguidelines07.12.2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(KVIC)</a> to promote micro-enterprises in rural and semi-urban locations. Individuals aged 18 and above with at least an <a href="https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revisedguidelines07.12.2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eighth grade education</a> are eligible to obtain a PMEGP loan for projects with a maximum project cost of 50 lakhs for manufacturing units and 20 lakhs for services units.</p>
<p>It consists of both a conventional term loan component as well as a working capital component in the form of cash credit. Additionally, the term-loan component is significantly subsidized—<a href="https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revisedguidelines07.12.2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">up to 35% of the project cost</a>. This combination of term and working capital loans makes PMEGP particularly attractive compared to more traditional loan schemes, as it identifies both the lumpsum infrastructure investment needs as well as the cyclic and flexible working capital needs of an enterprise. Beneficiaries are also trained to develop their capacities in financial and business management, ensuring that they are equipped to scale up and sustain their enterprise.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>How the Revolving Loan Facility Sets PMEGP Apart</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19229 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element.jpg" alt="Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs" width="800" height="800" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element.jpg 800w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-300x300.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-150x150.jpg 150w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-768x768.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-360x360.jpg 360w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-60x60.jpg 60w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-80x80.jpg 80w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-100x100.jpg 100w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-120x120.jpg 120w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-140x140.jpg 140w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-200x200.jpg 200w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-390x390.jpg 390w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-460x460.jpg 460w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-554x554.jpg 554w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-450x450.jpg 450w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/green-recycling-symbol-design-element-400x400.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>The revolving loan component of the PMEGP sets the program apart from other government schemes as it accounts for the cyclical nature of business and rewards good repayment behavior. By breaking from the rigid repayment structure and high interest rates that characterize conventional loans, PMEGP helps entrepreneurs, such as Abhay, to reinvest their earnings into their business without the stress of immediate full repayments, ensuring better cash flow management.</p>
<p>This model is particularly effective for businesses that experience seasonal demand fluctuations, such as textile and woodwork. For example, Abhay’s tailoring business experiences higher demand during festive and wedding seasons. The flexibility of PMEGP financing allows him to stock up on raw materials during the off-peak seasons and keep operations running smoothly during the cut-throat peak seasons.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>A Push Towards Local Economic Transformation</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19230 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs" width="2560" height="1435" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-300x168.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-768x430.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-2048x1148.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-2-360x202.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>By catering to the capital needs of micro-enterprises, PMEGP not only creates individual success stories such as that of Abhay Kumar but also contributes to the transformation of the local economy. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the lethargic recovery of the manufacturing sector, have pushed millions of workers back into agriculture—in 2019, 42.5% of India’s labor force was engaged in agriculture, while in 2024, <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/share-of-workers-in-manufacturing-still-remains-below-covid-levels-plfs-124100301163_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the share is 46.1%.</a></span> Therefore, programs such as the PMEGP play a crucial role in helping workers transition away from agriculture. As rural entrepreneurs scale up their enterprises, they create both permanent and ad-hoc job opportunities for workers who would otherwise be underemployed in agriculture.</p>
<p>Our experience in Hazaribagh also shows the special potential of the program in smaller, less industrialized states such as Jharkhand. Public data from the NSSO and the Ministry of MSMEs shows that the majority of manufacturing units are concentrated in western and southern states. On the other hand, states in the eastern and northern parts of the country have overwhelming dependence on agriculture, with the growth of traditional craftworks being stymied due to capital and capacity constraints. As a result, PMEGP has a vast potential to transform the local economy in these regions. Given that the scheme, as it stands, is valid till 2026, expansion or continuation, if any, should consider regional disparities and beneficiary targets should be larger for states with smaller MSME and manufacturing sectors.</p>
<p>However, PMEGP is not without its challenges. A major concern is its complex application process that either creates delays or discourages potential applicants. Although program guidelines <a href="https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revisedguidelines07.12.2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specify</a> that an online application process must be followed, the banks responsible for processing the applications continue to require in-person approvals and document submissions. This approval chain must be streamlined for the program to realize its potential. Additionally, banks should be incentivized to align their commercial interests with the program’s emphasis on boosting the MSME sector and transforming the local economy.</p>
<p><strong><em>Atish Padhy – </em></strong><em>Deputy Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Manmeet Kaur – </em></strong><em>Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Tanu Sarathe – </em></strong><em>Deputy Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/scaling-success-sustaining-growth-how-pmegp-empowers-entrepreneurs/">Scaling Success, Sustaining Growth: How PMEGP Empowers Entrepreneurs</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/unearthing-social-value-an-insight-into-social-return-on-investment-sroi/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sambodhi]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:50:09 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19213</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>As long-term environmental and social outcomes are fast becoming central to development projects, traditional financial metrics have proved insufficient as measures of project impact. </p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/unearthing-social-value-an-insight-into-social-return-on-investment-sroi/">Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>As long-term environmental and social outcomes are fast becoming central to development projects, traditional financial metrics have proved insufficient as measures of project impact. However, even in this changing context, questions of project effectiveness and efficiency remain extremely important for funders, implementing organizations, and policymakers. Social Return on Investment (SROI) has emerged as a powerful tool that accounts for the complexity of socio-environmental outcomes, while also helping quantify project effectiveness and efficiency in monetary terms. In this blog, we explore the strengths and relevance of SROI analyses as well as the limitations and other considerations that evaluators must be mindful of.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>SROI as an Impact Assessment Tool</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19219 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2560" height="2075" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-300x243.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-1024x830.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-768x622.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-1536x1245.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-2048x1660.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-2-360x292.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>SROI helps evaluators and other stakeholders answer a fundamental question: What is the value of social good generated per dollar/rupee invested by the project? While it is similar to the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) framework, SROI allows for the accounting of a more complex impact than is possible with a classic CBA. Similarly, it allows evaluators to capture even second-degree/indirect impacts of a project by following a systematic process.</p>
<p>First, the evaluator is required to define the scope of the project, as well as the analysis. This includes identifying the social, environmental, and economic outcomes that can be attributed to the project and must be valued. This step is followed by stakeholder identification, mapping out the theory of change and indicators for each outcome and finally, identifying valid and reliable financial proxies for each outcome. At the end of this systematic process, one arrives at an SROI ratio, which indicates if the project is socio-environmentally “profitable” (ratio>1) or not (ratio<1). Given the systematic nature of the SROI framework, evaluators can readily integrate it into traditional program evaluation tools, such as the theory of change and the logical framework.</p>
<p>To ensure robustness and transparency, an SROI analysis must ensure stakeholder involvement—to the extent possible—in each step of the process. Similarly, efforts must be made to ensure that the financial proxies assigned for valuation are conservative estimates. This ensures that the analysis does not overclaim project impact and errs on the side of caution. Finally, an SROI analysis must be complemented by sensitivity analyses that test the effect of a change in assumptions and financial proxies for each of the outcomes.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Understanding SROI: More than just numbers</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19220 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-1-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>There are two ways to go about the SROI analysis- retrospective SROI and prospective SROI. Retrospective SROI, as the name suggests, evaluates past projects on the basis of their actual outcomes, and has its own set of pros and cons. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While it provides a reliable estimate of the project’s <em>actual</em> impact to decide or justify continued funding, it requires the availability of historical data and particularly baseline data points, without which attributing the entire impact to the program or intervention will not be possible.</span> Further, since it may also involve stakeholder interactions, there is a possibility of recall bias in qualitative assessments. On the other hand, prospective SROI is adopted in cases where the projects are still ongoing and predicts a <em>potential</em> social return. It is more helpful for program teams in planning intervention rollout, cash flows, and resource allocation. Having said that, since it includes a great deal of assumptions, financial proxies, and guestimates, it brings a high level of uncertainty and warrants updating the real-time data during implementation.</p>
<p>Although both approaches have their own merit and challenges, but when combined together, it paves way for robust impact evaluations and offers the stakeholders to deliver material change through their investments, right from the beginning to the end.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Applying SROI in disaster resilience: A case of flood-prone region in India</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19218 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2560" height="1705" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4-1-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>Imagine a large-scale flood resilience project in Bihar, funded by a multilateral development organization. The project takes a multi-pronged approach at building community resilience by strengthening embankments, putting early warning systems (EWS) in place, improving connectivity and enhancing livelihood support for vulnerable and affected communities. While any conventional evaluation or assessment would call the project successful by measuring the reduction in economic losses, a robust SROI analysis will add value by bringing in a more holistic and broader perspective.</p>
<p>Strengthening of embankments will help in reducing destruction to life and property, reduce displacement, and safeguard life; EWS will help lower fatalities and minimize health related expenditure; and livelihoods- related intervention will help reduce migration and promote local economic development. By making valid assumptions and assigning financial proxies to such outcomes, SROI will help quantify the social and economic value created by the project.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Key components of SROI analysis</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19217 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-1-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<p>When calculating SROI, a significant aspect is accounting for deadweight (the impact that would have been there anyway), attribution (separating the project’s distinct contribution), displacement (the amount of the effect on the cost of others), and drop-off (decline of the result after the intervention has been in place). There is no definitive guidance on how to quantify these four factors, but attribution and deadweight are the most important to calculate. There are three major methods to estimate deadweight to impute: (a) Ask individuals what would have happened regardless (the counterfactual) that results in an estimation of deadweight; (b) Compare the outcome with others or against benchmark groups like the national average rate of the outcome; (c) Difference-in-difference (DiD) method: Compare trends in the outcome before and after the treatment for the affected stakeholders with respect to the trends for a contrast group. These estimates are based on assumptions that are likely to be imprecise, context-specific, or subject to subjective opinion, resulting in possible misstatement of impact. Without standardized methods, differences in estimation methodologies can further contribute to comparability and consistency being eroded between evaluations, which raises doubts about the reliability of SROI outcomes.</p>
<p>For example, in the flood prevention initiative, the construction of embankments to limit flood risks and avoid large-scale displacement of communities. In an SROI analysis, deadweight would capture how much the natural patterns of flooding may have changed in the absence of the embankment. Attribution would capture how much of the loss of flood impact is attributable to the embankment in comparison to other flood management measures, such as upgraded drainage or local disaster preparedness efforts. Displacement would capture whether the intervention had the effect of only moving flood risks downstream rather than removing them. A sensitivity analysis, in this context, would study the impact on the final SROI ratio produced by changes in assumptions, like changes in the flood frequency data or economic costs saved, to obtain a more nuanced and accurate estimation of impact.</p>
<p>For increasing credibility for SROI, and to make SROI stronger, sensitivity analysis holds significance. Sensitivity analysis assesses the impact of variation in important assumptions like indicator values, the assigned financial proxies, the assigned deadweight and attribution measures, etc., on the final SROI ratio, thus checking the resilience of the ratio and its likelihood to vary under these changes. Sensitivity analysis, through an identification of the most significant variables and testing of various scenarios, enables practitioners to comprehend the level of uncertainty involved in SROI calculations. This not only improves transparency but also facilitates better-informed decision-making by bringing into focus the assumptions that have the greatest impact on outcomes.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Critiques and challenges to consider</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19216 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2000" height="2000" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6.jpg 2000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-300x300.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-150x150.jpg 150w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-768x768.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-360x360.jpg 360w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-60x60.jpg 60w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-80x80.jpg 80w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-100x100.jpg 100w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-120x120.jpg 120w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-140x140.jpg 140w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-200x200.jpg 200w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-390x390.jpg 390w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-460x460.jpg 460w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-554x554.jpg 554w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-450x450.jpg 450w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/6-400x400.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></p>
<p>SROI analysis, although becoming more popular, is also critiqued by development practitioners. A major issue concerns the subjectivity in placing monetary proxies on social outcomes. Monetizing such benefits as enhanced well-being or social cohesion can be too simplistic a representation of complicated social dynamics and may boil down complicated human experiences into one financial value. This monetization process also depends on the utilization of a range of financial proxy values from various sources, which may not necessarily agree with one another. Browsing through a large number of data sources can also be a question of feasibility. In addition, SROI calculation is data-demanding, requiring extensive access to data and specialist skills. Apart from resource demands, there’s also a likelihood of exaggerating positive effects or ignoring unforeseen negative effects.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Should you conduct an SROI analysis for your impact project?</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19215 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7.jpg" alt="Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)" width="2000" height="2000" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7.jpg 2000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-300x300.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-150x150.jpg 150w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-768x768.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-360x360.jpg 360w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-60x60.jpg 60w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-80x80.jpg 80w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-100x100.jpg 100w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-120x120.jpg 120w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-140x140.jpg 140w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-200x200.jpg 200w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-390x390.jpg 390w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-460x460.jpg 460w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-554x554.jpg 554w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-450x450.jpg 450w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/7-400x400.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></p>
<p>To those involved in impact-driven projects, be it in disaster resilience, climate adaptation, or social development, SROI offers a powerful lens to evaluate success. If your project involves multiple stakeholders, generates long-term social or environmental benefits, and requires justification for scaling or more funding with evidence, SROI can provide crucial insights into its true value. However, if data constraints are significant or if the primary goal is a short-term financial analysis, alternative evaluation methods may be more appropriate. The success depends on balancing the advantages of SROI versus its complexity and making sure that methodology fits the goal of the project.</p>
<p><strong><em>Atish Padhy – </em></strong><em>Deputy Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Manmeet Kaur – </em></strong><em>Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Prakhar Bisht – </em></strong><em>Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/unearthing-social-value-an-insight-into-social-return-on-investment-sroi/">Unearthing Social Value: An Insight into Social Return on Investment (SROI)</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/innovate-impact-inspire-how-women-entrepreneurs-are-driving-economic-and-sustainable-transformation/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stella George]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:26:19 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneurship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Gender]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inclusive Growth & Sustainability]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[women entrepreneurs]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19207</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Anita Chavan, a farmer in Maharashtra, grows organic vegetables and wants to expand her business by starting a food processing unit. </p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/innovate-impact-inspire-how-women-entrepreneurs-are-driving-economic-and-sustainable-transformation/">Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<p>Anita Chavan, a farmer in Maharashtra, grows organic vegetables and wants to expand her business by starting a food processing unit. However, like many women entrepreneurs, she faces difficulties in receiving funding and accessing markets. Traditional banks often hesitate to lend to women because they lack collateral or formal credit history. As a result, Anita turns to local savings groups and informal lenders, sometimes paying high interest rates to keep her business up and running.</p>
<p>Women-led businesses like Anita’s play a crucial role in the economy. In India, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute approximately 30% of the GDP and employ over 110 million people. With the right support, this contribution is expected to rise to 35% by <a href="https://www.iifl.com/knowledge-center/msme/role-of-msmes-in-boosting-indias-gdp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025</a>. About 20% of MSMEs in India are owned by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wings-opportunity-fuelling-indias-growth-through-msmes-srikanth-hocvc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women</a>, covering sectors such as farming, textiles, and food <a href="https://www.iifl.com/knowledge-center/msme/how-msmes-empower-women-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">production</a>. Women-led MSMEs collectively contribute around 17% to India’s GDP, amounting to approximately USD <a href="https://www.businessworld.in/article/about-20-msmes-in-india-are-women-owned-contribute-632-bn-to-gdp-550079" target="_blank" rel="noopener">632 billion</a>. Their businesses create jobs, increase incomes, and promote local development. Yet, they continue to face barriers that limit their ability to grow and succeed.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Creating an Enabling Environment for Women Entrepreneurs</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19208 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business.png" alt="Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation" width="3000" height="2000" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business.png 3000w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-300x200.png 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-1024x683.png 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-768x512.png 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/portrait-person-owning-managing-their-own-business-360x240.png 360w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px" /></p>
<p>For women entrepreneurs to thrive, they need more than just good business ideas. They require support from policies, markets, and financial institutions. In fact, many women struggle with complex business registration processes, lack of access to large markets, and limited mentorship opportunities. Here, governments and businesses can help by simplifying registration, offering tax benefits, and prioritizing women-led enterprises in procurement.</p>
<p>Workshops, training <a href="https://www.iscos.org/wedp/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">programs</a>, and mentorship <a href="https://mentorcruise.com/blog/we-found-the-5-best-business-mentor-platforms-for-women-to-help-you-succeed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">networks</a> can also play a key role. Providing women with skills in business management, digital marketing, and financial planning can help them scale their enterprises. Public-private partnerships that bring together policymakers, investors, and support organizations can create a more inclusive and business-friendly environment for women.</p>
<p>Several initiatives already exist to support women entrepreneurs. The <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/what-we-do/solutions-for-women-owned-businesses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women Entreprenuership Platforms (WEP)</a> collaborates with organizations like TransUnion CIBIL to enhance financial literacy and credit access for women entrepreneurs. Women’s World Banking works with financial institutions to develop products tailored for women-owned <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/what-we-do/solutions-for-women-owned-businesses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSMEs</a>. Additionally, government schemes such as the Union Nari Shakti Scheme and Sakhi Shakti Loan provide specific financial support to women <a href="https://moneyview.in/loans/startup-business-loan-for-womens-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entrepreneurs</a>.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Access to Credit: Overcoming Financial Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19210 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hands-holding-saving-coins-outdoor.jpg" alt="Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation" width="800" height="533" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hands-holding-saving-coins-outdoor.jpg 800w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hands-holding-saving-coins-outdoor-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hands-holding-saving-coins-outdoor-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hands-holding-saving-coins-outdoor-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>One of the biggest challenges for women-led businesses is access to finance. Many financial institutions see women-owned businesses as risky because they often lack property for collateral or formal business records. As a result, they struggle to get loans and rely on informal lenders, who charge high interest rates.</p>
<p>To bridge this gap, financial institutions need to design loan products that cater to women entrepreneurs. Some solutions include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Flexible loan terms:</strong> Banks and microfinance institutions can provide loans without requiring large <a href="https://www.winssolutions.org/10-effective-strategies-to-empower-women-entrepreneurs-now/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collateral</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Digital financial services:</strong> Mobile banking and peer-to-peer lending can make it easier for women to access credit, especially in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Impact investment:</strong> Investors can fund women-led businesses through blended finance models that combine public and private funding to lower <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/what-we-do/solutions-for-women-owned-businesses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risks</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Financial literacy is also important. Training programs on money management, budgeting, and investment can help women make informed financial decisions and grow their businesses sustainably.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Climate Resilience and Sustainable Business Models</strong></span></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19209 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Model-village.png" alt="Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation" width="444" height="316" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Model-village.png 444w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Model-village-300x214.png 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Model-village-360x256.png 360w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Model-village-348x248.png 348w" sizes="(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px" /></p>
<p>As climate change impacts economies and communities, women entrepreneurs are leading the way in creating green and sustainable <a href="https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Womens-Green-Business.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">businesses</a>. Many women-run enterprises focus on organic farming, eco-friendly packaging, and waste reduction. In agriculture, women are adopting climate-smart practices such as water conservation and organic farming, which improve food security while protecting the environment.</p>
<p>However, these efforts require investment in green technologies and capacity-building. Governments, banks, and investors should support women entrepreneurs in transitioning to sustainable business models by offering green finance options, access to renewable energy, and training in climate adaptation.</p>
<p>Therefore<strong>, </strong>women-led businesses are more than just enterprises they are engines of economic transformation and sustainability. However, the road from a great idea to a thriving business is often filled with challenges, from securing capital to navigating restrictive policies.</p>
<p>Entrepreneurship is unlocking new opportunities for women, the systemic shifts needed to create a business-friendly environment, and the financial tools that can bridge funding gaps. As businesses worldwide adapt to climate challenges, women entrepreneurs are at the forefront of driving <strong>sustainable solutions</strong>, whether through <strong>eco-friendly production</strong>, <strong>regenerative agriculture</strong>, or <strong>circular economy models</strong>. By reimagining support structures, strengthening financial inclusion, and fostering <strong>climate-smart innovation</strong>, women entrepreneurs are not just building businesses but shaping a more <strong>resilient and sustainable future.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Stella George – </em></strong><em>Senior Research Manager, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/innovate-impact-inspire-how-women-entrepreneurs-are-driving-economic-and-sustainable-transformation/">Innovate, Impact, Inspire: How Women Entrepreneurs are Driving Economic and Sustainable Transformation</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India</title>
<link>https://sambodhi.co.in/innovations-and-policy-solutions-for-sustainable-water-management-in-urban-india/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Raj Das]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:34:08 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Livelihoods and Natural Resources]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[urban india]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[water managemnet]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://sambodhi.co.in/?p=19196</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>As cities expand and the demand for water resources increases, the need of the hour is to find sustainable solutions to these growing urban challenges. </p>
<p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/innovations-and-policy-solutions-for-sustainable-water-management-in-urban-india/">Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wpb-content-wrapper"><div class="container vc_container " ><div class="vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid"><div class="wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12">
<div class="vc_column-inner ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element" >
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Introduction</span></h2>
<p>In our previous post, we talked about the escalating water crisis in urban India and what the future holds if we fail to act today—a crisis driven by groundwater depletion, pollution, and the unpredictability of climate change.</p>
<p>The numbers paint a stark picture. <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1595558#:~:text=The%20report%20titled%20%E2%80%9CComposite%20Water%20Management%20Index%E2%80%9D%2C%20published%20by%20NITI%20Aayog%20in%20June%202018%2C%20mentions%20that%20India%20is%20undergoing%20the%20worst%20water%20crisis%20in%20its%20history%20and%20nearly%20600%20million%20people%20are%20facing%20high%20to%20extreme%20water%20stress." target="_blank" rel="noopener">As per NITI Aayog,</a> about 600 million people in India are facing high to extreme water stress. India is also expected to be one of the most affected countries as global urban water scarcity is likely to surge in the coming years, with the affected population projected to rise from <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-severely-water-scarcity-projected-to-increase-2050-un-report-8514694/#:~:text=India%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20the%20most%20severely%20affected%20as%20the%20global%20urban%20population%20facing%20water%20scarcity%20is%20projected%20to%20increase%20from%20933%20million%20in%202016%20to%201.7%2D2.4%20billion%20people%20in%202050%2C%20a%20flagship%20UN%20report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">933 million in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion</a> by 2050, as mentioned in a flagship UN report.</p>
<p>As cities expand and the demand for water resources increases, the need of the hour is to find sustainable solutions to these growing urban challenges. This blog explores some of the most exciting innovations, good practices, and policy changes defining the future of urban water sustainability in India.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">The Road Forward: A Water-Secure Future</span></h2>
<p>Water security in an urban context can be achieved by initiating change from the grassroots level and working the way up—establishing dedicated regulatory bodies, complemented by enhanced cross-sectoral cooperation at the municipality and city level. Developing such a monitoring and evaluation framework will assist in assessing the effectiveness of the policies implemented.</p>
<p><strong>Encouraging Decentralized Water Management:</strong> More power to municipalities and communities, localized conservation projects can help optimize the utilization of resources. It is therefore important to encourage small-scale water harvesting as well as community-based management of wastewater treatment plants in urban complexes and housing societies.</p>
<p><strong>Supporting Technological Improvements:</strong> Integrating AI, IoT-based monitoring, and smart infrastructure in water management systems is necessary to enhance efficiency and sustainability. More funding for research and development, adapting success stories from other countries will likely create new water conservation approaches.</p>
<p><strong>Integration of Sustainability in Urban Planning:</strong> Cities must pay attention to water-sensitive urban development by incorporating green infrastructure, porous surfaces, and urban wetlands. If these measures are incorporated into building plans and urban development projects, we can achieve long-term sustainability.</p>
<p><strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19203 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-scaled.jpg" alt="Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India " width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-300x200.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-768x512.jpg 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2527701535-360x240.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Promoting Public Awareness and Changing Behavioral Trends</strong>: Citizens play an important role in the sustainable use of water. To this end, public awareness education campaigns and behavior change initiatives must be scaled up to encourage water use. Support for public participation in water conservation has to be provided through proper policy mechanisms.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Innovative Solutions and Best Practices for a Water-Secure Future</span></h2>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Rainwater Harvesting: A Low-Cost, High-Impact Solution</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19200 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic.png" alt="Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India " width="1350" height="1044" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic.png 1350w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic-300x232.png 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic-1024x792.png 1024w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic-768x594.png 768w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rainwater-harvesting-graphic-360x278.png 360w" sizes="(max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px" /></p>
<p>One of the most productive ways of replenishing groundwater reserves is to collect rainwater, especially in urban setups.<a href="http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Policy/Legislation.htm#:~:text=Through%20an%20ordinance%20titled%20Tamilnadu%20Muncipal%20Laws%20ordinance%2C%202003%2C%20dated%20July%2019%2C%202003%2C%20the%20government%20of%20Tamil%20Nadu%20has%20made%20rainwater%20harvesting%20mandatory%20for%20all%20the%20buildings%2C%20both%20public%20and%20private%2C%20in%20the%20state.%20The%20deadline%20to%20construct%20rainwater%20harvesting%20structures%20is%20August%2031%2C%202003" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The state of Tamil Nadu has enforced mandatory</a> rainwater harvesting initiatives, and as a result, the recharging of aquifers has enhanced water availability in their state exponentially, setting a national precedent.</p>
<p>Since 2009,<a href="https://www.isec.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WP-302-Umamani-and-Manasi.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Bengaluru has also adopted a large-scale rainwater collection</a> system instead of relying more on the declining reservoirs. However, the problem is that it has not been embraced extensively by the masses. According to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB),<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-rainwater-harvesting-only-1-in-5-homes-embrace-sustainable-solution/articleshow/108598844.cms#:~:text=BENGALURU%3A%20With%20only%20about%202%20lakh%20of%20the%2010.8%20lakh%20homes%20in%20Bengaluru%20having%20installed%20rainwater%20harvesting%20(RWH)%20systems%2C%20Bangalore%20Water%20Supply%20and%20Sewerage%20Board%20(BWSSB)%20believes%20the%20water%20situation%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20have%20been%20as%20dismal%20as%20it%20is%20now%20if%20everyone%20had%20opted%20for%20RWH." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> only about 2 lakh out of the 10.8 lakh homes in Bengaluru</a> have rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems installed.</p>
<p>The actual challenge is to get urban populations to comply more stringently with such initiatives.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Wastewater Recycling and Reuse: Closing the Loop</span></h3>
<p>States like Haryana and Karnataka are leading the way in wastewater treatment and reuse for industrial and agricultural water use. As of 2024, Delhi has 42 wastewater treatment plants, treating an average of 3,200 million liters per day (MLD). Industries and farmlands around Delhi NCR can utilize this treated water and further reduce dependency on the already depleting freshwater bodies.</p>
<p>Similarly, Bengaluru’s urban flooding looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie. To tackle this, the city has adopted a circular water economy model by integrating treated sewage water into the system. This sustainable approach focuses on recycling and reusing wastewater and recovering resources to minimize dependence on fresh water and avoid urban flooding.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19201 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1602063293090.png" alt="Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India " width="730" height="423" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1602063293090.png 730w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1602063293090-300x174.png 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1602063293090-360x209.png 360w" sizes="(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px" /></p>
<p>Decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) are another green energy option suitable for small and medium-sized urban centers. <a href="https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/634586/adbi-cs2020-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A recent survey by the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) </a>highlights the potential effectiveness and scalability of DEWATS in the Indian context. Out of the approximately 20,000 small-scale decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the country, 400 are DEWATS-based. However, these solutions are still limited by infrastructure and investment gaps.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Smart Water Management: The Use of Technology to Enhance Effectiveness</span></h3>
<p>Data-driven approaches are changing the way water is managed.<a href="https://planetsmartcity.in/water-shortage-in-pune/#:~:text=With%20devices%20like%20IoT%2Denabled%20water%20meters%20and%20flow%20sensors%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20now%20possible%20to%20monitor%20water%20usage%20in%20real%2Dtime.%20These%20gadgets%20can%20spot%20leaks%20early.%20It%20also%20tracks%20how%20much%20water%20is%20being%20used%20each%20day.%20Not%20only%20that%2C%20but%20it%20also%20lets%20the%20supply%20shut%20off%20automatically%20to%20stop%20wastage.%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Pune has adopted IoT-based smart meters</a> that help track real-time water consumption to avoid wastage and enhance efficiency. The National Hydrology Project by the Ministry of Jal Shakti exemplifies how data-assisted management can enhance decision-making.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Community-led Initiatives: Local Solutions to Global Challenges</span></h3>
<p>Civic engagement is of utmost importance when it comes to proper urban water conservation. NGOs and community-driven efforts can bring thousands of people and communities into watershed management and help revive water bodies that are on the verge of drying up.</p>
<p>Many NGOs are already working at local levels towards these efforts—these initiatives show the potential of people’s power, but the institution’s support complemented by proper funding and devoted manpower is equally important for the sustainability of such initiatives.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Nature-Based Solutions: Biodiversity in the urban environment</span></h3>
<p>Urban wetlands and green infrastructure can enhance the cities’ resistance to water risks. The city of Kolkata has been using the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/19VqYi_pWT2uPTT5iTDVG-XmFmM3kxo8tJXgqiFwXwAU/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Kolkata Wetlands to treat millions of liters</a> of wastewater every day and, at the same time, support people’s livelihoods. <a href="https://timesproperty.com/article/post/chennai-to-transform-into-sponge-city-with-57-sponge-parks-blid5051#:~:text=Download%20PDF-,Chennai%20Transforms%20Into%20Sponge%20City%3A%20Development%20Of%2057%20Sponge%20Parks%20For%20Effective%20Flood%20Management,-By%20%3A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai’s water management strategies include building ‘sponge cities</a>’ with porous pavements, green roofs, and urban wetlands to enhance their flood defense and groundwater storage capacity.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Policy Interventions and Government Initiatives</span></h2>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">State and City Level Programs: Local Actions</span></h3>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jalyukta-shivar-key-for-maharashtra-but-still-has-a-long-road-ahead/#:~:text=Jalyukta%20Shivar%20is%20the%20flagship,villages%20free%20of%20water%20scarcity.&text=The%20scheme%20targeted%20drought%2Dprone,make%20them%20more%20water%20sustainable." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19199 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo.jpg" alt="Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India " width="330" height="330" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo.jpg 330w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-300x300.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-150x150.jpg 150w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-60x60.jpg 60w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-80x80.jpg 80w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-100x100.jpg 100w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-120x120.jpg 120w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-140x140.jpg 140w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jalyukt_shivar_abhiyan_logo-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jalyukta-shivar-key-for-maharashtra-but-still-has-a-long-road-ahead/#:~:text=Jalyukta%20Shivar%20is%20the%20flagship,villages%20free%20of%20water%20scarcity.&text=The%20scheme%20targeted%20drought%2Dprone,make%20them%20more%20water%20sustainable." target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan of Maharashtra</a> has enhanced water retention in drought-prone regions. At the same time, Delhi has focused on water augmentation through the restoration of water bodies and the installation of wastewater treatment facilities. <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/indore-news/indore-becomes-india-s-first-water-plus-city-here-s-why-it-matters-101628734719044.html#:~:text=Indore%20becomes%20India%27s%20first%20%27Water%20Plus%27%20city.%20Here%27s%20why%20it%20matters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indore, India’s first Water+ city,</a> has provided good rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse practices.</p>
<h3><span style="color: #0000ff;">Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Accelerating Investment in Water Sustainability</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-19198 aligncenter" src="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/National_mission_for_clean_ganga.jpg" alt="Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India " width="640" height="360" srcset="https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/National_mission_for_clean_ganga.jpg 640w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/National_mission_for_clean_ganga-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sambodhi.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/National_mission_for_clean_ganga-360x203.jpg 360w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
<p>Collaborative models currently play an important role in urban water solutions. <a href="https://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%98Namami%20Gange%20Programme%E2%80%99%2C%20is%20an%20Integrated%20Conservation%20Mission%2C%20approved%20as%20%E2%80%98Flagship%20Programme%E2%80%99%20by%20the%20Union%20Government%20in%20June%202014%20with%20budget%20outlay%20of%20Rs.20%2C000%20Crore%20to%20accomplish%20the%20twin%20objectives%20of%20effective%20abatement%20of%20pollution%2C%20conservation%20and%20rejuvenation%20of%20National%20River%20Ganga." target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Namami Gange Programme,</a> which integrates private sector capabilities in wastewater treatment for river cleaning, and the Nagpur 24×7 Water Supply Project are good examples. Another example is Mumbai’s upcoming seawater desalination project, which will help meet municipal water demand.</p>
<p>The challenge lies in how to make these partnerships more transparent and sustainable in the long run.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p>A critical takeaway here is the urgent need to make sure that these water management models are synchronized and shared on a cross-city level. While cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Indore have successfully introduced innovative water management strategies, the true scope of these implementations can only be achieved when these insights and data are shared and adapted across other urban centers to have a nationwide impact.</p>
<p>Water security is not just the domain of governments—replicating these success stories through systematic knowledge transfer complemented by the efforts of businesses and civil society can accelerate India’s progress toward a water-secure future.</p>
<p>The time to act is now—because the water we conserve today will determine the cities of tomorrow.</p>
<p><strong><em>Raj Kashyap Das – </em></strong><em>Content Strategist, Sambodhi</em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div><p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in/innovations-and-policy-solutions-for-sustainable-water-management-in-urban-india/">Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://sambodhi.co.in">Sambodhi</a>.</p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>

If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:

Download the "valid RSS" banner.
Upload the image to your own server. (This step is important. Please do not link directly to the image on this server.)
Add this HTML to your page (change the image src attribute if necessary):

<a href="http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=https%3A//sambodhi.co.in/feed/"><img src="valid-rss-rogers.png" alt="[Valid RSS]" title="Validate my RSS feed" /></a>

If you would like to create a text link instead, here is the URL you can use:

http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=https%3A//sambodhi.co.in/feed/

Home · About · News · Docs · Terms