On World Water Day 2026, India’s Jal Sahelis, a network of 1,530 women across 321 villages, showcase their critical role in addressing the water crisis in Bundelkhand, a severely water-stressed region. Over the last decade, these women have focused on water resource management by constructing check dams, reviving ancient ponds, and repairing hand pumps. Their grassroots efforts significantly contribute to improving water access and sustainability.
The Jal Saheli movement began in 2005 in Madhogarh, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. Women aged 18 to 70 have collectively built over 100 check dams, enabling farmers to increase agricultural production from one to three harvests annually. This initiative has also restored functioning wells that were once shared by large numbers of residents, improving community water accessibility.
Women in villages receive training in water management and conservation techniques through collaborations with NGOs. The Government of India has expressed interest in scaling this model to 5,000 additional villages, recognizing women’s centrality to effective water governance as highlighted by the United Nations campaign for 2026, themed “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.”
The Atal Bhujal Yojana, launched by the Indian government in 2020, complements these efforts by mandating at least 33% representation of women in Village Water Sanitation Committees. This scheme has successfully engaged women as decision-makers, leading to increased community participation and improved water management practices across various states.
In urban areas, initiatives like the “Caller Club” in Bhubaneswar empower residents, particularly women, to report and resolve water and sanitation issues. This program has led to significant resolutions of reported grievances, highlighting women’s roles in advocating for better water management even in informal settlements.
Empirical studies indicate that women’s leadership in water governance not only enhances project outcomes but also fosters sustainability. Despite structural barriers limiting women’s participation globally, grassroots movements and governmental schemes are beginning to address this gap, empowering women in decision-making roles.
As the Jal Sahelis continue their critical work, their actions serve as a call to integrate women’s leadership into water management policies. The inscriptions on check dams in Bundelkhand affirm their right to manage water resources, symbolizing a fundamental shift in recognizing women’s roles in tackling the water crisis.
Source: Reported based on publicly available information from timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
