Lalitpur/New Delhi, India — In the semi-arid landscape of Bundelkhand, a region straddling India's Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states, a group of women are leading a quiet revolution in water conservation. Known as “Jal Sahelis,” or female friends of the water, these women are at the forefront of efforts to combat the region's pervasive lack of water.
Bundelkhand, home to approximately 18 million people, has long grappled with water scarcity. The region has experienced drought 13 times up to 2016, with rainfall declining by 60% between 2013 and 2018, according to research by the 2030 Water Resources Group. This scarcity has led to widespread migration and agricultural distress.
To address this problem, in 2011, Sanjay Singh, of the local NGO Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, set up the Jal Saheli program. The initiative aimed to empower women to take charge of water management in their communities. Today, there are around 1,530 Jal Sahelis across 321 villages in Bundelkhand.