Water Sustainability Awards 2023-24

Water is one of the most vital components of our living environment. It regulates economic growth, social and political change, technical and scientific advances and progress, in partial and/or totality.

In India, water acts as a backbone of livelihood to more than 70% of the population engaged in the agriculture sector. Also, approximately 10-15% of the population is engaged in industries directly dependent on water such as textile, leather, food processing, etc. Water, therefore, has a multitude of linkages with the country's economic health. Furthermore, through its role in food security, energy security, and health, water ensures the right to life for all citizens.

United Nations recognizes that national priorities on reliable energy, economic growth, resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, consumption and production, and food security, are all inextricably linked to a sustainable supply of clean water. Considering this, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals recognize water as the key element of sustainable development by setting a dedicated global goal for water. Goal 6 of SDGs, further specifies targets to be achieved by 2030. The significance of these targets is emphasized by the interlinkages among them, and the achievement of every target depends on the achievement of others.

The Water Sustainability Awards aim to encourage the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal on Water by way of reducing water footprint among various stakeholders through the adoption of the ‘water neutrality' approach.

The awards are spread over multiple categories and domains within the water sector, and hence recognizes the role of multiple stakeholders. It aims to recognize and encourage various stakeholders including, but not limited to, individuals, civil society organizations, industries, municipal boards, Village Panchayats, RWAs, etc., who are leading the local movement for the Sustainable Development Goals in the most transformative, impactful and innovative way.

The Water Sustainability Awards evaluates excellence in all kinds of new ideas, approaches, processes, products, services, technologies, and other types of innovations in the water sector which can tangibly address the SDGs.