In a groundbreaking initiative, pharmaceutical giant Sun Pharma has joined forces with Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) to tackle water security and climate change challenges in the Ahmednagar and Beed districts of Maharashtra. The three-year program aims to establish a water harvesting capacity exceeding 5.2 billion litres, covering nearly 30,000 hectares, 22 villages, and impacting the lives of 36,884 people and 7,823 families.
WOTR, known for its commitment to ecosystem restoration through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), views sustainable development as integral to the health of local ecosystems. This approach ensures that interventions not only benefit the community but also contribute to the broader goal of environmental sustainability.
Prakash Keskar, Executive Director of WOTR, emphasized the collaboration’s significance in strengthening rural communities against the unpredictable variations of climate change. The partnership with Sun Pharma represents a substantial step towards empowering communities to manage water resources effectively, securing livelihoods, and enhancing resilience to climate volatility.
Sun Pharma, aligning business with responsibility, views the collaboration as an opportunity to leverage its people, expertise, and networks for community development. The company emphasizes the importance of balancing economic, environmental, and social factors to create lasting value. Through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Initiatives, Sun Pharma addresses critical rural needs with sustainable interventions over time, exemplified by its partnership with WOTR.
The project’s key focus areas include water conservation, climate-resilient agricultural practices, capacity building for government scheme utilization, and livestock development. These interventions aim to manage water supply and demand effectively, addressing behavioural aspects related to water use.
