Ahmedabad, July 19, 2023. Baxter Pharmaceuticals India Private Limited announced the successful completion of Project SRUJAL, a multi-year corporate responsibility initiative focused on improving water access in communities near the company’s manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad. The multimillion-dollar initiative has reached an estimated 46,000 people residing in 11 villages within the Sanand, Bavla and Dholka talukas of the Ahmedabad district.
India faces unprecedented water shortages, with an estimated 600 million people experiencing high to extreme water stress. Additionally, 75 percent of households in India lack access to drinking water at home and must rely on external sources. To address this issue, Baxter launched Project SRUJAL in 2018, in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education as an implementation partner and KPMG as a CSR advisor. Through Project SRUJAL, Baxter and its partners implemented 174 water-related infrastructures across 11 villages in Ahmedabad, including a mix of household and community-based water storage systems, elevated water tanks, bore wells, pipeline networks, roof rainwater harvesting structures, cattle troughs, water meters, and recharge borewells. Implementing this infrastructure has resulted in savings associated with the purchase of potable water, reduced energy costs and contributed to environmental sustainability of these villages. Providing local access to water has also relieved women of the burden of travelling long distances to fetch water, empowering them to pursue other opportunities and promoting gender equality.
Speaking about the project, Rishikesh Jaiwant, Senior Director, Manufacturing & Operations, Baxter Pharmaceuticals India Private Limited, said, “Project SRUJAL reflects Baxter’s corporate responsibility commitment to make a meaningful impact in the communities where we live and work. By integrating water infrastructure development, education and awareness, this project has improved livelihoods, fostered healthier communities and paved the way for a more sustainable future.”
In addition to infrastructure development, Project SRUJAL prioritized educating community members about water safety and security and empowering them to maintain the infrastructure independently and sustainably in the future. This included building local capabilities and institutional capacities by establishing Village Development Committees and SRUJAL Doots (local water ambassadors), providing comprehensive training programs to equip pump operators with the necessary skills to operate and maintain water pumps, and implementing awareness-building initiatives such as visiting model villages to learn about local best practices and conducting school-level programs. Additionally, Project SRUJAL used Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to promote responsible water consumption and conservation.
Following the completion of Project SRUJAL, Baxter has transferred the management of the developed water-related infrastructure to the village panchayats and local communities. This transfer of responsibility aims to foster a sense of community ownership and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure.
