WATER FOR COMMUNITY: LTPCT’S SANKALP PROJECT
WINS ASSOCHAM NATIONAL WATER AWARD 2025

Access to water can transform livelihoods, especially in regions where nature is generous with rainfall but infrastructure is scarce. This approach has earned Larsen & Toubro Public Charitable Trust (LTPCT) the ASSOCHAM National Water Award 2025 under the category “Water for Community” for its Sankalp Water Resource Development Project in Subir block, Dang district, Gujarat.

The award, presented on 9th December 2025 after a rigorous evaluation of 167 applications, recognised initiatives that demonstrate measurable community impact. LTPCT’s project stood out for its focus on water resource development for tribal communities, linking water security directly with agriculture, livelihoods, and social wellbeing.

Subir block, an aspirational tribal region, receives high annual rainfall, yet its steep terrain and rocky soil result in rapid runoff and minimal water retention. For years, farming remained largely rainfed, forcing families to migrate seasonally in search of work, often disrupting children’s education and access to healthcare.

Through the Sankalp project, LTPCT adopted a community-centric water management model, combining technical planning with local ownership. Interventions included solar lift irrigation systems, renovation and desilting of check dams and earthen dams, construction of farm ponds, and gabion structures to improve groundwater recharge and control soil erosion.

As a result, year-round irrigation is now available to hundreds of tribal households. Barren land has been brought under cultivation, second crops have become viable, and farmers have shifted to higher-value vegetables and pulses. Many families who earlier migrated for six months every year are now staying back, with improved incomes and greater stability.

A defining feature of the initiative is community participation. Village-level Water User Groups manage irrigation schedules, maintain assets, and ensure equitable water sharing. Self-Help Groups have been strengthened alongside, reinforcing women’s participation in decision-making and financial planning.

The project has not only improved agricultural productivity but also delivered social dividends through reduced school dropouts, better nutrition, local employment generation, and stronger community cohesion. Designed for sustainability, the water systems are managed locally and aligned with government schemes to ensure continuity beyond the project lifecycle.

LTPCT has dedicated the award to the tribal communities of Subir, whose trust, cooperation, and ownership made the transformation possible. The Trust also acknowledged the support of LTIMindtree, whose partnership contributed to the project’s success.

The ASSOCHAM recognition underscores how water, when managed collectively and sustainably, can become a foundation for resilient rural livelihoods.