Initiative to rejuvenate over 40 water harvesting structures and engage more than 1,100 community members across 22 villages
New Delhi, 15th June 2026: Marking World Environment Day, Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), a leading FMCG conglomerate and multi-business corporation, launched the ‘Jal Sankalp Shramdan Pakhwada’, a fortnight-long community-driven water conservation campaign across its project locations in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The initiative aims to rejuvenate over 40 water harvesting structures while mobilizing more than 1,100 community members across 22 villages through voluntary Shramdan (community activity).
The campaign is being undertaken under the Water Economic Zones (WEZ) Programme, a flagship CSR initiative of DS Group focused on strengthening rural economies through water conservation, watershed development, and sustainable agriculture. During the Pakhwada, communities will undertake activities including de-silting of check dams, anicuts and earthen dams, repair of bunds and embankments, seepage prevention measures, cleaning of wells and outlets, stone pitching works, and removal of weeds and vegetation around existing water structures.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Prabhakant Jain, General Manager, Sustainability & CSR, DS Group, said, “Water conservation is most effective when communities take ownership of local natural resources. Through Jal Sankalp Shramdan Pakhwada, DS Group aims to revive the spirit of collective action while strengthening the resilience of rural communities. The initiative reflects our long-term commitment to sustainable water security, environmental stewardship and inclusive rural development.”
Over the years, the WEZ Programme has created more than 1 crore cubic metres of water storage and recharge capacity through over 1,300 water conservation and harvesting structures across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. These interventions include check dams, anicuts, farm ponds, pond rejuvenation, gabions, Continuous Contour Trenches (CCTs), tankas, pagaras, khadins, and spring restoration initiatives.
By enhancing water availability, the programme has also supported the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices and livelihood interventions. These include the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Broad Bed Furrow (BBF) cultivation, zero-tillage farming, ridge-bed cultivation, crop diversification, water-use efficiency measures, farm mechanization, farmer collectivization through Kisan Samities, and promotion of rural enterprises.
Shramdan has historically played a vital role in India’s water conservation traditions, enabling communities to create, maintain, and restore shared water assets. Through this campaign, DS Group seeks to reinforce community-led stewardship of natural resources and inspire greater participation in environmental conservation efforts. Going forward, the DS Group remains committed to strengthening water harvesting infrastructure, promoting sustainable natural resource management, and fostering resilient rural livelihoods that contribute to long-term ecological sustainability.