Nashik's Tribal Water Management Model Showcased at Singapore International Water Week

A low-cost, community-driven sustainable water management model developed in remote tribal regions of Nashik, Maharashtra, was showcased at the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026. Pramod Gaikwad, founder of the Nashik-based Social Networking Forum (SNF), presented the initiative titled "Water as a Catalyst: A Nexus-Based Model for Empowerment of Tribal Communities in Rural India," emphasizing how sustainable drinking water access drives social, economic, and environmental transformation in rural communities.

Established in 2010, SNF developed its Nexus-Based Water Model in 2014 through field research in drought-prone tribal regions. The model combines scientific water source identification, infrastructure restoration, community ownership, and Gram Panchayat-led maintenance to create sustainable systems at minimal cost. SNF has successfully transformed 36 remote tribal villages into year-round water-secure communities, benefiting over 70,000 residents.