Ponds: A Lifeline Revived by Community Efforts

Living in the cities, many of us believe that our lives are very different from those in villages. Malls, flyovers and rapid-paced technology may make urban life easier, but some ‘basics’ tie us closely with rural India. Water is one such basic. Historically, rural India has had a deep cultural and emotional connection with ponds, lakes and wells. Today, as borewells and tube wells dry up, people are once again turning to these traditional water bodies for their survival.

But why are ponds still so important in this day and age? Beyond drinking water, they are essential for irrigation, bathing, washing, cooking, cattle, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge. Ponds help mitigate droughts, act as shock absorbers during floods, and continue to be community spaces where people and nature thrive together.

At Suraj Foundation, we believe reviving these reservoirs is one of the most sustainable solutions to India’s growing water crisis. Through our “Cloth for Work” inspired initiatives, communities across states have been coming together to restore ponds, wells and check dams—ensuring access to clean water while strengthening unity and self-reliance.

West Bengal – Gangasagar Region

In Kochuberia village, 130 km from Kolkata, women used to walk miles daily to fetch water. The local pond had been left unused for years, choked with water hyacinth. With Suraj Foundation’s support, sixty families came together to clean it. In just three days, the pond was usable again. Now, women like Shanti Devi rejoice as clean water is available at their doorstep, and the villagers have pledged to maintain the pond regularly.

Odisha – Coastal Puri District

In Konkapur village, clean drinking water was scarce, and the entire village depended on a single pond. Seventy villagers worked tirelessly for days under Suraj Foundation’s guidance and revived the pond. For them, it wasn’t just water—it was survival.

Bihar – West Champaran

In Berai village, an abandoned pond had turned into a stagnant pool, unfit even for animals. After years of waiting for government help, villagers, motivated by Suraj Foundation, formed a committee and took the matter into their own hands. Fifty people cleared the hyacinth and deepened the pond. Inspired, nearby villages like Bakuli and Khamhaura followed suit, restoring ponds and even reusing mud to build roads and community spaces. Women later released fish into the rejuvenated ponds, turning them into sources of food and livelihood.

Madhya Pradesh – Mandala District

Between 2012–2015, Suraj Foundation in collaboration with a local partner involved communities in cleaning and maintaining 20 water bodies in 19 villages. Five of these ponds are now being used for fish breeding, creating new livelihood opportunities alongside water security.

Uttarakhand – Uttarkashi

After the devastating floods of 2013, Suraj Foundation encouraged villagers to clean their traditional “Chari”—a local water source for animals. In Jaspur village, a Chari built nine years earlier was revived, bringing clean water for cattle, fields and households. In nearby Kawan village, another Chari cleaned years ago still flows with crystal clear water, a testament to what sustained community care can achieve.

The Larger Picture

Across states, these examples show that when communities come together, change is not only possible but powerful. What begins as a fight for water often grows into a movement of dignity, unity and resilience.

At Suraj Foundation, we are committed to supporting such grassroots efforts—because water is not just a need, it’s a shared responsibility and a lifeline for generations to come.