What is the name of your organization?
Project Bawari
What is the name of your solution?
Project Bawari
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Integrating traditional stepwell restoration with modern technology to enhance water security and climate resilience in arid communities.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
India
What type of organization is your solution team?
Not registered as any organization
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Rajasthan, India’s largest desert state, is on the frontlines of a deepening water crisis. With summer temperatures exceeding 48°C and erratic monsoons becoming the norm, over 60% of the state faces acute water scarcity. While modern water infrastructure has expanded, it remains inadequate in rural and marginalized communities. Over 80 million people are at risk of losing reliable access to water, as 77% of the state’s groundwater blocks are classified as overexploited—making borewell-reliant systems increasingly unsustainable.
This crisis disproportionately affects women and children, who walk up to 10 kilometers daily to fetch water—hindering their education, health, and productivity. Climate change has only amplified the issue, with recurring droughts and extreme heat placing additional stress on water resources.
Ironically, Rajasthan’s centuries-old stepwells—bawaris—once served as efficient, decentralized water harvesting and groundwater recharge systems. However, thousands of these structures have fallen into disuse due to siltation, damages and lack of community awareness or maintenance.
Restoring these stepwells isn’t just about conservation—it’s about reviving a sustainable, community-managed water solution that can help address one of the world’s most pressing challenges.
What is your solution?
Project Bawari restores Rajasthan’s ancient stepwells by integrating traditional water conservation with modern hydrological technology to address severe water scarcity. Unlike deep borewells, which accelerate groundwater depletion, stepwells function as natural recharge systems, reducing water scarcity while promoting sustainable resource use. Using GIS mapping, hydrogeological surveys, and structural assessments, we identify and restore stepwells as decentralized, climate-resilient water systems.
Over the past three years, through grassroots partnerships and fundraising, we have successfully restored two stepwells—Bhanpur Kala Ki Bawri and Sarjoli Chul Ki Bawri—restoring clean water access to over 15,000 people. These stepwells now supply 21,000 liters of water daily, naturally recharging the groundwater table and strengthening local water security.
To ensure long-term sustainability, we have deployed GPS-enabled IoT sensors that monitor real-time water levels, pH, turbidity, and contamination. The system also sends automatic alerts to government officials when contamination thresholds are breached, enabling faster responses. GIS-driven analytics support predictive maintenance and optimize recharge cycles.
We are also training youth in partner villages to access and manage this technology, while student ambassadors lead awareness efforts and monitor stepwell health post-restoration.
link to product demo: https://vimeo.com/1075964947?share=copy
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Project Bawari serves rural and marginalized communities in Rajasthan’s most water-insecure districts—Jaipur, Nagaur, and Jodhpur—where over 20 million people face severe water stress. These communities are disproportionately affected by collapsing groundwater systems and increasingly erratic rainfall. Women and children are the most burdened, often walking 5–10 kilometers daily to collect unsafe water—sacrificing health, education, and livelihood opportunities.
Our solution targets those who are structurally excluded from reliable water access. By restoring centuries-old stepwells—nature-based aquifer recharge systems—we provide decentralized, safe, and sustainable water sources. Each step well supplies more than 21,000 liters of clean water daily, reducing the daily drudgery of water collection and enabling women to pursue income-generating work and children to return to school.
Beyond restoration, we deploy GPS-enabled IoT sensors to monitor water quality and quantity in real-time, with automated alerts for contamination—building trust in water safety. We empower local youth and student ambassadors to manage this technology and champion water stewardship in their communities.
Having already improved access for 15,000+ people, our goal is to scale to 10+ stepwells in five years, transforming water access and resilience for over 2 million people in climate-vulnerable regions.
