Satyamev Jayate Water Cup

A movement to create thousands
of water-abundant villages

Satyamev Jayate Water Cup

Creating thousands of
water-abundant villages

The Satyamev Jayate Water Cup was an annual, 45-day competition hosted from 2016 to 2019, in which thousands of villages in Maharashtra competed to do the best and maximum work for soil and water conservation.

After receiving training in watershed management from Paani Foundation, participating villages worked with an entrepreneurial zeal to build and repair water conservation structures, raise money for machine work, and test and treat soil, amongst other activities.

At the heart of this competition was ‘shramadaan’ (voluntary labour). Every single day, thousands united offer shramadaan and contributed their time and efforts towards a greater good.

The Water Cup platform enabled citizens to address the crisis of water scarcity as one, break the cycle of government dependence, and experience the glory of making their village water-abundant through their own efforts. 

After the monsoons, winning villages at the state and taluka level were publicly felicitated with large cash prizes in a grand award ceremony.

List of Winners (2019) >
List of Winners (2018) >
List of Winners (2017) >
List of Winners (2016) >
List of Talukas >

The Satyamev Jayate Water Cup was an annual, 45-day competition hosted from 2016 to 2019, in which thousands of villages in Maharashtra competed to do the best and maximum work for soil and water conservation.

After receiving training in watershed management from Paani Foundation, participating villages worked with an entrepreneurial zeal to build and repair water conservation structures, raise money for machine work, and test and treat soil, amongst other activities.

At the heart of this competition was ‘shramadaan’ (voluntary labour). Every single day, thousands united offer shramadaan and contributed their time and efforts towards a greater good.

The Water Cup platform enabled citizens to address the crisis of water scarcity as one, break the cycle of government dependence, and experience the glory of making their village water-abundant through their own efforts. 

After the monsoons, winning villages at the state and taluka level were publicly felicitated with large cash prizes in a grand award ceremony.

List of Winners (2019) >
List of Winners (2018) >
List of Winners (2017) >
List of Winners (2016) >
List of Talukas >

Rapid Scale-Up

Impact on Water (2016-2019)

0 Crore

Litres of water storage
capacity created

0 Crore

Market value of this
water

“Last year, at this time, there wasn’t a drop of water. Even sparrows couldn’t find water to drink. Now, there is greenery everywhere.”
Navnath Bhosle Velu village (Winner - Water Cup 2016)
“Water is harvested when hearts come together. This idea has really turned out to be true!”
Kanchan Patil Limb village (Tasgaon taluka 2nd rank holder - Water Cup 2018)

Unity in Action

In the fight for water abundance, many social barriers have been broken
and countless stories of change have emerged across Maharashtra.

Overcoming Political Differences
In Krishnapur village of Yavatmal district, local representatives from four political parties kept their opposing ideologies aside and united to offer shramadaan during Water Cup 2017. One village set an example for the whole country!

Challenging Age-Old Patriarchy
In Kanherkhed village of Satara district, women broke the practice of ‘Gosha Paddhat’ (a tradition of not stepping out of home for work) for the first time in years. With the support of their families, women joined shramadaan in large numbers during Water Cup 2016.

Bridging Religious Divides
In Janephal village of Aurangabad district, Hindu-Muslim communities grew closer as two influential citizens from the communities set their differences aside and re-ignited their friendship during Water Cup 2019.

Defeating Alcohol Addiction
In Anandgaon (Beed district), Uday Kulkarni was inspired to fight alcohol addiction and devote his time towards making his village water-abundant. During Water Cup 2018, he achieved sobriety and went on to secure a job at a top corporate!