Schaeffler India honored for water management excellence

Schaeffler India has been awarded the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2024-25 for its 'Jal Samruddhi' CSR initiative. This recognition, under the "Beyond the Fence" category, highlights the company's community-centric efforts to enhance water security, livelihoods, and socio-economic development at the watershed level. The project, implemented from July 2021 to December 2023, targeted water-scarce regions in Pune district, transforming them through integrated watershed management.

Key outcomes of the Jal Samruddhi initiative include the creation of 143,000 cubic meters of water conservation potential and the treatment of 1,268 acres of land to reduce soil erosion. The project led to a 40% improvement in cropping intensity, with 84% of households reporting enhanced water access and a 70% reduction in tanker-water dependency. Household incomes in the area increased from ₹60,312 to ₹106,938 on average.

The initiative has enabled over 400 rural families to achieve water security and resilience, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Schaeffler India plans to extend this approach to other aspirational CSR geographies in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, reinforcing its commitment to community development and environmental sustainability.