40% Indians at risk by 2030 |  How communities are fighting back

Episode 4 | Decoding Impact - Season 4

Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva

Consulting Guest: Dr Shraman Jha, CEO, Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF)

By 2030, India’s demand for water could be double the supply, according to NITI Aayog. Nearly 40% of the population may lack access to drinking water. The crisis is real, and solving it is only possible through collaboration.

At the heart of India’s water challenge are farming communities. With  78–90% of freshwater routed to agriculture, they are among the worst affected by water insecurity, yet they hold deep, practical knowledge critical to managing water sustainably. When communities lead water management, it doesn’t just conserve water; it can also empower women to take ownership of budgeting, conservation, and local decision-making.

In this essential episode of Decoding Impact, Rathish Balakrishnan and Dr Shraman Jha break down:

• What water security really means
• How data enables smarter water decisions
• How to design community-led interventions that work
• Why livelihoods and conservation don’t have to be trade-offs

Grounded in real-world experiences and case studies, this must-watch discussion reinforces the importance of centring communities. When impact practitioners work with communities in ways that resonate with their lived realities, it could unlock pathways to lasting water security

Key topics discussed:

1. India’s water gaps & the vision of Hindustan Unilever Foundation

2. Water shortages impact us all, but it’s an invisible problem!

3. What is water security actually?

4. The regional realities of water in India

5. Engaging communities through water data & demonstration

6. How rural women are championing water budgets

7. The beautiful tradition of Halma

8. How much water data is currently available?

9. Aligning stakeholders in the ecosystem + metrics for outcomes + collaboration model

10. Common agenda, independent action