AMLA RUIA
WADE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2022
For Special Contribution towards Water Harvesting
Amla Ruia is a Mumbai-based water conservation activist known for her diligent work towards creating sustainable and permanent solutions for water conservation in India’s drought prone areas like Rajasthan. Rightfully revered as the “Water Mother” of India, she has positively impacted millions of lives through water by partnering with villages and building check dams that provide water security. Disturbed by the severe drought situations that occurred over the last decade in Rajasthan, she decided to do something to improve the water conditions in villages.
This vision gave shape to the Aakar Charitable Trust (ACT) – a body which till date has built more than 200 check dams in more than 115 villages in Rajasthan, with flow-on effects to almost 200 other villages. Due to her team’s initiatives the income of the residents of these villages, in many cases has tripled. After successful water harvesting stints in various villages of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and the Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh, she plans to spread the good work to Bihar, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh amongst others. She has launched roof water harvesting work in Mumbai. The efforts of Ms Ruia has made her earn multiple accolades such as Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award in the category of Community Service and Social Upliftment. At WADE ASIA 2022, the highest WADE Award, also called the ‘Blue WADE’ was awarded to the lovely soul for her tremendous contribution towards the pious cause of water conservation.
Daughter-in-law, Shubhra Agarwal collected the Blue Award at WADE ASIA 2022 on behalf of Amla Ruia. Presented by Rajeev Talwar, CEO, DLF Ltd.
Note: This article was originally published on Surfaces Reporter December 2019 Issue.
