Ayyappa Masagi is a man with a mission, a simple but powerful one which will benefit all of us. Making Karnataka a water literacy state; rejenuvate the ground water table, campaign against pollution, and advocate for an Eco-friendly policy. To practice and preach a Eco-friendly life. To gift a world with surplus fresh water for the N-Generation. 

How does he go about this?Ayyappa Masagi helps poor farmers improve their economic condition by teaching them to take charge of their water resources. Through his education programs, and by constructing physical structures for water management, farmers work to reduce the impact of droughts and secure sustainable sources of water for their regions. He got the recognition from Ashoka Foundation; (was selected as an ‘Ashoka Fellow' in 2004) which is like a venture capital organization for social entrepreneurs.

Here are a few thoughts from Mr. Masagi...

I worked for the L&T Company as a mechanical engineer for 24 years. In 1994, I began my experiments on water conservation mainly to save my own farm. I had six acres of land in a drought prone area in North Karnataka. In 2002, I left my formal job and took up water literacy work completely. I have been given numerous awards and titles such ‘Jalasaakshratha Harikaara' ‘Jala Jagadhguru' etc. We have conducted 850 programs educating nearly 27 lakh people. They have been trained in water literacy and enabled Rs.37 crore to be spent on water conservation. Till now nearly 70,000 dried-up borewells have been revived making nearly 1000 villages self-sustaining.

We are now trying to reach out to the corporate world and implementing/ integrating water management systems for large companies such Kennemetal Widia, Ajax, SKF Bearings. These companies were spending Rs.1.5 lakh on purchasing water, we convinced them to spend Rs.18 lakh and go for a permanent solution. Now are now so confident in our technology, we give assurance to people on getting returns on their investment on water conservation.

Since the money spent on these programs give a guaranteed return within a year, the news about our technology is spreading fast and people are now eager to get their borewells revived. Progressive farmers, industries, government bodies, NGOs all are coming forward to implement these programs.

Just recently we inaugurated a large water harvesting project in all the drought prone districts of North Karnataka under the aegis of the Gururaj Deshpande Foundation. Though I have been working in eight states across India and I am grateful to Deshpande Foundation for giving me an opportunity to work in my own native. ISKCON trust which runs a mid-day meal program in Dharwad district was buying water for cooking food. However, it is quite sad that governemtn programs on water shed development has not at all been fruitful. There is no involvement of local people in any of these programs.

He was speaking at a Panel Discussion organised by Businessgyan and Tasmac on the topic ‘Business FOR a Cause'. 

Compiled by Levine Lawrence for Businessgyan

Issue BG77 Aug07

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