In Maharashtra, recurring droughts caused failed harvests and farmer suicides. To combat this, ex-IRS officer Ujjwal Kumar Chavan led a community initiative using the "Johad" method to build check dams. This created 500 crore litres of water storage across 204 villages. As a result, farmer incomes have doubled, and water now lasts until March instead of October. Rejuvenated rivers and restored biodiversity have provided over 6,000 people with a dignified and sustainable livelihood.
