Aditya Jha

Indian water conservation pioneer who transformed drought-prone regions through community rainwater harvesting

Aditya Jha, born in 1988 in Bundelkhand, India, is a civil engineer turned environmental activist whose Save Water Save Life initiative has revolutionized water management in India's drought-prone regions. Witnessing severe water scarcity during his childhood, Jha developed a passion for hydrology and sustainable engineering. In 2014, he launched his NGO Save Water Save Life, pioneering low-cost rainwater harvesting systems that have brought life-changing results to over 500 villages.

His innovative Jal Yojana model involves constructing decentralized underground storage systems using local materials. By 2019, these systems had increased groundwater levels by an average of 30 feet in project areas. Jha's team trained 12,000 villagers in system maintenance through his Water Warriors program, creating local employment opportunities. The initiative's success in Bundelkhand led to replication in Rajasthan and Maharashtra states.

Jha's work was recognized in the 2018 UN World Water Development Report, and he received the Padma Shri (India's fourth highest civilian award) in 2020. His mobile app Water Atlas, launched in 2017, uses crowdsourced data to map water resources and predict drought patterns, now used by 500,000 farmers. The documentary Rains of Change (2019) chronicles his journey, showing how his methods increased crop yields by 40% in pilot villages.

Jha's advocacy led to the inclusion of rainwater harvesting mandates in India's 2019 National Water Policy. His TED Talk From Drought to Prosperity (2021) has become a cornerstone of water management education globally. He continues to mentor young engineers through the Water Innovators Fellowship, funded by the Asian Development Bank.