Rajesh Putta

Pioneer in providing clean water solutions through innovative technology in India.

Rajesh Putta is the founder of WaterHealth International (WHI), a company that revolutionized access to clean drinking water in rural India. Born in 1972 in Andhra Pradesh, Putta’s early exposure to waterborne diseases in his community inspired him to develop scalable solutions. WHI deploys solar-powered water purification systems using UV technology, serving over 5 million people across India. His work reduced cholera and diarrhea cases by 80% in treated areas. Putta’s model has been replicated in Bangladesh and Ghana, earning him the UN Water Prize in 2010.

Key innovations include community-owned water kiosks with microfinance options, ensuring sustainability. His TED Talk "How We Can End Water Poverty" highlights decentralized approaches to global water crises. Critics initially doubted rural adoption, but WHI’s pay-per-use model proved transformative. Putta’s partnership with UNICEF expanded reach to drought-prone regions, proving that technology paired with local governance can tackle systemic issues.