Sikar district in Rajasthan faces frequent water shortages due to irregular monsoons and low average annual rainfall of around 550 mm. The area’s limited water supply is also contaminated with high fluoride levels, causing health problems. To address this, the Coca-Cola India Foundation (Anandana), in partnership with Social Action for Rural Advancement (SARA), has been working to improve water access by restoring traditional water systems. Their ongoing efforts were recently documented in a video series under the ‘Refreshing Difference’ campaign.
Over the past decade, the project has supported over 18,000 people across six villages Rajpura, Balyawas, Karad, Khora, Dungri Khurd, and Chhota Narena. Work included building check dams, restoring ponds, and recharging groundwater. This improved access to safe drinking water, boosted farming output, helped restore local ecosystems, and made rural livelihoods more resilient.
This initiative is part of Coca-Cola India’s broader water stewardship efforts under its ‘Refreshing Difference’ campaign. The campaign showcases the company’s work with grassroots partners like SARA to improve water access, strengthen community resilience, and use water more efficiently. It focuses on practical, local solutions that aim for long-term impact through shared responsibility and sustainable practices.
In Rajasthan, Anandana has carried out nearly 20 water projects across 13 districts, working with local partners. These include Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, Sikar, Sawai Madhopur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Baran, Alwar, Nagaur, Karauli, Beawar, and Kishangarh. The projects have improved water security, supported agriculture, increased access to drinking water, and helped strengthen community resilience in drought-affected areas.
Lauding the initiative, Mota Ram, Director, Social Action for Rural Advancement (SARA), said, “What makes this project different is not just the structures we built, but the mindset we helped shift. We worked with communities. Families contributed, some gave ₹100, some gave labour, others gave land. That ownership changed everything. We insisted on equal pay for women, trained them as barefoot engineers, and helped form Village Development Committees that now manage the water systems themselves. Even nine years after project completion, they’re still maintaining, adapting, and innovating. With the support from Anandana, The Coca- Cola India Foundation, we created more than just recharge structures, we created local stewards of sustainability.”
Sharing the impact on his community, Kamlesh Devad, Sarpanch of Laxmipura, said, “The check dams constructed in Laxmipura, Rajpura, and Nausal through the efforts of SARA and Anandana, have transformed our villages. Rainwater now stays, recharging wells and ponds, and providing much-needed water for both farming and livestock. Earlier, our cattle struggled during dry spells. But now, they drink from the ponds revived by this initiative. Farmers are seeing better yields, and the entire village benefits. These structures haven’t just conserved water; they’ve strengthened our way of life and supported livelihoods.”
Rajiv Gupta, Director, Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, said, “Water is fundamental to thriving communities and resilient ecosystems. In Rajasthan, our interventions focus on restoring traditional water systems and building local infrastructure that strengthens long-term water security. Through the ‘Refreshing Difference’ campaign, we are deepening our commitment to water stewardship in the state, supporting agricultural sustainability, community health, and climate resilience. Our partnership with organisations like SARA is part of a broader effort to empower local communities and drive meaningful, lasting change across high-need regions.”
