Safe Water Network India (SWN), a not-for-profit organization that has demonstrated leadership in providing affordable, reliable, sustainable, and safe off-grid drinking water solutions, has launched “Water ATM” in Telangana.
SWN has set up more than 150 safe water stations in Telangana, across Karimnagar, Adilabad, Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban, Jayashankar, Mahabubabad, Jagtiyal, Peddapalli, Badradri, Mancherial, Suryapet, Khammam, and Nalgonda districts. The initiative enables consumers to purchase 20 liters of safe drinking water at any time of the day by swiping their smart cards against the Water ATM in SWN facilitated iJal water station. The stations are connected via cloud-based technology, enabling online analysis of operational parameters and volumes. Further, many of these water stations run on solar energy and electricity, thereby reducing operating costs.
According to Ravi Sewak, Country Director, SWN, “The next step is to move towards digital payments, enabling cashless transactions at the water stations. To begin with, we have collaborated with Medak District to conduct awareness workshops on the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app.” In the run up to World Water Day, SWN conducted these awareness camps in and around its safe water stations in Medak. The drive was supported by SWN and volunteers from Honeywell India, which funds these safe water stations under its corporate social responsibility program. This program is awarded HYSEA CSR Award in 2017.
Vikas Chadha, President, Honeywell India, said, “Through our partnership with SWN, we are providing safe water access to more than two lakh people in Telangana. Honeywell is deeply invested in the region, and our employees are proud to volunteer and continue to add value to the program.” (NSS)