Svarnim Puducherry, an initiative of the Sri Aurobindo Society, works across the Puducherry bioregion to support the restoration and stewardship of water bodies, wetlands, and ecological commons. The region historically depended on a dense network of irrigation tanks (eris), ponds, channels, and wetlands that sustained agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, and cultural life. Many of these systems have gradually declined due to centralized governance, ecological neglect, pollution, and the weakening of community stewardship.
Svarnim works to revive these landscapes through community participation, ecological restoration, and knowledge-based approaches to water management. Our programs focus on restoring ponds and wetlands, promoting groundwater recharge, and demonstrating nature-based water systems such as rainwater harvesting and decentralized wastewater treatment.
A key part of our work is enabling communities, students, and local institutions to reconnect with water systems through participatory learning and action. Through initiatives such as WaterFest, school water literacy programs, and youth engagement activities, we create spaces where ecological awareness, cultural memory, and civic responsibility around water can be renewed.
We also work with community groups and self-help collectives to explore livelihood opportunities linked to ecological restoration. Circular economy initiatives around wetland biomass and aquatic weeds demonstrate how restoration can support sustainable livelihoods while improving the health of water bodies.
Through collaborations with researchers, civil society groups, and public agencies, Svarnim integrates community knowledge with scientific tools such as participatory mapping and citizen science monitoring. Our broader goal is to support more just, resilient, and regenerative approaches to managing water commons in the Puducherry bioregion.