Abstract

This case is about the Sarvajal project, an initiative led by the Piramal Foundation, which designed and deployed innovative technology to ensure safe water access for villages in India. The company installed local, remotely tracked water purification systems and built a strong network of “water ATMs”, solar-powered, cloud-connected vending machines that dispensed water for villagers at the swipe of a smart card. Sarvajal also created employment opportunities in the local community through the franchising system. Customers could pay in cash or use pre-paid cards, which they could recharge like mobile phones. However, some critics felt that Sarvajal was commercializing an essential need like water and that the water ATMs were not capable of fulfilling the domestic water requirements of the rural Indian population.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the issues, challenges, and social considerations in the Sarvajal project
• Understand the issues related to commercialization of an essential need like water.
• Explore ways in which Sarvajal can scale up its activities in the future.
• Analyze the need for government involvement in projects like Sarvajal.

Keywords

Piramal Group, Sarvajal, Water ATM, Social innovation, Social initiative, ‘Water for All’, Rural franchisee network, Piramal Foundation