Voices For Water IVM Podcasts

In the final episode of Voices For Water, Karthik interviews Ms. Vini Mahajan, the Secretary at the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.  They discuss Jal Jeevan Mission, the flagship program aimed at achieving water security in India, and the tremendous amount of inter-departmental and state-level coordination required to make it successful. Ms. Mahajan talks about the challenges faced in the journey and the success of the Ministry's efforts in collating and sharing data publicly through program dashboards.

In this episode of Voices For Water, our host Karthik Nagarajan will be in conversation with Sabina Dewan, the Founder and Executive Director of the JustJobs Network, which has partnered with Arghyam to conduct a research study on "Jal Kaushal" to understand skill development in the water sector and identify gaps and challenges.  Sabina talks about water management from a skills perspective, traditional jobs in the sector, and observed gaps in skillsets and mandates, especially in managing water as commons. We also talked about government programs and their role in bridging the gaps.

In this episode of Voices for Water, our host Karthik Nagarajan is in conversation with Maya Chandrasekaran, an expert at scaling companies that change lives, both as an investor and in practice. Maya talks about the relationship between water and climate change, the concept of ‘just transition’, the state of the climate finance ecosystem in India, and the role played by the private sector and philanthropic capital in the battle against climate change.

In this episode of Voices for Water, our host Karthik Nagarajan is in conversation with Nitin Bassi, the program lead for water at CEEW. Nitin has played a key role in  establishing the India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP). He was a Member of the Water Quality Task Force for river Ganga, set up by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Before joining the Council, Nitin worked with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy (IRAP). In this episode, they discussed the connection between water and energy, as well as how it plays out in urban and rural India. It also explores government policies that aim to balance the needs for water and energy, and how developed countries approach this issue.

The first episode of season two of Voices for Water promises to be a captivating and informative listen as host Karthik Nagarajan welcomes Sunderrajan Krishnan, the Executive Director of INREM Foundation. Sunderrajan is a well-respected figure in the field of water management, having served as a member of the Indian Planning Commission's 12th five-year plan working groups. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area, he is here to offer valuable insights and perspectives on the state of water quality in India that continue to impact the population.

Welcome to Voices for Water Season Two, where our host Karthik Nagarajan will delve into the complexities and nuances of water management in India. From examining the reasons behind the current situation to exploring innovative solutions, we will engage in conversations with the sector experts from policy, practice, and research; who are working towards a sustainable and secure water future for all.  Join us on this journey to learn what small actions each one of us can take as responsible citizens of this country to make access to safe water a reality for all.