FAQs

1) Who is WOTR?
WOTR is a not-for-profit NGO founded in 1993, operating currently in five 5 Indian states - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. Additionally, WOTR provides capacity building and advisory services to developmental practitioners from 22 other Indian states as well as, occasionally, from 27 countries.

WOTR’s mandate is to reduce poverty through mobilising the self help capacities of individuals and communities to regenerate the eco-spaces or watersheds they live in, harvest rain water wherever it falls, use it productively, undertake sustainable livelihoods and do whatever else it takes to get them out of poverty.

Our Vision:"Communities, especially the poor within, are empowered to live in dignity and secure their livelihood in sustainable eco-systems"

Our Mission: To provide committed development support that motivates, energizes and empowers individuals, groups, communities and other organizations and to undertake integrated ecosystems development for enhancement of well being on a sustainable basis.

Roles: WOTR acts as a (i) Capacity Building and Support Agency (ii) Direct Project Implementer (iii) Service Provider and (iv) Networking and Policy Advocate.

2) What thematic areas or sectors is WOTR working in?

WOTR is engaged in the following developmental sectors:

• Integrated Water Resources Management

• Climate Change Adaptation

• Watershed Development /Natural Resources Management  

• Livelihoods Promotion  

• Capacity Building & Institutional Development

• Women’s Empowerment, Health and Sanitation 

• Environmental Education (Schools)  

• Knowledge Management and Dissemination

• South-South Experience and Knowledge Sharing

• Renewable Energy 

• Community Based Eco Tourism

3) How can I contribute to this movement?

You can contribute by donating to WOTR from this website by clicking here

4) What is the least I can do for WOTR?

There are several options and categories of donations you can choose from.Donations can be made starting from Rs. 700 for a child’s education to a larger sum of  Rs.4,600,000  / US$ 100,000 to Regenerate a Micro-Watershed (approx. 1100 acres). For more details click here

5) How can I visit and see this project for myself?

If you wish to visit and become a partner with WOTR do send us an email at: pune@wotr.org. Let’s start doing things together now instead of later and waiting for others to do them first.

6) Is there any other way I can be part of this movement?

You can become a candidate for our “Internship programme” or be a “volunteer” for our WOTR projects. Click here to learn more.

7) Where in India are WOTR projects located?

Our current projects are located in several locations in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

8) Will I get any tax benefits if I contribute to WOTR and its projects?

Yes! Donations to WOTR and its projects are tax free (U/s 80G of the IT Act) and it’s a benefit for you.

9) What are the international awards WOTR has won?

• WOTR was awarded the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize 2009 during the World Water Forum in Istanbul.

• The National Geographic Magazine ran a feature article on WOTR’s projects in the November 2009 issue.

• WOTR was also awarded the “Runner Up” Award of Swiss Re for the Year 2010.

• Mr Crispino Lobo was honoured with the Citadel Achievement Award for exemplary work in the social development sector in August 2008.

• A WOTR supported project, the Mhaswandi watershed, was awarded the Aakar Jal Puraskar Award 2006 on March 21, 2006, by Hon R R Patil, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

• Dr Marcella D’Souza, Executive Director of WOTR, has been awarded in April 2008 the Indian Merchant Chambers’ Ladies Wing ‘Woman of the Year 2007- 2008 Award’, for her outstanding and significant contribution in the field of water conservation.

• Dr Marcella D’Souza, Executive Director of WOTR, has been honored with the prestigious Noble Laureate Award - Karmaveer Puraskaar - for developing pedagogy for the empowerment of women and creating a means for women to be creators of community wealth in March 2007 presented by the Indian Confederation of NGOs – Khemka Foundation.

• Mr Crispino Lobo, Co-Founder and Managing Trustee of WOTR, was honoured with the prestigious Noble Laureate Award - Karmaveer Puraskaar - for pioneering work in empowerment of the grassroots in March 2007 presented by the Indian Confederation of NGOs – Khemka Foundation.

• Mr Crispino Lobo, Co-Founder and Managing Trustee of WOTR, received the prestigious Outstanding Social Entrepreneurship Award in November 2005 given by the Schwab Foundation, Switzerland.

• WOTR was awarded the Government of Maharashtra’s Vasantrao Naik Award in July 2001 for outstanding work in soil and water conservation.

• Fr Herman Bacher, Co-Founder and Chairperson of WOTR, received the Krishi Bhushan Award, Government of Maharashtra, at the hands of the Governor of Maharashtra, Dr P C Alexander on October 2, 1994 for his invaluable contribution in the field of agriculture and rural development.

• Fr Herman Bacher, Co-Founder and Chairperson of WOTR, received the Federal Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany's highest civilian award, in recognition of his services and contribution to development cooperation between Germany and India at the hands of the Minister of Development Cooperation, Dr Carl Spranger, on February 12, 1994.

10) Who are the people behind this project?

These are the people behind the WOTR project.

Fr Hermann Bacher

He is known as the ‘father of participatory watershed development in India’ and the reason is obvious enough. Born in the Alps of Switzerland, Fr Bacher made Maharashtra his home early in life. During the more than 60 years that he has spent in India and having come into close contact with villagers whose lives had been turned upside down for lack of water resources, he initiated a number of developmental initiatives, most notably, watershed development. He conceived and launched the more well known and path-breaking large scale multi-actor and multi-disciplinary program called the “Indo-German Watershed Development Program” (IGWDP) in Maharashtra, which subsequently has spread to other states in India and provided the operational template for the Watershed Development Fund at NABARD. He also co-founded WOTR. His favourite lines have been: “Without watershed development, there is no solution to drought” and “Water is the problem; WOTR, the solution.”

Crispino Lobo

His list of academic achievements is long and impressive. An alumnus of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, India, and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA, Crispino has five academic degrees covering the fields of philosophy, theology, psychology, economics and public administration. In fact, he would have been in a commanding position in corporate circles had his mind and heart not turned him to taking up the cause of the villagers. He is well known in development circles for his knowledge and achievements in the fields of natural resource management, participatory watershed development and integrated water resources management. He co-founded WOTR, together with Fr Bacher. He now heads the Sampada Trust, a microfinance and entrepreneurship development centre.

Mr. Asoke Basak

When it comes an understanding of the functioning of government agencies, there is none better than Mr Asoke Basak, now a retired IAS officer who served as the Additional Chief Secretary of the government of Maharashtra; Chairman of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad-Bhir; Collector of Nasik and Nanded; Dairy Development Commissioner and has worked with the Maharashtra government in various other positions. He has two Masters degrees in Geology and Business Administration and a Diploma in Systems Management to his credit. His diverse experience in various fields of development administration is what has proved to be of immense benefit to WOTR.

Dr. G.G. Parikh

A well known freedom fighter and champion of the poor, ‘G G’ as he is known to his friends, Dr Parikh is one of the mainstays of the Yusuf Meherally Centre, a centre for rural re-empowerment, located in Tara village, Panvel. At 84, he travels the 90 or so kilometres to Tara in Raigad district, near Mumbai, on a weekly, and sometimes bi-weekly basis and continues his medical work at his clinic in Mumbai for the rest of the week. Dr Parikh is also engaged in a Khadi Gramodyog Andolan. He has been on the Board of Trustees of WOTR since 1996.

Mr. Anand Sharma

He is a Co-Founder of the TBM Consulting Group, Inc., a consultant to manufacturing companies, and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Immediately prior to establishing the TBM Consulting Group, Mr Sharma served as Executive Vice President of Productivity Inc., and headed its consulting and training practices. Mr Sharma served in a number of line and staff positions with American Standard, Inc., before becoming Vice President of Operations for one of its leading operating divisions. He has more than 20 years experience within the manufacturing industry.