Banaskantha, Dec. 1 -- In the dry stretches of rural Gujarat, where every drop of water matters, one village has shown how innovation, collective effort and simple technology can transform sanitation and water security.

Vedancha village in Banaskantha has emerged as a model of sustainable development after winning the prestigious CIPS Innovation Award 2024-25 for its community-driven greywater management system under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural).

Built in 2019 with financial support from WASMO and the District Rural Development Agency, the Gram Panchayat developed a treatment plant at a cost of just Rs 5.55 lakh. Today, the system processes nearly 200 kilolitres of household wastewater every day, purifying it for irrigation, ground...