Editor's Pick

The Sarpanch who turned a drought village into India's first water-positive Panchayat

Hiware Bazar-style transformation, led by a 38-year-old Sarpanch and 1,200 villagers, has put a Marathwada hamlet on the national map.

Beed, Maharashtra 1 hr agoBy Rohan Kale

Five years ago, Khairewadi was a drought-declared village with tankers arriving twice a week. Today, its check-dams, recharge pits and watershed plan have made it water-positive — exporting 40 million litres a year to neighbouring panchayats.

The architect is Sarpanch Sunita Pawar, who convinced every household to contribute 30 days of shram-daan. The state has now adopted Khairewadi's plan as a model for 1,200 villages.