The Indian Republic at 75: Embracing the Right to Water

Did you know that the Right to Water is a fundamental principle recognized globally?

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution 64/292, explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation.

On this Republic Day, as India commemorates the values of democracy and justice, let us reflect on the seven Fundamental Rights that serve as the bedrock of our nation. Nested within the Right to Freedom is the Right to Life. In 1978, the Supreme Court also ruled that "life" meant more than a mere "animal existence"; it would include the right to live with human dignity and all other aspects which made life "meaningful, complete and worth living". Therefore, while there is no express articulation of the "Right to Water" in the Indian Constitution, the judicial interpretations have articulated the "Right to Water" as a fundamental right derived from the justiciable "right to life" under Article 21.

Therefore, the Right to Water is now constitutionally guaranteed- and a crucial element for human dignity and well-being. How much of it is enforceable today?

Even in some pockets of the national capital, Delhi, there have been acute water shortages. The decline in groundwater levels, mainly due to excessive extraction and inadequate recharge, raises serious concerns about water scarcity. That large parts of India are water-stressed is now well known. India's heavy reliance on groundwater, surpassing the combined consumption of the United States and China, is primarily for agriculture and to fulfil over 50% of the country's drinking water needs. The recently published Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023 by UNU-EHS, a United Nations body, states that India's groundwater depletion tipping points approaching does not auger well.

With the known impact of Climate Change on water, is the constitutional right to water enforceable or realistic? India's population is diverse, and so are its water challenges and solutions. There is no single silver bullet.

At Hindustan Unilever Foundation, we recognize this diversity across hydrogeological zones, river basins, and agro-climatic conditions.

With communities and farmers at their core, our initiatives have delivered solutions empowering them to 'Know More' about their critical water resources, 'Save More' using scientific conservation methods, and 'Use Less' water in agriculture.

But we do realize that a lot more has to be done. – and everyone has to be a stakeholder in the issues around water security.

As we proudly hoist the tricolour today, let's champion the cause of ensuring this fundamental human right for every citizen, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future.