Mumbai/ Ayodhya, 31st October 2025: Sanitation First (registered in India as Wherever the Need India Services), with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), has implemented an integrated Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) and Women’s Empowerment programme in Masodha Block, Ayodhya.

The initiative aims to reduce water stress, support agriculture and livestock, and restore traditional ponds and wells as vital community assets. The key interventions implemented so far include:

• Rejuvenation of four community ponds
• Restoration of three wells, leading to increased available water supply
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in schools and pradhan buildings
• Upgraded sanitation facilities across three Gram Panchayats Hygiene education and safe drinking water access for school children
• Training of women and girls in menstrual health and distribution of reusable sanitary products in gram panchayats
• Skills training for women in kitchen gardening, hygiene promotion, and fish farming, enhancing health, food security, and livelihoods

In the presence of Shri Ram Prasad Tripathi (SDM, Sadar) and Shri R.N. Bharti (BDO, Masodha), the rejuvenated ponds were inaugurated by Rajesh Ayapilla, Senior Director – Sustainability & CSR, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia. Members of the Coca-Cola India team, community leaders, and local stakeholders were also present at the event.

The Coca-Cola Foundation and Sanitation First team met Shri. Krishan Kumar Singh IAS, Chief Development Officer, Ayodhya who commended the quality of work, and released an illustrated handbook for water quality testing. During the launch he said “The project is doing wonderful work for ecosystem rejuvenation. I wish for more such initiatives in the coming months.”

Padmapriya T S, Chief Executive, Sanitation First, said, “This initiative is a powerful example of how community participation, government support, and CSR collaboration can revive traditional water bodies. Together, we are conserving water, empowering women, and building the foundations of sustainable rural development.”

This initiative is a powerful example of how community participation, government support, and CSR collaboration can bring back the life-giving role of traditional water bodies. Together, we are not just conserving water but also empowering women and strengthening the foundations of more sustainable rural development.