The business was established in 2008 to find a profitable solution to India’s clean drinking water crisis. The water is sold under the brand name Sarvajal (Water for All) via ATMs. Locals purchase treated water from the ATMs using pre-paid cards or coins. A litre of water sells for 30 paise ($0.006) or less. An important price point when the average rural Indian lives on less than 30 rupees ($0.60) a day. The ATMs are connected to the mobile phone network and are closely monitored to track water usage and to quickly fix machines that break.
Local entrepreneurs can become ATM franchise partners bringing not only much needed water to an area, but an influx of money. [Sarvajal via FastCompany]
Steve
Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 5:53 PMDidn’t India just buy a brand new aircraft carrier and fleet? And there are people in their country who need clean water? How about some appropriate use of money guys.
Ash
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 9:12 AMSteve, easy to say hard to do. Talk when youre able to manage a population of 1.2B+, hostile neighbours (china, pakistan and bangladesh) and internal terrorism (naxalites and muslims). Where do you think that money is going? India’s situation isnt as easy to talk about as say, Australia’s, who has none of these issues to deal with.
Cheng
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 11:04 AMSteve, what about the cost of $43 billion to roll out NBN when the money could be put to better use in Australia for a range of initiatives!
Nath
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 12:15 PMMate, considering it cost, what, more than a billion dollars to upgrade the Monash Fwy, and, what, 6 billion dollars to implement Myki in Victoria (State govt I know, but still), I think $43 billion is a bargain when that money is rolled out over 8 years (so actually just $5.4 billion a year) in return for a state of the art network that will keep this country going for 80+ years.
Keep in mind the existing copper network has already served us 80 years, and fibre is infinitely more upgradeable and scalable.
In conclusion – STOP BEING SO SHORT SIGHTED!!!