AB InBev And WaterAid India Launch The Telangana Water Consortium To Improve Water Access and Security

Hyderabad, March 28, 2022: The world's leading brewer, AB InBev, in collaboration with WaterAid India, came together to form a consortium that will work towards water conservation in Telangana. The consortium brings together multiple stakeholders and officials from Government organisations, Non-profit sector players, research institutions, water sector experts, and corporates - who will share their expertise and evidence-based solutions on the issue of clean water and recharge.

A launch event was organised at Mercure Hotel, Hyderabad, to kick-start the consortium in the presence of attendees from NGOs including Let's Endorse, Hyderabad Urban Lab, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, members from the academia like TISS, JNTU, the think tank India Water Stewardship Network as well as the Ground Water Government Department. Sri V. Prakash Rao, Chairman, Telangana State Water Resources Development Corporation, was the guest of honour at the consortium's launch.

The need for collective action from stakeholders who have a common and differentiated understanding of the various contributions is proving critical in improving water conservation efforts & solutions in Telangana. The primary focus of the consortium is to develop a comprehensive toolkit to overcome water-linked challenges for large-scale adoption of water conservation in the state.

These stakeholders will work towards a common cause of water stewardship, management, and conservation by developing an interactive platform where key learnings and experiences will be shared for current and future programs for the state.

The consortium will conduct skill-sharing and technical workshops on water conservation to highlight solutions, technologies, and innovations for stakeholders to replicate. It will also support other like-minded organisations in planning and implementing their water programs through smaller partnerships. The stakeholders will regularly discuss key water issues, look for solutions and plan the way for the state.

Commenting on the launch of this water consortium for Telangana, Ashwin Kak, Head of Procurement & Sustainability – India & South East Asia, AB InBev, "We are delighted to build partnerships in Telangana to help address water accessibility in the state. Water is a key natural resource, and we remain committed to optimising natural resources for a better future. Through this consortium, we will curate solutions to address the water challenges for our communities. We want to thank WaterAid India and the Government of Telangana for supporting us with this endeavour."

Under the consortium, the big and small businesses will focus on optimising water usage and designing campaigns on water conservation, while the researchers and scholars will aim at promoting water research. On the other hand, farmers will focus on using water-efficient technologies while the government institutions will emphasise future planning and knowledge sharing.

Rajesh Rangarajan, State Programme Director, WaterAid, said,

Water conservation requires collective and collaborative action from stakeholders like businesses, technology companies, social impact start-ups, changemakers in civil society and the government. This led us to form a consortium so that we could collectively frame problems and develop solutions. We are now aiming to bring long-term change while responding to the crises in the water sector.

The consortium has also developed a "Charter" with a key set of roles and future course of action. It is aimed at achieving excellence in the formulation and implementation of programs and activities in the field of water conservation and management.

About WaterAid India

WaterAid is a not-for-profit organisation, determined to make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. Since 1986, WaterAid India has successfully implemented water, sanitation, and hygiene projects to transform the lives of the poor and the most marginalised. In India, WaterAid is present in 12 States. In 2020-21, WaterAid India reached over 3,59,751 people with access to clean water, 17,970 with decent toilets, and over 98,217 people with good hygiene education. 

About AB InBev India:

AB InBev India is a leading beer and beverage company with a leadership position in premium and super premium beer category. It has a diverse portfolio of global beer brands including Budweiser®, Budweiser Magnum®, Corona®, Hoegaarden®, Stella Artois® Beck’s Ice®, Haywards5000® and KnockOut® amongst others. Headquartered in Bengaluru, its national presence in the country is supported by a strong team, multiple manufacturing units spread across states and a robust distribution network. AB InBev India has also expanded beyond beer into new categories with a range of no-alcohol beers like Budweiser 0.0®️, Hoegaarden 0.0®️, Hoegaarden Rosée®️ and non-alcoholic energy drink with Budweiser Beats®️.

AB InBev India is part of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC (Bud APAC), listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "1876". Bud APAC is a subsidiary of AB InBev, which has over 600 years of brewing heritage and an extensive global presence spanning continents and generations. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, AB InBev leverages the collective strength of approximately 164,000 employees’ in nearly 50 countries worldwide. The world’s leading brewer is committed to building great brands that stand the test of time, brewing the best beers using the finest natural ingredients and offers the best brand experiences in a responsible way. and its commitment to communities continues to be an integral part of consumers’ lives for generations to come. www.ab-inbev.com