Aakar Charitable Trust follows a participatory and sustainable model for rural development. Founded by Mrs. Amla Ruia in 2003, the Trust focuses on resolving two major challenges:water scarcity and education.

For water projects, villagers are asked to contribute 30% of the construction cost (either in money or labour), while the remaining 70% is donated by Aakar and CSR partners.This shared effort ensures community ownership and long-term maintenance.

Before work begins, villagers must pledge to give up dowry, alcohol, tobacco, child marriage, and funeral feasts, the compulsion of taking a pledge is a compulsory mandate taken by Aakar, linking water conservation with social reform.

As of June 2025, Aakar Charitable Trust has constructed 1,308 water bodies, consisting of 814 check dams and 494 ponds, across 11 states of India.
These efforts have transformed 1,258 villages and impacted the lives of over 18.5 lakh villagers.

A check dam is a strategically built small permanent structure, which acts as an obstacle for rainwater gushing down the hillside thereby creating a reservoir. However, our structures are much larger with some of them holding as much as 12 crore litres of rain water in a good monsoon. The structures consist of a relatively small masonry headwall which acts as a spill weir to remove excess water from the dam and extensive earthen embankments flanking the headwall on both sides enabling them to hold huge quantities of water. The overflow of rainwater becomes a streamlet emerging from an erstwhile barren village which continues to flow for several months finally pouring it's bounty in the revenue map rivers of the vicinity. These structures raise the groundwater table, recharge hundreds of wells and bore wells and even create rivulets, effectively protecting villages from both droughts and floods.

Check dams bring both economic transformation and lasting environmental and social impact in rural communities.

1. Farmers earn a year-round income by cultivating three crops annually, helping them become debt-free.
2. Cultivable land expands dramatically, increasing from just 2% to nearly 98%.
3. Farmers gain the capital to invest in modern tools and technology such as tractors, harvesters, automated irrigation systems, and solar panels.
4. Animal husbandry boosts household income, creating new sources of livelihood.
5. Reverse migration occurs as villagers return home from cities to self-sustaining villages.
6. Women are freed from the burden of fetching water, improving their quality of life and productivity.
7. Girls attend school regularly, and youth pursue higher education, paving the way for a brighter future.

8. Groundwater levels rise as wells and aquifers are naturally recharged.
9. Fuel consumption for water pumping reduces, lowering both cost and carbon emissions.
10. Soil health is restored, reversing environmental degradation and ensuring sustainable farming.
11. Check dams protect villages from both floods and droughts, providing long-term resilience.
12. They have no adverse ecological or social impact, unlike large dam projects.
13. Health and hygiene improve significantly due to consistent access to clean water.
14. Prosperity and dignity return to communities as celebrations, festivals, and weddings flourish once again.

Ponds are built in areas where constructing a check dam is not feasible due to geographical or soil conditions, yet the need to harvest rainwater remains essential. They serve as a vital part of Aakar Charitable Trust’s water conservation efforts, ensuring that every drop of rain is captured and used effectively.

1. Ponds store and retain rainwater, recharging groundwater and providing a steady water source throughout the year.
2. They make irrigation possible even in smaller or uneven terrains, allowing farmers to grow multiple crops.
3. Ponds promote diversified livelihoods such as fish farming, poultry, horticulture, and animal husbandry.
4. They help improve soil moisture and fertility, supporting sustainable farming practices.
5. Each pond benefits 3–4 farmers on average and can generate annual income of about ₹20 lakhs, ensuring lasting economic growth.
6. They act as a natural water reservoir, supporting both agricultural and domestic water needs.
7. By preventing water runoff, ponds also reduce soil erosion and contribute to environmental balance.

The Tree Plantation Programme began in 2008 in Neem Ka Thana Tehsil, Sikar District (Rajasthan). It started after farmers involved in check dam projects expressed a wish to plant trees on their land. To support them, Aakar provides saplings worth up to ₹100 each, while farmers prepare the pits, add manure, and care for the plants. Field supervisors monitor growth and collect survival data every year, ensuring long-term success.

From 2008 to 2025, Aakar Charitable Trust has planted 71,824 trees across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand with the participation of 2,919 farmers and a survival rate of about 60%.
This effort enriches soil fertility, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods, providing shade, fruit, and fodder while strengthening communities’ connection with nature.

Aakar Charitable Trust believes that education is the foundation of empowerment. Guided by Mrs. Amla Ruia, the Trust works to provide quality, value-based education to children and youth in rural Rajasthan.

• Partnership with Grammangal NGO to support a globally recognized Teacher Training Programme and construction of a hostel for workshops.
• K.D. Ruia Balvatika, Ramgarh – a primary school (classes 1–5) offering a strong academic foundation.
• Seth R.N. Ruia Senior Secondary School, Ramgarh Shekhawati – a co-educational school (playgroup–12th) offering Science, Commerce, and Arts, with digital learning and extracurricular development.
• Creative learning contributions by Mrs. Ruia, including educational poems and audio CDs for value-based learning.

Through these efforts, Aakar Charitable Trust nurtures confident, capable, and compassionate future leaders.