Growing up waiting for rain
Podili Rajasekhara Raju’s story is about seeing water not just as an infrastructure project but as a question of community livelihoods. According to The New Indian Express, he was born into a farming family at Kokkera Kondaiah Palem, near Darsi in Prakasam district. Seeing farming and water shortage from childhood shaped the focus of his work.
Twenty years of water work
Over about two decades he has worked on rainwater harvesting, watershed development, groundwater recharge, farm ponds, check dams and drinking-water projects. An EDII alumni profile also links him to sustainability and social-governance initiatives.
A 2025 New Indian Express report says his water work has brought irrigation or drinking-water benefits to about 1.23 lakh families in 245 villages. That is a reported estimate from independent journalism, not an audited figure from the award list.
A national award
In the 6th National Water Awards (2024) he was named first in the South Zone for “Best Individual for Excellence in Water Sector”, and President Droupadi Murmu presented the award on 18 November 2025.
Water conservation is not only an engineering structure; it is maintenance and community ownership too.
Sources
- PIB: 6th National Water Awards winners
- The New Indian Express: 'Waterman of South Zone'
- EDII: alumni profile
- pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2188892
- newindianexpress.com/good-news/2025/Nov/23/waterman-of-south-zone-brings-accolades-to-andhra-pradesh
- ediindia.ac.in/alumni/podili-rajasekhara-raju/
- deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/andhra-pradesh/water-warrior-of-south-rajasekhara-raju-podili-wins-national-award-1917996