Despite several government programmes, Ramanathpuram district of Tamil Nadu faces severe water shortage. Vivekanand Kendra, a voluntary organisation, tries to convince villagers in Mudukulattur block to participate in reviving ooranis (traditional tanks) and harvest rain from the rooftops. The organisation set about motivating villagers through film shows and weekly group discussions that raised the issue of community-based water management. Work began with desilting of ooranis . To increase the storage capacity, the bed of the ponds was widened. The ponds were also deepened, while care was taken to avoid saline water ingress from the sea.