GENDER CONCERNS AND WATER CONFLICTS IN INDIA

Dr.C.Muthuraja, M.A, M.Phil, PhDDean, Curriculum Development & Research &

Head, Research Department of EconomicsThe American College, Madurai - 625 002, TAMIL NADU

(cmuthuraja@gmail.com) - (M-09486373765)

(Presented at UGC sponsored National Conference on ‘Water Conflicts-A Historical Perspective’ organized by Research Centre and PG Department of History, JAYARAJ ANNAPACKIAM COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (AUTONOMOUS), PERIYAKULAM – 625601, TAMIL NADU during 8th & 9th February 2017)

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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION IMPORTANCE OF GENDER WATER CONFLICTS GENDER AND WATER CONFLICTS @ HOME -FARM - FIRM – CPR - +++ ISSUES ON WATER CONFLICTS WATER CONFLICT MAMNAGEMENT GENDER & WATER GOVERNANCE GENDER CONCERNED POLICIES & PROGRAMS ROLE :GOVERNMENT-PRIVATE-NGO’S-INDIVIDUAL

SUMMARY + APPEAL

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Inference

Gender Characteristics areMore of illiteratePoverty

Marginal in character

Feminization Vulnerability SC & ST in social order

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Introduction Gender Equality in Indian Constitution Constitution empowers the State to adopt measures

of positive discrimination in favor of women World’s 1.2 billion poor people, 2/3 of whom are

women, live in water scarce countries No access to safe and reliable supplies of water for

productive and domestic uses India : Women play a central role in the provision,

management and safeguarding of water resources Women: as secondary level citizens - Extremely

vulnerable, asset less and invisible SINCE 1881

Water Conflicts Integral part of the water sector & over the years have

become more widespread and intense Demand for drinking water, agriculture/irrigation,

industries and other uses is growing rapidly Conflicts: access to water for different uses Arise due to absence of proper democratic, legal and

administrative mechanisms to deal with the issues that are their causes-serious concerns

Modernization, Industrialization and high growth of population caused increasing demand for waters

Three sections: Introduction-gender status & issues in water conflicts at home, farm, firm and other sectors-Concerns and suggestions

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Gender Status & Issues in Water Conflicts Competition for water from industry, agriculture, power

generation, domestic use, and the environment Making difficult for poor people to access this scarce

resource for productive, consumptive and social uses Affects poor rural people, especially women Reeling under the effects of a severe drought, resulting

in an acute drinking water shortage and agricultural distress

Indian women: Borne the brunt of shortages - Travelling long distances to fetch the precious commodity - balancing heavy pitchers on their head while juggling households, children and cattle - working on farms as well as well as giving care to the elderly - they have had to do this drudgery for decades

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Women & Water Conflicts

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Fetch the majority of water for household uses in rural areas - often this keeps them from attending school or working at a job-Carry heavy loads of water on their heads in some locations

Make most household water and sanitation decisions, but they are rarely invited to be involved in planning or management of water and sanitation systems

Involve women in planning and management are proven more likely to succeed

In India : Women’s land rights are not recognized - they are unable to access water for agricultural uses - For mothers and pregnant women, an improved water supply and proper water storage is essential to protect lives and ensure good health - Women are under-represented in water and sanitation sector

Gender & Water Conflicts In UDC’s women and girl children spend around

40 billion hours every year hauling water from distant and frequently polluted places

This is not to undermine the role of women in irrigated agriculture, and in small-scale income generation activities

Within the framework of gender-based division of labour, poor rural women, and those belonging to low-income urban households are by and large responsible for provisioning water for domestic use

Time lost in collection of water is not directly remunerativeSINCE 1881

BASIC ISSUES Women: Overburdened with domestic

responsibilities & Economic activities Subordinate position at the both the household and

societal level Lack of land rights that are closely tied with water

rights Exclusions from public decision making Lack of skills for participation General absence of women from managerial,

engineering, and policy-making levels of society Poor landless & low-income women are at the

receiving end with respect to access to water Worst affected when there are conflicts over water

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BASIC ISSUES Active as water consumers and administrators - Water for

washing clothing, bathing, and general household use is often found in remote locations that may also be insecure

Women, who are primarily responsible for these activities, are therefore vulnerable to violence, including rape and kidnapping

Water violence has far-reaching health, social, emotional, & economic impacts on the women themselves - cascading effects on their households

Facing more problems in terms access, availability, pricing, no concern for their decision making etc in industry/firm sector

Women become water victims Role and contribution of women in preparing and

executing water policies are also minimal

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WATER ISSUES Problem is increasing water scarcity - Decreasing per

capita water availability is indeed a central concern - caused by a variety of factors, including changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change, drought, increasing use, and population growth

Water scarcity - concern policy-makers and guide attempts to rethink water regulation

water availability is an increasing concern in the future, people are often today faced with difficulties in accessing available water

The barriers to access tend to be economic, but are in many cases social, as confirmed by cases of certain communities being denied access to drinking water

Water scarcity is not the only concern - Certain parts of the country are just as concerned by floods

Overall, the water scenario has been changing fast SINCE 1881

Gender Concern & Suggestive Measures Water for drinking and domestic use should be given first

priority in water allocation Need to look at determining the supply of water for domestic

use Improved water management for sustainable development,

poverty alleviation and biodiversity preservation can minimize water conflicts

Water Governance will help the women to solve their problems through tackling the issues on water conflicts

Reduce human interventions leading to over-extraction & pollution - have harmful effects on the quantity and quality of water available - adversely affecting drinking water and livelihood security

Framework-water in its natural state as essentially in the common pool, to be shared equitably by all

Comprehensive & systemic view is needed to tackle recurring droughts, floods & other water-related problems

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Gender Concern & Suggestive Measures Gender concerned Policy-“New Gender Water Order”-

Recognize the role of the women force To enable women to participate effectively: Articulation of their own feelings, fears, needs and

potential to the intervening groups who must share their problems and instill confidence

Formation of grass root organizations, Co-operatives could initially provide effective answers to solutions

Need to sensitize the government and non-government agencies

Women concern at the highest policy making level-National Development Council & at different levels

Women as an integral part of the policy, participation & contribution of women in the production process should be well recognized

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Gender Concern & Suggestive Measures Encouraging organizations, educational and awareness

generating activities on water issues among the women Voluntary agencies role in resource endowment of the

region and help the women groups in availing the benefits of the government programmes and the facilities being provided by the financial institutions

Information base with regard to women is very weak - This paucity of information is a serious handicap in planning programmes for them

The government organizations like CSO, NSSO etc., should include in their scheme of data collection items relating to these social groups as well, in a comprehensive manner

The rural data base – water data base- gender data base will help in formulating, implementing & also in evaluating the development and empowerment programmes meant for women

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Understanding Gender in Water Conflicts

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WWW.WATERLOAD.COM

GENDER BENDER ?

WATER GOVERNANCE

Understanding Gender in Water Conflicts

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WATER & WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

NATURE & WATER CONFLICTS?

WATER STRESS

Understanding Gender in Water Conflicts

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MULTIPLE ROLE

POLLUTION & PURE WATER ?

WATER & QUALITY OF LIFE

Understanding Gender in Water Conflicts

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WATER MANAGEMENT

GENDER & WATER GOVERNANCE

WATER & ENVIRONMENT ?

GENDER MISUNDERSTANDING

Understanding Gender in Water Conflicts

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WATER VIOLENCE

SCARCE & COMMERICIAL

CHANGE IN WATER LIFE PATTERN ?

TOWARDS WATER -WIN SITUATION

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ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS GOVENMENTS PRIVATE CORPORATES NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS PUBLIC INDIVIDUAL

MASS/SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY

INDIVIDUAL EFFORTSFAMILY PARTICIPATIONPUBLIC PARTICIPATIONSOCIAL/CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIESLEARN TO SHARELEARN TO UNLEARN +++

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APPEAL

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GENDER CONCERNED WATER CONFLICTS EDUCATION

PLEASE

EACH ONE TEACH ONE IF NOT

EACH ONE CATCH ONE AND TEACH ONE

QUESTIONS PLEASE

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QUESTIONABLE QUESTIONS