T K Sreedevi and Suhas P Wani

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• T K Sreedevi and Suhas P Wani
• International Crops Research Institute for the
  Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
• Patancheru P.O. 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Background

• Watersheds are recognized as growth engines for
  Agricultural Development and achieving food
  security
• Participatory Watershed management is a
  multidisciplinary, multi institutional approach
  for NRM and providing food security through
  diversification of livelihood options and
  increased productivity.
• Women are key to address household food security.
• Women play a major role in Agriculture and
  livestock development
• Health and Education of women has an immediate
  and lasting effect on the well being of the
  family
• Since 70 of the poor are women, they along with
  other resource poor are central targets for
  watershed development.

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in the context of MDG

• Contribution of improved water resources
  management to achievement of millennium goal by
  2015.
• Investments in water infrastructure as a Catalyst
  for regional development
• Community-based organizations for water
  management improve social capital of women
• Reduced time, health, and care-giving burdens
  from improved water services give women more time
  for productive endeavors
• Water source closer to home put women at less
  risk for sexual harassment and assault.

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.lessons learnt

• Evaluation of a no.of watershed programs have
  indicated the importance of
• Peoples participation in development process
• Role of institutions for enhanced participation
• Extent of peoples participation which determined
  the success
• A combination of participation and sound
  technical input
• Need for supporting policy
• Watersheds as vehicles that reversed
  environmental degradation and permitted quantum
  shift in sustainable agricultural productivity
• In the process women paid the price of
  development in most cases ( Nutrition, Security,
  Basic amenities, workload)

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Eight Arms of Holistic Development
Increase in Productivity
Coverage Families
Micro enterprises
Gender Parity
Decreased Migration
Growth of Livestock/ Hort/Fodder
Reduction of people BPL
GW Recharge
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..benefits from watershed development

• Watershed development yielded good results in
• Productivity increase
• Growth of Agriculture allied sectors,
  Micro-enterprises
• Conserving groundwater
• Reduced migration
• Reduced no.of people below poverty line

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the gaps

• But..
• Reaching the poorest of poor families
• Gender equality..
• .. remained away from the desired end
• And
• According to UN Statistics
• Women do 2/3 of the work in the world
• Women earn 1/10 of world income
• Women represent 2/3 of the illiterate population
  of the world
• Women own less than 1/1000 of the worlds
  property (Williams et. al. 1997)

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addressing Equity and Gender concerns

• Livelihood approach
• Investment in small water harvesting structures
• CPR Management
• Space for landless and women in the Programme
• Promotion of micro enterprise
• Promotion of non-traditional roles for women

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Case study for understanding where we are..

• 3 villages selected
• Powerguda Managed by SHGs
• Kothapally Managed by CBOs
• Janampet Managed by Federation of SHGs (Mahila
  samakhya)

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Objectives of the Study

• To understand the constraints for promoting
  equity and empowerment for women in IWMP
• To identify critical areas for capacity building
• To identify institutional and policy needs for
  mainstreaming gender perspective in IWMP

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Profile of the Case study villages
Contd..
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Profile of the Case study villages
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Analysis of Three Case Studies
Contd..
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Analysis of Three Case Studies
Contd..
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Analysis of Three Case Studies
Contd..
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Matrix of Community Participation
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On the ladder of participation
Supporting
Collective action
Substantial
Co-learning
Participation
Acting together
Collaborating
Degree of control
Deciding together
Consulted
Consu ltation
Co-operating
Information
Co-opted
Adarsha Mahila Samakhya
Powerguda
Kothapally
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Findings

• It is evident that the higher on the ladder of
  participation the stronger are the institutions
• Constraints surmountable through mutual
  co-operation
• Supportive policy for institution building is a
  driver
• The benefits of development that usher through
  integrated watershed development could maximize
  if the energies of all the contributing
  stakeholder are harnessed esp. women.
• Capacity building of women in income generation
  activities, financial management, social dynamics
  of groups yielded substantial results.

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Findings

• Critical areas identified for capacity building
• Technical know-how
• Functional literacy
• Enhanced awareness of their rights
• For the inclusion of gender perspective in IWMP
  it is necessary to use the existing institutions,
  small groups (Women), and federation of these
  groups as levers of holistic development