Abstract
In developing nations like India, agriculture is considered as the heart of economy and contributes 17% to the gross domestic product (GDP). Various resources are required to run agricultural practices in a vital and prospective way but in this process, irrigation has been classified as the backbone of agriculture. Canal irrigation provides assured irrigation but participatory management of canals has gained much more popularity in drought-prone Indian states due to the underutilization of the irrigation potential. Several underlying factors such as caste, class, religion, economic status and gender plays a vital role in agriculture practices but in this gender bias is visible prominently in terms of women participation and rights. The level of participation of women in such decentralized system is seen to be tokenistic, given the rules in the some state irrigation acts (like Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh). Involving women in a decentralized irrigation management system (like Water Users’ Association in India) is not an ultimate goal to be achieved but a continuous process that will help to break the wall of gender bias and create an equitable environment for utilization as well as management of natural resources.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
AGRICULTURE, CANAL IRRIGATION, PARTICIPATION, TOKENISTIC, ACTS
