Water Conservation and Management in India

On March 22, World Water Day, Indian Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collective action in conserving water for future generations. Concurrently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025, highlighting community participation in water conservation.

Rural Water Policies and Challenges

• Community Participation and Ecological Practices
  • Policies should ensure effective community involvement and recognize local ecological knowledge.
  • Current policies limit community decision-making power, focusing instead on formal governance structures like Water User Associations (WUAs).
  • An example is the practice of establishing orans or sacred forests for water conservation.
• Vulnerability of Marginalized Groups
  • Policies should address the disproportionate impact of environmental crises on subaltern and economically marginalized communities.
  • It is crucial to recognize their agency and include them in decision-making processes.
• Fragmentation in Water Management
  • Different ecosystem constituents like forests, water, and land are managed by separate policies, leading to inefficiencies.
  • There is a need for integrated approaches to consider interdependencies.
• More-than-Human Perspective
  • Environmental governance should consider the intrinsic value of the non-human environment.
  • Local practices in India often incorporate holistic water management, balancing human and non-human needs.
• Impact of Climate Change
  • Climate change exacerbates water scarcity, necessitating climate-resilient water systems.
  • Both water and climate policies should focus on building ecosystem resilience to water challenges.

The overarching theme is the potential role of local and indigenous communities in effective water management. Rural water policies should actively engage these communities, recognizing their traditional practices while addressing any limitations through capacity building.