Groundwater management and gender inequalities: The case of two watersheds in rural India

Abstract The primary objective of the research described in this paper is to better understand the reality of gender in relation to ground water management and use in two watersheds located in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Over the past three decades, women's issues have gained prominence on the international and national development agendas. It is more evident in India where the plight of poor and disenfranchised women have been central to the formulation of government policies. In contrast to policy deliberations and prevailing perception that the primary role of women is confined to that of domestic users of groundwater, the survey results of the study confirm that women also make substantial use of groundwater for productive purposes. The results confirm that a large number of women continue to travel many times a day to collect water for various uses. Women travelled an average of three times in a day for 50–77 min per trip to collect drinking water, depending on the season. Improved access to a reliable and proximate water supply reduces the time spent by women in collecting water and the proportion of hard labour performed by women. Respondents indicated improved water access translated as diversified livelihood activities that increase their income earning potential and help strengthen their bargaining position. The majority of women respondents in the Meghraj watershed in Gujarat (80%) and the Dharta watershed in Rajasthan (76%) believed that they have equal chances of being selected in ground water management committees. In contrast, only 15–20% of interviewed women considered they were empowered to make difference in the domains of income, crop production and resource use.