ANNOUNCEMENTS
Water and women are closely linked. This precious resource is closely intertwined in different cultures in different cultures with women’s role as bearers and nurturers of life and collectors and managers of household water. Women are the ones who endure the ill effects of water scarcity and degradation as they try to provide for the needs of the family members.
The state of Gujarat which is a “water stressed” state, and Kutch district of Gujarat is the worst hit region prone to draughts, especially severe damage had been done in Kutch after the massive earthquake of January 26, 2001. Water being a state subject, the responsibility for formulating and implementing water management programmes vests with the state government and in lines with this and the 73rd amendment, Pani Samiti were seen as an effective way to induce collective action and with adequate representation of women and weaker sections of the society.
The present study seeks to understand the organizational dynamics of the water and sanitation committees and the effect of the Pani Samitis on the position of women in Kutch region of Gujarat. This is accomplished by understanding the institutional framework of Pani Samiti with respect to women participation. (The term Institutional framework is used to denote the rules and regulations, composition, and organizational structure of the Pani Samiti) and understanding the patterns of interaction and social/power relations among the Pani Samiti members. Drawing on insights from the research study adopting qualitative research design, done in the four villages of Kutch district of Gujarat, this study shows that there exist different patterns of collective action in the villages. Where in one-village women participation in true sense is was found, in other it was just confined to the women belonging to the elite group. It was seen that accountability is shaped by power relations and collective action is a socially embedded process.
Keywords: Water & Gender; Gujarat; Pani Samiti; Role of women; Accountability; Women’s participation.
