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IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT IN CONFLICT -AFFECTED AREA OF NEPAL: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE

IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT IN CONFLICT -AFFECTED AREA OF NEPAL: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE. By Smrittee Kala Panta Examination Committee Dr. Bernadette P. Resurreccion(Chairperson) Dr. Philippe Doneys Dr. Edsel E. Sajor Dr. Ganesh Prasad Shivakoti. May 16, 2010. INTRODUCTION

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IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT IN CONFLICT -AFFECTED AREA OF NEPAL: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE

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  1. IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT IN CONFLICT -AFFECTED AREA OF NEPAL: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE By Smrittee Kala Panta Examination Committee Dr. Bernadette P. Resurreccion(Chairperson)Dr. Philippe Doneys Dr. Edsel E. Sajor Dr. Ganesh Prasad Shivakoti May 16, 2010

  2. INTRODUCTION • RESEARCH METHODOLOGY • FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION • CONCLUSIONS • RECOMMENDATIONS

  3. INTRODUCTION • Maoist movement and perceived impact on Nepalese society

  4. FMIS :a successful example of participatory irrigation management in Nepal • Irrigation System as a set of physical and social elements • Institutions and behaviors of FMIS : embedded in society • Gender and irrigation management

  5. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM • Community centered institutions and country’s political and economic circumstances • Less knowledge about conflict induced changes in • gender and caste practices in irrigated agriculture management • opportunities for men and women water users of different caste in irrigation institutions in post conflict period

  6. AFMIS (IS1) • Constructed by farmers in 1934 • Perennial rainfed water source • Command Area- 350 ha • Wards Covered -5,6,7,8 • Canal Length-4Km • Increasing competition for irrigation water • Unorganized water users and lack of formal committee • GFMIS(IS2) • Constructed under government investment in 1987 • Perennial rainfed water source • Command Area- 200 ha • Wards Covered -1,2,3 • Canal Length-5.5 Km • Increasing competition for irrigation water • Organized water users and formal committee

  7. Secondary data collection Primary data collection

  8. Changes in Caste Relations

  9. Gender Relations Unchallenged

  10. Changes in institutional arrangement of AFMIS: before and after peace treaty • Lack of stable organizational structure • -VDC chairperson, political leaders, contractors organizing canal maintenance activities • -Leadership vacuum during conflict period • Formal committee formation in 2003 through political consensus- inactive after completion of SISP project • Political parties as mediators in conflict resolution • Rule making process undeveloped • Informal groups of politically active upper caste men and previous irrigation leaders after peace treaty

  11. Gendered access to water in AFMIS in post conflict period • Gender neutral unwritten water right • - user title of land within the reach of canal • - contribution in canal maintenance activities • Rule in practice: whoever diverts the water first, gets the water • Association of acquiring water by force • -Physical confrontation, use of violent means, masculine groupism • -Insecure access to men farmers not practicing masculine traits • -Late transplanting of rice, hiring male labors as strategies • Naturalization of women’s limited access to water

  12. Gendered access to water before peace treaty in GFMIS • Actual assess of water differed • - with location • -Ability to verbally and physically confront competing irrigators • Monopolization over water use by limited head section farmers • Caste specific gender norm mediating negotiating capacity • - Dependence of high caste women irrigators on male kin and influential men • - Tamang women forcefully asserting water right • - Better access to water for Tamang women • - Other men and women stealing water

  13. Gendered access to water after peace treaty in GFMIS • Rotation schedule followed in winter • Committee actively involved in allocating and distributing water • Access to water of women and men residing at different location improved • Less dependence of women irrigators • - Access to water still challenge in rainy season • Forceful assertion of water right ---- assertion on the basis of contribution

  14. GENDER AND CASTE WISE COMPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF AFMIS

  15. Participants attending the general assembly by gender • Source: Record of WUA, 2010

  16. Gendered participation in decision making forum in GFMIS(contd..) Composition of Executive Committee According to Caste/Ethnicity and Gender

  17. SUMMARY • Influence of Maoist insurgency • Caste system gradually relaxing • Gender hierarchy remain unaddressed • Different impact on two irrigation systems • Irrigation management remained as male domain

  18. CONCLUSIONS • Political conflict like Maoist insurgency does not immediately translate to gender equality • Political change may not ensure cultural change • Well developed institutions more adaptive to wider societal change

  19. RECOMMENDATIONS • Clear Policy provisions - inclusion of water users of different gender, caste and location • Emphasis in developing gender sensitive institutional mechanisms and organizational structure at system level • Gender awareness training for major actors involved in decision making forums at different levels • Capacity building of women committee members and women irrigators

  20. THANK YOU

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