Safe Drinking Water and its Acquisition: Rural Women's Participation in Water Management in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The present study was on the participation of women in 10 villages which had a perennial problem of adequate and safe drinking water. These remote villages are situated in the arid region of Vidarbha in the state of Maharashtra,India. The endeavour to have safe and sufficient drinking water helped the women in fighting not only against poverty but also oppression, exploitation and human rights violation. Discussion and dialogue with men and women of the rural communities were the main methods used for data collection. The participatory research helped the women to realize that they too could be equal to men and advocates of rural sustainable development. The street plays and protests organized by the women and the consistent struggle for water created strong community awareness. The search for safe drinking water and water management by women had an all-pervading effect in all villages. The women also initiated programmes for social forestry and rain water harvesting to protect the environment. For the first time in the recent history of these villages, there was sufficient safe drinking water in seven villages during the summer months of 1997.