The Water Crisis—Rethinking Water Governance

Abstract

The twenty-first century witnessed the unfolding of multiple water challenges and addressing these challenges will require a substantial shift in the way we manage our resources. The fundamental principles underlying any fruitful governance reform are: a) Inclusion, b) Sustainability and c) Institutional culture. 1. Inclusion is about identifying the unreached people in the society. 2. Sustainability has three dimensions a) Natural, b) Financial, c) Human Resources. As experienced in Tamil Nadu, a change management approach in the water sector, sustainable positive changes in financial aspects and human elements is achievable. The changed paradigm of water delivery was put into practice in 450 villages across Tamil Nadu by the Change Management Group of Engineers of the Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) who behaved as community members resulting in increased sense of involvement and ownership. 3. Finally, change is about transforming ‘Institutional Culture’. The officials of the ‘Change Management Group’ belonging to multiple departments associated with water in Tamil Nadu have collaborated to set up a ‘Centre of Excellence for Change Management (CECM)’ towards improving the service delivery of the critical resources with a Vision to ‘Secure Water and Food for all forever’.