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

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

GENDER PERSPECTIVE

May 16, 2010

BySmrittee Kala Panta

Examination Committee Dr. Bernadette P. Resurreccion(Chairperson)Dr. Philippe Doneys Dr. Edsel E. Sajor Dr. Ganesh Prasad Shivakoti

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CONTENT

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

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INTRODUCTIONMaoist movement and perceived impact on Nepalese society

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INTRODUCTION

Gender and irrigation management

Irrigation System as a set of physical and social elements

Institutions and behaviors of FMIS : embedded in society

FMIS :a successful example of participatory irrigation management in Nepal

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INTRODUCTION

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

Community centered institutions and country’s political and economic circumstances

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• How have gender relations in irrigation water management of FMISs under study influenced by Maoist insurgency ?

Broad Question

• What are the influences of the Maoist insurgency on gender and caste relations related to irrigated agriculture?

• How have the changes in institutional arrangements of irrigation management shaped access to water among men and women water users of different caste within irrigation systems in post conflict period?

• How have the changes in institutional arrangements of irrigation management shaped participation of men and women water users of different caste within irrigation systems in post conflict period?

Specific questions

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RESEARCH APPROACH AND STUDY AREA

• Qualitative• Purposive sampling method

RESEARCH APPROACH

• Andherikhola Farmer Managed Irrigation System of Pawoti VDC of Dolakha District (AFMIS)

• GhyangKhola FMIS (GFMIS) of Pawoti VDC of Dolakha District

STUDY AREA

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DESCRIPTION OF FMIS UNDER STUDY

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

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Key Informants Interview

Focus Group Discussion

Semi Structured Interview

Informal Interviews

Officers of DIO , Social Mobilizer of DIO, Local leaders, Lead farmers, WUA Committee members(7 KI from each Irrigation system)

3 FGD with Women and men water users of age above 30 at different location

16 Women and 14 men water users of AFMIS and 20 women and 19 men water users of GFMIS of age above 30 belonging to different location and caste

Men and Women waterUsers, irrigationleaders

DATA COLLECTI

ON METHODS AND DATA SOURCES

Primary data collection

Non Participant Observation

Executive committee meeting of GFMIS, daily interactions of men and women of different caste in community

Secondary data collection

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ARMED CONFLICT IN PAWOTI

VDC

- Untouchability practice and caste attitudes negotiated at public area but still remain in private areaIn public places such as school, Past: water not accepted

Present: drinking tea In private places such as house, restricted entry for lower caste

Voluntary labor system completely replaced by wage system

Increased confidence among caste members

Changes in Caste Relations

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ARMED CONFLICT IN PAWOTI

VDCGendered Land ownership

Lack of Maoist program on women’s rights

Persistent Gender division of labor

Persistent gendered wage rates

Gendered community level participation

Gender Relations Unchallenged

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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 projectPolitical parties as mediators in conflict resolutionRule making process undevelopedInformal groups of politically active upper caste men and previous irrigation leaders after peace treaty

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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 waterAssociation 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

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Changes in institutional arrangements of GFMIS

Institutional arrangements

Constitutional provisionsBefore peace treaty After Peace treaty

Organizational structure

General Assembly and Executive committee

General Assembly, Executive committee with Subcommittee

Membership rule Landowner or tenants of land within command area

Landowner/tenant/sharecropper/ authorized representative of land within command area

Committee members selection criteria

Not specified Representatives of different locations

Conflict Resolution mechanisms

Not specified Mediation of Executive Committee and General Assembly

Water allocation mechanism

Not specified Executive committee responsible

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Gendered access to water before peace treaty in GFMIS

Actual assess of water differed - with location -Ability to verbally and physically confront

competing irrigatorsMonopolization over water use by limited head

section farmersCaste 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

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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

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Gendered participatio

n in decision making

forum in AFMIS

GENDER AND CASTE WISE COMPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF AFMIS

Year of formation of committee

Total Upper casteMiddle caste

(Janajati)Lower caste

(Dalits)

M F M F M F M F

2003 9 2 7 2 2 0 0 0

2004 9 2 6 1 3 1 0 0

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Gendered participation in decision

making forum in

GFMIS(contd..)

Participants attending the general assembly by gender

YearTotal Upper caste Middle caste Lower

caste

M F F (%) M F M F M F

Conflict Period

2001 82 6 6.82 33 2 30 1 19 3

2003 142 9 5.96 54 2 51 4 37 3

Post conflict period

2006 193 30 13.45 75 10 82 13 36 7

2008 105 24 18.6 51 9 33 7 13 8

2009 81 34 29.57 34 11 31 15 16 8

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Gendered participation in decision making forum in GFMIS(contd..)

Composition of Executive Committee According to Caste/Ethnicity and Gender

Year of formation

TotalUpper caste (Brahmin and Chettri)

Middle Caste (Janajati)

Lower Caste

(Dalits)

M F M F M F M F

1991-1998 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0

Conflict Period

1998-2001 11 0 11 0 0 0 0 0

2001-2006 9 2 8 1 0 0 1 1

Post conflict period

2006-2008 15 2 6 2 3 0 4 0

2008-till 11 2 6 2 1 0 3 0

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SUMMARY

Influence of Maoist insurgencyCaste system gradually relaxingGender hierarchy remain unaddressedDifferent impact on two irrigation systemsIrrigation management remained as male domain

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

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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 levelGender awareness training for major actors involved in decision making forums at different levelsCapacity building of women committee members and women irrigators

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THANK YOU