Depleting Water, Increasing Demand: Study of Water Commons in Arid Zones of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Abstract

One of the major objectives of this study was to suggest required advocacy steps for policy and practice change aimed at campaigning for promotion and nurture of rainwater harvesting that is rooted into cultural practices, traditional knowledge and historical learning. The focus of this study is to understand the importance of traditional water harvesting structures and their relevance in the present context, particularly in the context of socio, cultural, environmental and ecological aspects of arid zones. The study covered 5 districts, 15 blocks, 18 Gram Panchayats, 20 villages and 35,186 households of Rajasthan and Gujarat states. Apart from focused group discussions, individual interactions, PRA technique and transect walk to water site was done during the study. However, small size, lack of scope for combined discussion with men and women and limited time are some of the limitations of this study