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Abstract:
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"Water is one of the important natural resources that humanity needs for survival and progress. The judicious use and management of water resources is very much essential for agricultural development leading to improvement in the quality of life of the people in general. Although a number of efforts have been undertaken by many welfare functionaries in this direction; but, by and large, the fruits have not been favourable in the case of tribes and backward communities worldwide. This is especially so in the case of developing countries like India where about seventy percent of the population reside in the rural areas depending on agricultural activities for their livelihoods. The state of Jharkhand (a resource – rich– poor state) in eastern India is no exception to it. Under such circumstances, people’s participation or collective action as an alternative way in the management of water resources for the agricultural development leading to future progress and prosperity becomes very much necessary. In this backdrop, the present study is intended to examine the structure, function and management of a water user group – Swarnrekha Pani Panchayat in one of the tribal villages of eastern India (in Jamshedpur district, Jharkhand). The study also attempts to analyze the newly generated institutional framework in terms of its sustainability and self reliance through collective action for social transformation. The study is based on ethnographic approach using standard fieldwork research technique like observations, in-depth interviews, case studies and focused group discussions among the experimental (21 members of Pani Panchayat) and controlled (21 non-members) groups of the study area. The study reveals that there has been a significant change in the quality of life of the water user group members in the study area. However, despite a strong sense of identity and social bond there are tendencies to evade individual responsibilities governing the collectiveness. It may be concluded that such newly formed institutions need stimulation to strengthen collective action approach for bringing transformation among these backward groups."
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