Multi Functions of People Institutions and Their Sustainability: Role of Tank Associations and Their Nested Institutions for the Sustainability of Tanks

Abstract

"Irrigation Tanks (Traditional water harvesting structures called lakes) are small irrigation structures predominantly serve small and marginal farming communities to sustain the agriculture production by supplementing the monsoon rains. These are our heritage handed over to us by our ancestors and are the lifelines of villages. There will be festivities in the villages if its irrigation tanks get filled. The tanks, which had conferred benefits to humanity for over centuries since the beginning of history, are now in a bad shape. A proper maintenance of the tanks will prevent famine, starvation and unemployment and bring in prosperity. During the British rule, the tank as a common property has become the ‘state’ property. The tanks belong to the ‘state’ and they are ‘vested’ with government departments for their maintenance and management. In most of the Southern states in India, the major threats to tanks are mainly from the encroachers, inefficiency in the functioning of tank system and improper use by the government itself. The main reason attributed to this situation is the ‘Institutional constraint’. If the tanks are surviving and still performing, it is by and large due to the local organizations and farmer’s initiatives which are mostly informal. We consider that ‘institutional constraints and alternatives’ should be a prime question to be addressed as that of rehabilitation itself. Some of the tanks have been restored and are maintained with the awareness created by DHAN Foundation, a Non-Governmental Development Organization by promoting Tank Associations (Water Users Associations) with an identity name 'Vayalagam' in South India are in good condition. This has been made possible due to the awareness created among the people especially underprivileged farming community, by ensuring their participation and contribution during the selection and execution of works implementation time, promotion of nested institutions among the beneficiaries and making aware them regarding the future maintenance of the tanks. Our experience of working has been through farmer’s organizations formed at the habitation, cascade (chain of tanks) and district levels for conserving the tank systems are mostly in drought prone areas. Each tier of these farmers associations will have distinct identifiable roles, responsibilities and resources. DHAN Foundation’s approach mainly relies upon the regeneration of Farmer’s Management by establishing their organizations and involving them in rehabilitating works."