GENDER MAINSTREAMING

To allow for the meaningful participation of women (and vulnerable sections of the society) in matters relating to water resources development and management, gender awareness raising, institution of women and their capacity building has been proposed. The actions proposed in the FFA are:

• Build capacity to increase the understanding of gender implications for water management, as part of an effort to empower women so that they can acquire the skills to enter water management at a senior level. This involves an increase in technical and scientific education offered to women. 
• Identify existing female institutional forums at the village level that can be used to enhance women’s participation in the water sector.
• Include women in the Water User’s Associations at the Watercourse level as well as in Farmers Organizations (FOs) at the distributaries and minor level.
• Encourage in-depth gender-sensitive consultation processes that allow participation of both women and men in decision regarding location of water installations, technology and price implications.

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

The driving force for development of additional surface and groundwater and managing it so as to make the most of it, is provided by the stark reality that the available water resources have been exploited to such an extent that further increases in supply in proportion to the anticipated population in 2025 are just not possible. Thus the core objectives, while increasing the stock of water to the extent feasible, has been stated as The Minimizing the losses in the system and Demand Management to discourage waste. The immediate actions which have been recommended include:

• Develop and embark upon a programme of multipurpose storage development after studies to bring out that any adverse consequences can be mitigated in a socially and economically viable manner.
• Promote community development of available groundwater potential, while developing, through research, improved technologies. Promulgate and enforce groundwater monitoring system.
• Embark upon a comprehensive programme of work to save water losses, based on studies.
• Introduce mechanisms for forecasting the supplies so as to restrict the demands and develop criteria for allocation leading to the most productive use. Conduct studies on social and economic means (rationing, pricing) for demand management before their introduction.