Ms. Manulaxmi will present her APS as per the detail below:
Date: 24 February 2025
Time: 1300-1400 hrs.
Venue: Conference Room No.1, C-TARA Office
Topic: The Role of Women in Groundwater Management for Enhancing Livelihood status in India
Guide: Prof Pennan Chinnasamy
RPC members: Prof Priya Jadhav, Prof Sarmistha Pattanaik
Abstract:
Groundwater is a critical water resource in India. The groundwater security issues are raising serious questions, including hydrological, societal, agricultural, and gender perspectives. This study investigates the role of women in groundwater management and its impact on livelihoods, as a case study in rural Maharashtra, India, with a focus on the Parbhani district. The selection of the study area was based on a comprehensive set of nine parameters, including, feminization of agriculture, gender issues, groundwater level scenario, participation in MGNREGA for groundwater recharge structures, farm suicides, and different water sources. Two villages, Babhulgaon, and Pimpalgaon Thombare, were selected for comparative analysis on the influence of groundwater issues on education, social security, health, and economic livelihood. The mixed method approach used to collect the field observations revealed a significant 36 % increase in the feminization of agriculture, with women assuming dual responsibilities of managing both domestic and irrigation water. Gender wage disparity in agriculture emerged as a challenge, impacting women's economic empowerment. The hypothesis is that increasing groundwater levels and sustainable groundwater management can enhance women's livelihoods and empower them to make water-related decisions. This study integrated hydrogeological, geospatial, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques to map groundwater recharge potential zones. Thematic layers such as geomorphology, geology, land use/land cover, drainage density, lineament density, soil, and slope were analyzed using a weighted overlay technique through social experts based on an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and further overlayed with an irrigation map of the district. The results identified high, moderate, and low recharge potential zones. High recharge potential zones were primarily located in flatter terrains with favorable geomorphological and geological conditions, while low potential zones were associated with steeper slopes and poor lineament density. This approach also demonstrates a replicable framework for addressing groundwater depletion challenges in similar semi-arid regions. Through community-based initiatives, women actively engage in groundwater management, gaining knowledge of crop patterns and water optimization. The study underscores the importance of addressing gender dynamics, providing support for dual responsibilities, and empowering women as key stakeholders in agricultural development. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on water resource management and rural livelihood enhancement, advocating for inclusive policies and practices to uplift women in the agrarian sector.