Programme Poster session 4 abstract 945
Social Constraints to and Institutional Solutions for Rural Women’s
Participation in Natural Resource Management
Author(s): A case study of the Water First Project of the National
Organisation for Sustainable Development Anand, Gujarat State, India
Author(s): Sanjeeta Singh Negi, Carol A Ready, Jivan
S Negi
Sanjeeta Singh Negi
Founder and Chairman
National Organisation for Sustainable Development (
NOSD),
Dr. Carol A. Ready,Human Activist,USA,
Jivan S. Negi
Founder and Executive Director ,
NOSD
Keyword(s):
Session: Poster session 4
Abstract Instead of taking U turn to make any effort more sustainable in development sector there is need to
involve women since beginning of the project. This case study emphasis that women being 50% of the population,
resides in the same area and do have knowledge, skill, experience to manage resources in and around their
surroundings. Moreover, there are significant differences in the use, access and management of natural resources
between men and women. To make project related to natural resources sustainable there is need to incorporate
views of both men and women. But because, these women live in a deeply patriarchal rural society and face
structural and cultural constraints which in turn restrict their participation in the development project. This case study
of Water First Project tries to analyse women’s contribution in the field of natural resources, constraints they face
which become hindrance to their participation in the project and how these constraints have been deconstructed in
the framework of existing social, cultural and traditional practices and addressed in such a manner that it enhances
women’s capacity to raise issues and participation in the Water First Project.