IWRA Proceedings

AbstractInstead 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.