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- Singh, Nandita, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Arsenic-safe water for local communities in West Bengal, India : A technological issue or a management challenge?
- 2006
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, the arsenic menace has come to threaten the lives of several millions in a number of states in India. Of these, the earliest to be reported and perhaps the worst to be affected are the populace living in the state of West Bengal. Until the middle of the 90s, the concern was with developing appropriate ‘hardware’ that can supply arsenic-safe water to the affected communities. By the second half of the 90s, a number of technological options were developed, promising to supply water containing arsenic well below the permissible limit set by the WHO. These various technologies can be conveniently clubbed under the rubric ‘arsenic removal plants’ (ARPs). Other alternatives lately promoted as safe water sources include deep tubewells, treated surface water supply through pipelines and rainwater harvesting. While each of these alternatives has its own strengths and weaknesses within the technological framework, this presentation argues that a common challenge facing them and the users is their management. While the government had commissioned evaluative studies of the ARP technologies quite early, an understanding of the management issues underlying their sustainability and adoption is yet to be developed. Based on detailed first hand observations made in a sample of 45 villages in the state, the presentation outlines the major ‘software’ issues confronting the adoption, access, maintenance and sustainability of the different technology options introduced in the local communities of West Bengal for supplying arsenic-safe water. It argued that neglect of the software dimension of the problem has resulted in inadequate attention to interventions that should have otherwise constituted critical components in the arsenic mitigation programmes designed and executed by different agencies in the state – namely, government, non-governmental organizations and international development agencies. The core of the software dimension is identified as lying in the notion of real and effective ‘community participation’.
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| 2. |
- Singh, Nandita, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Managing arsenic-safe water supply options in West Bengal, India : Problems and prospects from gender perspective
- 2006
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- While about a decade ago, developing appropriate hardware for mitigating the arsenic menace in West Bengal was the prime concern, today, safe water supply options almost abound in the affected local communities. The government has drafted a detailed program for mitigating the problem and international development agencies are actively supporting the various available options. However, the plight of the people does not seem to have been contained. It needs to be increasingly realized that management of the available safe water supply technologies is the critical issue that will determine effectiveness as well as sustainability of the alternatives in the long run. So far, either centrality of the issue has been evaded or else the government has taken over the burden in relation to its own interventions. The community has been largely kept at bay or else involved in a piecemeal approach, without realizing that linkages between technology and society can be complex and intricate and that without effective participation of the users in planning and implementation, mere installation of technologies in the community cannot deliver the goods. The complexity of the linkages is furthered by the gender-based differences between women and men as water users. It is also aggravated by the level and nature of the technology, the major categories being community-level arsenic removal plants, deep tubewells, and treated surface water pipelines on the one hand and domestic water filters on the other. Community level rainwater harvesting is being developed as an additional alternative. Based on an ethnographic study conducted in the state, this presentation aims at identifying the problems concerning management of the various kinds of safe water supply technologies introduced in the affected villages in West Bengal. The problems are first analyzed from gender perspective and then suggestions made for an appropriate gender-based approach to ensure effective community participation in the process of managing these alternatives. The recommendations aim at developing a model, which can help promote effectiveness and sustainability of technological options available for arsenic mitigation in local communities.
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| 4. |
- Singh, Nandita, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Mining Policy, Water Conflicts and Corporate Social Responsibility in Ghana : Perspectives from the Wassa West District
- 2005
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using evidence from content analysis of secondary data in combination with findings from an ongoing study on mining and contamination of water resources in the Wassa West District, this paper highlights the links between mining policy, water conflicts and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in communities within the study district. Drawing mainly data from the review of cases of mining companies, the paper also examines activities undertaken by some mining companies as part of CSR in the host communities. Findings suggest that whereas there are general complaints concerning contamination of water bodies by mining activities in communities, there are contradictions between what the local residents perceive as risk and what the views held by mining companies and experts. Reactions to reported cases of pollution are therefore open to individual interpretations—subjective or otherwise. This is largely attributed to poor communication among stakeholders. Findings also do show that mining companies are involved in the discharge of CSR through the provision of potable water supply, social infrastructure, amongst others. What remains yet to establish is the level of engagement that will match the expectations of host communities as far as improvement in water quality is concerned. A model for effective information communication is therefore proposed towards building co-operation in mining related water-conflict mediation in the district.
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| 5. |
- Singh, Nandita, 1969-
(författare)
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The changing role of women in water management : Myths and realities
- 2006
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Ingår i: Wagadu. - : SUNY Cortland. - 2150-2226 .- 1545-6196. ; Spring, s. 94-113
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Women and water are linked in several ways, an important pragmatic linkage being their role in water management. Several continuous efforts at positively transforming this role have been made during the last three decades, ranging from their improved role as domestic water managers to eliciting their greater participation in water management initiatives at community level. Studies tend to indicate that the anticipated ends of such exercises are universally achievable, in isolation of the prevailing social and cultural contexts where the women are placed. This paper seeks to unfold the realities underlying the universalistic claims regarding a transformed role for women in water management. Considering the importance of 'context' in the construction of gender ideologies and relations, through a micro-level study in the rural Indian context, this paper argues that the transformation of women's role in water management cannot be taken as a universal reality. The findings suggest that the existing role can be effectively modified only when interventions are built upon realistic, workable strategies that are meaningful and acceptable to the women and their communities.
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