Gender Considerations of Technological Interventions in Agriculture, Sustainable Management and Development in Indian Central Himalaya

Abstract

Agriculture in the Indian Central Himalaya as an integrated resource system, being mainly dependent on forests and livestock, is also absolutely dependent on the input of women. The article shows that women have greater access to the major primary productive resources in the region and shoulder the responsibility of rationally managing and conserving these resources. Food production, cattle care and other routine household activities demand that women often work more than 15 hours per day. This onerous shouldering of various responsibilities by women, to some extent an outcome of geo-cultural specificities that impact on gender division of labour, creates much drudgery.The article discusses the critical role of women in the use and conservation of forests, livestock and agriculture generally, identifying technologies and strategies to be adopted to conserve and improve these resources and their productivity, while simultaneously ameliorating the quality of life for women in this mountainous ecosystem.

Livelihoods, Poverty and Development of Adivasis: Reflections from a Village in South India

“…People from the ‘Thanda’ mentioned that seasonal migration is high in the area as majority of them are marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers. It is worth mentioning here that seasonal migration does supplement investable surplus, when cash needs are high and sources of institutional borrowings are few (Afsar, 2011; Bonner, 2009; Chant, 1998; Eswarappa, 2007b, 2015; Maharjan, Bauer, & Beatrice Knerr, 2012; McDuie-Ra, 2012; Pattanaik, 2009; Sah & Sisodia, 2004; Samal & Dhyani, 2007; Shah, 2006; Sharma, 2008; Sinha et al, 2002). One respondent stated that they were helpless and there was no way except to migrate to other areas.…”

Community Forest Management in Colonial and Postcolonial South India: Policy and Practice

“…As environmental matters rose significantly in the Indian agenda, this gave rise to a huge body of literature. 1 The Chipko movement, a celebrated environmental protection movement in India, generated awareness on the involvement of women (see Samal and Dhyani, 2007) and local communities generally in forest management (Guha, 1989;Shiva and Bandopadhya, 1986). Such advocacy has acquired further prominence in the context of neoliberal economic policies adopted by the government of India after the 1990s.…”

Lift Irrigation Schemes in Andhra Pradesh

“…The Act provides for a three-tier body composed of Project Committee, Distributory Committee and Water Users Association. In all three committees, members were to be elected by the water users, which raised gender issues (Arya, 2007;Ashra & Chakravarty, 2007;Buechler & Mekala, 2005;Castro, 2008;Datar & Prakash, 2001;Franks & Cleaver, 2007;Krishnaraj, 2000;Kynch, 1997;Mohapatra & Suar, 2008;Panda, 2007;Reddy & Reddy, 2005;Samal & Dhyani, 2007;Sharma, 2007;Tiwary, 2006Tiwary, , 2009Udayaadithya & Gurtoo, 2012). However, the LIS procedures are quite different from those in canal and tank irrigation systems.…”

“…There is much literature and ongoing research on environment and development (see earlier works by Adams, 1990;Etienne, 1997;Shiva, 1988), including issues of irrigation and related technological strategies across the world, more so for developing countries (Ashra & Chakravarty, 2007;Barnes, 2012;Batterbury, 2001;Caizhen, 2009;Castro, 2008;Gunchinmaa et al, 2011;Kantor & Pain, 2012;Karim, 2006;Mehrotra, 2009;Parfitt, 2009;Perera, 2004;Subba, 1999;Van den Berg et al, 2003;Zubair, 2005). Regarding India (Ackermann, 2012;Bradford et al, 2003;Buechler & Mekala, 2005;Choudhury, 2007;Choudhury et al, 2009;Diwakara, 2006;D'Souza, 2003;Iyengar, 1998;Lalnilawma, 2009;Madsen, 1999;Mishra, 2010;Mohan, 2004;Mudrakartha et al, 2011;Narain & Nischal, 2007;Phadke, 2002;Reddy, 2003;Reddy & Reddy, 2005;Samal & Dhyani, 2007;Tiwary, 2006Tiwary, , 2009, irregular and failed monsoons add much urgency to technological interventions for making water available where it is needed. The Indian state, as the dominant post-independence development agency, initiated many ambitious irrigation schemes to provide regular employment and income to the rural masses, often with special emphasis on marginal communities and social development (Agoramoorthy &amp...…”