Advocacy

There is no dearth of stories about worsening water crises in the global media. We constantly read or hear about recurring droughts and floods, depleting aquifers, vanishing glaciers, drying reservoirs, contamination of freshwater sources, and increasing conflicts over water sharing. On top of this, climate change threatens to exacerbate these problems. Even a world war is repeatedly predicted as a possible outcome of the water scarcity that looms all across the globe. According to the Stockholm Environment Institute, the percentage of the world’s population living in countries experiencing significant water stress will increase from 34 per cent in 1995 to 63 per cent in 2025; those living in poorer countries in Asia and Africa with low and unreliable rainfall, and with high levels of water utilization, will be at a greater risk of water scarcity..

With its burgeoning population and diminishing water sources, India’s per capita water availability has been declining sharply; it has already dropped below 1,700 cu m—the benchmark of water stress. It is anticipated that large parts of India, especially the drought-prone areas, with their poor social and economic indicators, will face severe water crises in the near future, which will be far worse than those experienced at present. A recent international report of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has projected that India will be in the worst situation by 2030.

The water crisis is essentially a crisis of governance. Weakness in governance systems has greatly impeded progress towards sustainable development and retarded efforts aimed at balancing socioeconomic needs with the requirements of ecological sustainability. The conflicting interests and lack of cooperation between those sharing precious water resources is leading to a deterioration of living standards, degradation of the local environment, and political and economic instability. Inadequacy of water management, fragmented institutional structures, and diversion of public resources for private gain are some of the serious problems pertaining to the water sector. The prevailing sectoral approaches to water resource management have led to the fragmented and uncoordinated development and management of the resource. In addition, water management is usually left to top-down institutions, which is not only illegitimate but also ineffective. The accountability of water management initiatives is being increasingly questioned..

It is generally agreed that the basic principles of effective governance include participation of all stakeholders, transparency, equity, accountability, and responsiveness. Sound water governance requires policy and institutional reforms that incorporate these principles and effectively enforce laws that are essential to regulate sustainable water resource management.

In addition, the participation of the people is vital for the success of any policy on water governance. There is a need for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to work together to strengthen the participation of civil society in formulating water policy, sharing knowledge, linking stakeholders, raising awareness, organizing meetings, and building consensus on water laws and governance.

An integrated approach to water resource management is important for the survival of people in Rajasthan, as 70 per cent of the population of the state depends for their livelihood on agriculture, of which water is a key input. This can be done by building capacity for more efficient management of water resources, in terms of policy framework as well as through the promotion of best practices in water resource management based on traditional technologies and knowledge and modern innovations. JMF has initiated an action-oriented advocacy campaign that features a multi-pronged strategy for addressing issues of concern and for advocating rights issues at local, regional, state, and national levels. A strong advocacy component has been built into the organizational processes to enable villagers, community leaders, and development workers to gain access to, and have a voice in, decision-making, to shape public attitudes, and to influence public policies that will help in achieving an equitable, just, and sustainable paradigm of water governance.

JMF has developed a comprehensive advocacy strategy that focuses on creating awareness, generating constructive responses, forming partnerships, and encouraging conscientious citizens at local, regional, state, and national levels. At the local level, the strategy focuses on developing an effective network of villagers who can act as a pressure group for institutionalizing rights-based governance. At the regional and state levels, the strategy concentrates on forging partnerships and on interacting with opinion makers and politicians to sensitize them about the dominant issues, along with offering feasible solutions for overcoming problems. At the national level, the strategy entails the organization of conventions, conferences, and workshops to bring on a common platform government agencies, local bodies, and voluntary and community organizations working on the issue, to discuss and debate national-level policies.

Similarly, to generate viewpoints, and create pressure groups and demand for effective functional strategies, JMF has set up linkages with government bodies, academic and research institutions, voluntary agencies, donor agencies, the media, and individuals to solicit viewpoints, create pressure groups, and devise effective and functional strategies. JMF's Water Resource Centre plays an important role in strengthening the advocacy component of the Foundation. It is an appropriate hub to showcase experiences, disseminate knowledge among people, and generate positive and effective responses.

Furthermore, JMF supports and capacitates Jal Sabhasto become civil society organizations working at the grass roots to influence local governance, while bringing about transparency and accountability. Political and administrative accountability has always been regarded as the bedrock of democratic governance and poverty eradication. The ignorance of people about their own roles in a democracy and of their participation in governance procedures remains a major challenge in efforts aimed at bringing about accountable and participatory governance at the grass roots. Hence, capacitating and empowering Jal Sabhasholds a unique potential for achieving accountable and efficient local governance.