Social and Gender Equity Gauge Assessing gender equity in the water sector in South Asia

Background So far scattered references, impressions and a few studies indicating gender inequities which have not created an impact on policy or intervention

Objectives Develop a policy tool that helps in building a gender/caste/class disaggregated data base for example on a) access to water and associated resources like land, credit, skills, b) voice in decision making c) nature of work and time spent in water related activities in the productive and the reproductive sphere d) costs and benefits across social groups from public expenditures on water programmes e) varying impacts at the micro and macro levels as a result of lack of access to water, decision making- on their time, health, self esteem etc.

Indicators…1 Levels of contestationIndicators Resources and Rightsa) Access and control over productive resources This refers to productive resources such as land, water, credit that are crucial for both positive livelihood outcomes as well as for bargaining for better and secure social status. b) Gender division of water work Understanding the gendered work pattern of work around water which is indicative of how easy or difficult access to the resource is. c) Water pricing and cost recovery issues Affordable water as a basic right becomes crucial in the gender poverty water linkages. It is one of the key determiners of access/control over water Rules, norms and lawsUnderstanding the water policy contexts, the laws and the informal rules and norms that govern access to water

Indicators…2 Authoritiesa) Institutions Largely the water related institutions like the Water Users Associations (WUAs) but also other local institutions, which have implications on women’s empowerment process. Here we would focus on looking at profile of members, who decides membership criteria, distribution and allocation rules b) Nature of participation Nature of participation is also determined by how roles within institutions are delineated. Here we would try to understand the quality of participation and how and whether it contributes to women’s empowerment and water management practices. c) Skills and Capabilities Knowledge has a critical role to play in the meaningful use of resources and strengthening the resource rights. It creates an ability to influence opinion regarding both access as well as decision making around rules and regulations Knowledge discourses What shapes the understanding around water? How are policy makers informed? What governs whether water should be seen as an economic good, a human right etc become concerns of ideology

Tools/methods Household questionnaire Focus group discussions Spatial mapping Collection of secondary data Field observations

Our sample Village selection criteria No of households in village: between 100 to 500 SC population: 15% and above

Caste inequities in resource ownership Caste LandownershipLivestock ownershipWater Source ownership Total own landlandlessYesNoYesNo Open OBC SC ST DT NT Muslim Total

Women’s ownership to land in landowning households

Inequities in associated technology Ownership of water related equipment OpenOBCSCSTDTNTMuslimTotal No equipment Electric pump Storage tank Private tap Diesel pump Pipeline Generator HH covered

Domestic water and sanitation

Access to water Caste wise average water access (lpcd)

Water consumption pattern across castes Water consumption categories OpenOBCSCSTDTNTMuslimTotal 1 to to to to to to to to More than No of HH covered

Public sources Source dependence OpenOBCSCSTDTNTMuslimTotal Self owned private Others owned private sources Public sources River Self private and other private Self private and public Public and other private Public and river No of HH covered

Sanitation

Irrigation

Access to irrigation Caste categoryIrrigatedNon irrigatedBoth No of land owning HH Open OBC SC ST DT NT Muslim Total

Water related work

Chart 4: Person fetching water, percentage of households

Time and distance Source ownershipDistance (meters)Time (hours) Self private Others private Public River360.50

Utilisation of water-non paid work WorkCookingWashing utensilsWashing Clothes Female99.7 Male0.3 Both0.0 No response0.0 Total HH covered320

Non paid work: Water for production Who does the work PloughingSowingWeedingHarvestingSelling farm products Supervision of labour Male Female Both Rent Not Applicable Total100.00

Costs borne by women Average distance traveled for fetching water (km)0.18 Average time spent in fetching water from one main source (in hours)1 Average time spent in utilising water for domestic needs- (cooking, cleaning utensils, washing vessels) hours5.6

Participation in water institutions Participation: important as indicator from point of view of access In our villages lack of participation among women as well as men In all domestic water, irrigation and watershed related institutions

Summary of findings Caste Owners hip of Well/bor e well More than 40 lpcd water availabl e Average water availabl e (lpcd) Sanitat ion access Land ownersh ip Irrigat ed land (amon g total lando wners Water equipm ent (motor pump, pipeline etc) Participa tion in committe esTotal Open OBC SC ST DT NT Muslim Total