Community Lift Irrigation Systems in Gumla District, Jharkhand

Examining the irrigation sharing practices among beneficiary groups, their conflicts and conflict resolution mechanisms, the study identifies the scope for formal ans sustainable institutional mechanisms for community managed irrigation systems. This study was carried out for PRADAN, Ranchi and Jharkhand.

Introduction

I n rural India, a large number of families depend on agriculture for food security and livelihood. Irrigation is most important for improving agricultural methods, output and productivity. Assured irrigation can substantially enhance livelihood opportunities, particularly for small and marginal farmers. In the tribal areas of eastern India, assured irrigation is most critical for making the shift from primitive and subsistence agriculture to modern and commercial agriculture. However, access to assured irrigation becomes much more difficult due to physiographic conditions, remoteness, poverty, lack of modern technology, etc. Hence, external assistance is extremely important to bridge the financial, technological, information and institutional gaps in the promotion of irrigation in these areas.

In order to strengthen the existing livelihoods of the rural people in Jharkhand, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) has undertaken the task of institutionalizing people-managed irrigation systems in the villages. These include wells in the homesteads, lowland wells, water lifting devices and river-based lift irrigation schemes. All such infrastructure was created through funding from different government programmes, specified for poor rural families. PRADAN provides techno-managerial support to install the systems and creates social organizations to manage the schemes in the long run. These systems are managed by groups of beneficiaries, who share the responsibility of meeting the operating costs, the maintenance and the safe-keep of the systems. The water users share common ownership over the irrigation systems. These systems have been implemented in phases; thus, some schemes are fifteen years old whereas some have started functioning only last year. At this stage, it is important to study various aspects of the existing schemes, with the aim of improving the programmes.