India must reform its rural water policies

Source: The post India must reform its rural water policies has been created, based on the article “The role of communities in conserving water” published in “The Hindu” on 27th March 2025. India must reform its rural water policies. 

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Context: On World Water Day (March 22), Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for collective water conservation efforts. The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025. This occasion highlights the need to revisit India’s rural water policies in light of environmental challenges and evolving ecological understandings.

For detailed information on Water Crisis in India read this article here

Issues for Consideration in India’s Water Policies

1. Limited Community Participation: Current policies allow communities to manage water sources but not to participate in key decisions. For example, Water User Associations (WUAs) involve farmers in managing irrigation, but they lack decision-making power. Also, traditional ecological practices like orans—sacred forests in western India that help conserve water—are often ignored by formal policies.
2. Neglect of Vulnerable Groups: Marginalised and economically weaker communities are more affected during water crises. Their local knowledge is valuable, yet they are rarely included in decisions. Policies must ensure their active involvement and representation.
3. Fragmented Ecosystem Management: Water, land, forests, and biodiversity are regulated under separate policies. This fragmented approach ignores the interdependence of ecosystems. Practices like orans show how integrated management can support rainwater harvesting and sustain local ecology.
4. Human-Centric Water Policies: Water policies mostly address human needs, overlooking the non-human environment. Some local communities consider the water needs of animals too. Indian courts have recognised nature’s rights, but this is missing in current water governance.
5. Impact of Climate Change: A report in the journal Nature warns that rising global temperatures will widen India’s water gap. Policies must build climate-resilient water systems and strengthen ecosystem resilience.

Conclusion

India’s water policies must move beyond symbolic engagement. They should empower communities, integrate traditional practices, and build resilience against climate threats. While doing so, local knowledge must be supported through sensitisation and capacity building, ensuring effective and inclusive water governance.

Question for practice

Examine how India’s current rural water policies can be made more inclusive and ecologically sustainable in light of recent environmental and climate challenges.