FRUITS OF PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

Water is a scare commodity. It can not be created, but it get replenish. Rainfall is the major source of water for the human being. It is highly erratic in nature. Major parts of the earth do not receive the rains throughout the year. The average rainy days may vary from 10 to 45 from the arid to semiarid region. Therefore management of the water resources became an essential function of the society. Community management of the water resources had proven over time to be very successful and sustainable. This approach ensures its optimum utilization, conservation, and maximizes the benefits. Large numbers of such example are scattered throughout India. Involvements of the people’s participation in construction of water harvesting structures and irrigation water management of harvested water shows that the community can bring revolution in the water management sector. The successes story sets very good examples of participatory approach and could inspire the people facing the problems of water crises. This paper illustrates few successful cases of the participatory Irrigation management practiced in India.