Self Governance and Watershed Development Programme a Case from Eastern India

To sustain the dryland agriculture watershed development programme is implemented by the Government of India (GOI) and various State Governments. To endure these programme lots of emphasis are given on self-governance and community participation. However, in spite of all these initiation still it has failed to achieve the desired result. Lot of variation are observed in case of community participation. Under this background, the present study has carried out in a Jharbandhali micro-watershed located in Balangir district of western Odisha, eastern India. Broadly, the objective of the study is to figure out the level of community participation in watershed programme. The sociological and anthropological techniques are used to fulfil the objective of the present study. The overall empirical findings of the study show that the Watershed Committee (WC) and User Groups (UGs) created during the watershed are mainly dominated by male, rich, head reach and upper caste farmers. On the other hand the participation of women, landless and marginal community is not higher. Their participation is quite less because of lack of awareness, political interference and non-closeness with the PIA. Considering the importance of their participation in watershed activities the participatory institutions must meet the emerging challenges. Participation can be improved by regular training and capacity buildings programmes, conflict management and appropriate awareness activities.