Problems of Participation and Issues of Sustainability in the Public Irrigation System in the Context of Management Transfer: Some Sociological Observations from Eastern Terai, Nepal

Authors

  • Laya Prasad Uprety

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4512

Keywords:

participation, sustainability, management transfer, social capital and empowerment

Abstract

It has been ascertained that participatory processes did not involve learning component from both agency and water users’ association for institutional and technical sustainability. The overall process of participation was superficial. There was a need of participation that underscored the empowerment of WUA with accountability. As Vermillion (2005) shares that empowerment with partnership is an emergent institutional paradigm for the irrigation sector development that places water users in the role of irrigation system governance, and government in the roles of regulator and provider of support services. There is a need to re-train the irrigation staff on the emergent institutional paradigm to empower the water users. For the empowerment with accountability, water users are to be provided enough institutional strengthening. There is the need to promote user-agency relationship positively and develop faith and confidence of the users and agency in the regime of transparency. Social scientists point out potential benefits of building successful local organizations. These benefits, for the local people, are in aspects such as empowerment, confidence-building, forming social capital, and reduction of dependency. Given the fact that participation is a process, it cannot be achieved in a short span of time with little institutional inputs. Sustainability of the management transferred irrigation systems/sub-systems definitely hinges on the broad-based and inclusive participatory processes.

Keywords: participation; sustainability; management transfer; social capital and empowerment

DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4512

Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 2010 pp.41-64

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Author Biography

Laya Prasad Uprety

Uprety, Laya Prasad is Associate Professor in Anthropology at the Central Department of Sociology
/Anthropology, University Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. He holds M.A. in Anthropology (1984) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and M.S. in Development Studies (1989) from Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines. He has earned Ph. D. in Anthropology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal in 2006. The title of his doctoral thesis is "Managing Water for Irrigation as a Common Property Resource: A Case Study of Sorah-Chhattis Mauja Indigenous Irrigation Systems of Rupandehi District, Nepal".

Dr. Uprety teaches two courses at the graduate program, namely, theoretical perspectives in anthropology and anthropology of natural resources management. Besides teaching the graduate students, he has also worked as a consultant anthropologist in the development research projects of multi-lateral, bilateral and international non-governmental organizations, agencies of the United Nations Organization and national consultancy firms since 1985. His foci of academic and professional researches have been on common property resources management and anthropology of development. Currently, he is the General Secretary of Nepalese Sociological/Anthropological Society (SASON).

Dr. Uprety has had several publications to his credit. His most recent publications include: (1) SASON Journal of Sociology and Anthropology (co-editor of vol.2,2011 published by SASON); (2) SASON Journal of Sociology and Anthropology (co-editor of vol.1,2010 published by SASON); (3) Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology (co-editor of vol.11, 2010 published by the Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu); (4) Sociology and Anthropology of Nepal (co-editor,2010 published by the Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu); (5) Effectiveness of Non-contributory Social Pension in Nepal (authored book,2010,NEPAN); (6) Empowering the Disempowered Tenants: A Study of the Impact of People-centered Advocacy of Land Tenancy Rights Movement in Nepal (co-authored book published by Community Self-reliance Center, Kathmandu:2009); (7) Nepalese Journal of Qualitative Research Methods (Chief Editor- annual publication of Local Initiative Promotion Trust, Lalitpur, Nepal 2009, vol.3); (8) Irrigation in Transition: Interacting with Internal and External Factors and Setting the Strategic Actions (co-authored book published by Farmer Managed Irrigation Promotion Trust, 2007), and (9) Critical Webs of Power and Change: A Resource Pack for Planning, Reflection and Evaluation of People-Centered Advocacy (a co-authored book published by Action Aid International, London, UK, 2005.

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How to Cite

Uprety, L. P. (2011). Problems of Participation and Issues of Sustainability in the Public Irrigation System in the Context of Management Transfer: Some Sociological Observations from Eastern Terai, Nepal. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 4, 41–64. https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4512

Issue

Vol. 4 (2010)

Section

Articles