PARTICIPATORY PROCESS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Abstract

THE PAPER CRITICALLY REVIEWS A FEW SELECTED WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ( SUKHOMAJRI, BUNGA , CHOWKI , TIBBI) IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHIWALIK FOOTHILLS IN HARYANA STATE. THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO ANALYSE PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION AND LESONS LEARNT FOR SECURING PEOPLE'S ACTIVE INVOLVEMENTS AND LINKAGES BETWEEN COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCES (CPRs) , PRIVATE PROPERTY RESOURCES ( PPRs), QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFITS. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT THE PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BASED ON LINKS BETWEEN CPRs AND PPRs WAS STABLE AND SUSTAINABLE. THE TYPES AND LEVELS OF LINKS EXHIBITED A HIGHER DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION IN BUNGA AND SUKHOMAJRI AND VERY LOW IN CHOWKI AND TIBBI PROJECTS. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT MOST IMPORTANT PREQUISITE FOR PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IS THAT EXPECTED PRIVATE BENEFITS FROM PARTICIPATION MUST SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEED PRIVATE COST OF PARTICIPATION