Sustainable development, water resources management and women's empowerment: the Wanaraniya Water Project in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Water is one of the most important natural resources, and its effective management is essential given its scarcity. In rural Sri Lanka, the management of available water resources needs special attention because investment for water resource improvement is hard to obtain, and water itself is relatively scarce in the drier areas of the country. The Wanaraniya Water Project pipes water 6.5km from its source to individual houses in the village, saving women daily time and effort. The project is founded on commitments to community participation and the adoption of local knowledge. It was initiated by women, and has been operated and managed by them for the last six years. This study argues that the project can serve as a model for better planning of water management, and focuses on the unique strategies and innovative methods that have been used. In particular, it shows the impact of involvement in the project on women's empowerment. The implementation of the project has helped women to improve their leadership qualities, confidence, self-reliance, and gain more power in the community through their successful establishment of a village water supply.

Keywords:

• Sri Lanka
• water
• community
• participatory development
• women's empowerment

Acknowledgements

Many people helped us in this research project. Students from the Gender and Development class in the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka provided their insights/learning experiences conducting field work with us. Although it is impossible to thank everyone, we would like to extend our special thanks to the village community in Wanarani GN Division, and to Ms. Kumari Dharmaratne, who has given leadership to the Vishaka Women's Society, and extended her fullest support for our research. We would also like to thank officials in Rattota DS Division, Matale for access to documents and interviews.

Notes

1. Grama Niladhari Division is the lowest level of administrative division of Sri Lanka

2. Samurdhi, the National Poverty Alleviation Programme was launched in 1995 by the government of Sri Lanka. The aim of the programme is to improve ‘the economic and social conditions of youth, women and disadvantaged groups of the society’. It has three components: provision of consumption grants, saving and credit programmes, and workforce and social development programmes.

3. Pradesiya Sabha (PS) is a local government system, mainly dealing with issues such as health, water supply, and cleaning services. Funding of activities comes from various sources such as the provincial council budget. The PS generates their own small funds through the collection of fees from markets, tax etc. However, the PS plays a limited role in development planning.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Seela Aladuwaka

Seela Aladuwaka is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Janet Momsen

Janet Momsen is Emerita Professor of Geography, University of California, Davis, CA, USA and Research Associate in International Gender Studies at the University of Oxford, UK