Oral Presentation NCGRT/IAH Australasian Groundwater Conference 2019

Social and gender constructions associated to water resources in isolated Rural Pakistan (257)

Farooq Tanwir 1
  1. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Women and children play a pivotal role in the management of water in rural areas of Pakistan. On the one hand, they are relatively more vulnerable to water shortage amidst climate change. On the other hand, the food and nutrition security concerns are quite apparent in these exclusive genders. In addition to economic value, water is dubbed as social good which determines the social and family constructions of a community. Access to water is a reflection of social richness which ultimately causes economic strength of communities. The study was particularly aimed at exploring the socio-economic hurdles that may confront the rural communities in managing water resources. Moreover, this research effort was aimed at exploring the multidimensional role of women and children in the social constructions associated to water management in some selected rural areas of Pakistan. It was noted that 4-6 hrs on average are required to fetch 4-5 pots (50-60 liters) in Parts of Sindh.  By reviewing the existing body of literature and situation analysis of some villages in Southern Punjab and Northern Sindh, the story-line so developed clearly reflect the fact that the shortage of water is a psychological concern of women who are to manage it for drinking and domestic purposes. The study narrates that poverty in terms of access to water is most common a phenomenon in these selected rural areas where women had to travel a long distance for getting a few liters of water. It is also imperative to note in some parts of Punjab and Sindh provinces that  without the serious efforts of women and children, the overall social and economic survival is very tough. It has also been reflected from some regions that a good number of children may be a good source of water to be brought from far off areas. The conference paper will be based on secondary data, some very suggestive and analytical indepth case studies and an overview of the historical discourse of traditional water management and conservational techniques.