The Book contains empirical studies from different regions of the country explicating the issue of Sustainable Development of Watershed Management. The empirical studies in the North-West Region have examined the replicability of Sukhomajri Model in the States of Panjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttaranchal. The Sukhomajri model has been widely acclaimed for its concept off ‘social fencing’ and demonstrating the equity ingredient of social sustainability. The replication of this model on a large scale in North-Western States has shown that ecological and economic sustainability, have been adequately substantiated but with respect to social sustainability there have been several problems. The ingredients of ‘social equity’ have not been ensured as the watershed projects could benefit the landed but not the landless. The inequality between the landed and the landless have accenturated after watershed projects and accordingly the scheduled castes and other landless could not derive much benefits from the project. Besides it, the women participation and empowerment also has been weak. The highlights of the studies in other regions of the country have sharply focused on the role of NGO’s and dedicated leadership as the strength of social sustainability of the watershed projects. They have been able to strengthen social-institutions of the village community which have enabled the watershed projects to be socially sustainable. This book will be of interest to a wide range of scholars, activists, voluntary organizations, administrators, and policy makers as watershed management has been the prime agenda for the Planning Commission for last 4-5 year plans particularly for the dryland and rainfed areas.
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