Improved water control as strategy for enhancing tribal livelihoods

Abstract

Synthesising the lessons of a two year collaborative research programme by researchers and NGOs, this paper suggests that improved water control strategies, designed after taking contextual factors of resource conditions and socio-ecology into consideration, have a high potential for redressing the livelihood problems of India's most neglected people besides also leading to sustained and salutary impacts on wider human development indicators for this region. While other development interventions are also important and necessary, public investments in assuring improved irrigation water control can act to kick-start the tribal economy in the region.