This research network will explore how community-based arts can contribute to understandings and improvements in the welfare of people in Rajasthan, India living in conditions of water scarcity.
Over the last 150 years water management in this largely rural and dry part of India has moved away from community-oriented and simple technologies (e.g. rainwater harvesting) in favour of more complex, state-managed groundwater extraction. However, modern systems have not always succeeded in providing reliable water service to rural areas of Rajasthan. Indeed, the number of villages with no access to adequate and/or potable water remains high. Within Rajasthan and India there is a long-standing tradition of water conservation through the design of rainwater harvesting structures and management. These include methods of harnessing surface rainwater run-off as well as groundwater extraction. Nevertheless, these technologies and approaches have lost their significance due to modernization policies and interventions. As a result, traditional water infrastructures and practices have been severely eroded and even eliminated. This deterioration has worsened over time despite the fact that the present system of centralized supply and management of water has failed to meet the needs of a large number of people. Of particular importance is loss of the cultural and social role these structures played in the growth and development of Indian society. Further, there has been significant damage to the ecosystem services these water bodies and structures provided. Many now argue that it is necessary to take a fresh look at not only what we can learn from the traditional sources and systems but also the role that they can play in the wider goals of providing sustainable water security to all and re-establishing the social and cultural values associated with small-scale water management
Over the last 150 years water management in this largely rural and dry part of India has moved away from community-oriented and simple technologies (e.g. rainwater harvesting) in favour of more complex, state-managed groundwater extraction. However, modern systems have not always succeeded in providing reliable water service to rural areas of Rajasthan. Indeed, the number of villages with no access to adequate and/or potable water remains high. Within Rajasthan and India there is a long-standing tradition of water conservation through the design of rainwater harvesting structures and management. These include methods of harnessing surface rainwater run-off as well as groundwater extraction. Nevertheless, these technologies and approaches have lost their significance due to modernization policies and interventions. As a result, traditional water infrastructures and practices have been severely eroded and even eliminated. This deterioration has worsened over time despite the fact that the present system of centralized supply and management of water has failed to meet the needs of a large number of people. Of particular importance is loss of the cultural and social role these structures played in the growth and development of Indian society. Further, there has been significant damage to the ecosystem services these water bodies and structures provided. Many now argue that it is necessary to take a fresh look at not only what we can learn from the traditional sources and systems but also the role that they can play in the wider goals of providing sustainable water security to all and re-establishing the social and cultural values associated with small-scale water management