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WATER EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTShort training workshops and courses are emphasizing the latest developments inhydrological analyses, design and software applicationsImage: National Institute of Hydrologyinstitutes (ITIs) and various data collecting organizations such asCWC, IMD, CGWB, the Central Water and Power Research Station,the Central Pollution Control Board and various state irrigation andwater resources organizations.Continuing education programmes, summer courses andrefresher courses are being organized to provide an overviewof the new technologies and their applications in hydrology andwater resources. Such programmes are not only being organized byacademic institutions like IITs and engineering colleges, but alsoby some of the central and state government organizations suchas the National Water Academy, CWC, Rajiv Gandhi NationalGround Water Training and Research Institute, CGWB, NationalInstitute of Hydrology, Central Water and Power Research Station,IMD; Department of Hydrology, Department of Water ResourcesDevelopment and Management and National Remote SensingCentre. Courses are also organized by water and land managementinstitutes, technical teacher training institutes, staff training andirrigation research institutes in states, the Karnataka Engineer StaffTraining College at Krishnarajasagar, the Engineering Staff Collegeat Nasik and other similar state institutes for training in-servicepersonnel in various areas of water resources.The National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee has made a remarkablecontribution through the organization of short-durationtraining workshops and courses at Roorkee and in various statesfor the transfer of technology, with an emphasis on the latest developmentsin hydrological analysis, design and software applications.The institute has also organized a number of training programmesfor middle-level officers of the central and state organizations whichhave participated in the World Bank funded Hydrology ProjectPhase-I and Phase-II. The institute has provided training for a largenumber of participants from central government, state governmentsand academic organizations under its technological transferand capacity building programmes. Some important areas coveredby the training programmes include observation, processing andanalysis of precipitation data; flood frequency analysis; groundwatermodelling; flood routing and forecasting; reservoiroperation; urban hydrology; GIS and remote sensingapplications in hydrology; snow and glacier hydrology;water quality modelling; and the assessment of climatechange impacts on water resources.For senior level officers, refresher courses of one ortwo days duration should be organized on specializedtopics of technological advancement. In such coursesthe officers may learn about the latest developments incomputational facilities and the role and applications ofinformation technology. Some of the specialized topicson which refresher courses could be organized includehydrological design aids, software applications, informationtechnology applications for data management,applications of GIS and remote sensing techniques,modern tools for hydrological investigations andanalysis, and decision DSSs. This would be helpful inmaking the officers aware of existing gaps in the practicesbeing followed and the availability of improvedprocedures and methodologies for the planning, designand management of water resources. It would also helpto develop the required infrastructure facilities andwell-trained manpower for better development andmanagement of water resources.In India a large number of regional languages arein practice and in order to reach the masses, emphasisshould be placed on activities that create publicawareness in people’s own languages along with Hindiand English. Pamphlets on water awareness should beprepared in different languages and public awarenessshould be created in a well-planned and coordinatedmanner. Video films should be prepared on topics ofpublic interest, and these should be screened at largegatherings. In India, the literacy rate of women is quitelow, so women’s participation in the public awarenessprogrammes should be given due emphasis. Themessage of the importance of water and its interconnectednesswith the environment around us, and allthat the various organizations in the country are doingin this context, needs to be imprinted in the minds ofupcoming generations. Effective programmes muststart in the elementary schools and continue throughsecondary and higher secondary schools. A participatoryapproach should be adopted to making the peopleof various sections of society aware about the differentissues of water resources management. Mass communicationprogrammes should be launched using modernmethods of communication to educate people aboutwater conservation and efficient utilization of water.Capacity building should be perceived as the processwhereby a community equips itself to become an activeand well-informed partner in decision-making. Theprocess of capacity building must be aimed at bothincreasing access to water resources and changing thepower relationships between stakeholders. Capacitybuilding is not only limited to officials and technicians,but must also include the general awareness of the localpopulation regarding their responsibilities in the sustainablemanagement of water resources. Policy decisions in[ 142 ]