Figure 44. Villagewise participation ofwomen in community decision-making,KalyandurgFigure 4<strong>5.</strong> Villagewise participation ofwomen in community decision-making,DhoneWomen are not involved in community decision-makingWomen are in committes but do not attendWomen attend meeting but mostly let men take major ddecisionsWomen attend, participate but cannot influence major decisionsWomen attend, participate and are able <strong>to</strong> influence major decisionsNo data68
Figure 44 and 45 summarise findings relating<strong>to</strong> the participation of women in communitydecision-making in Kalyandurg and Dhonerespectively. These figures show that inKalyandurg women were only participating inmeetings in 17% of the villages and participatingand influencing decisions in 4% of the villages.In Dhone, women were participating in meetingsin 14% of the villages and participating andinfluencing decisions in 5% of the villages.For Kalyandurg in particular, there is a starkcontrast between the figures on the participationof the poor and of women in meetings.These findings confirm that, although poor menparticipate in meetings, women, and particularlypoor women, rarely participate in meetings.In summary, despite impressive advances inwomen’s empowerment through the SHGmovement in Andhra Pradesh, women still donot participate effectively in community decisionmaking.Even in a mandal like Kalyandurg,which has a good record in remedial actionby panchayats and community participation,participation by women in community decisionsis low. In a majority of the habitations (allexcept 2), women were either not involved incommunity decision-making, or did notattend meetings or influence major decisionson community issues relating <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> andsanitation.<strong>5.</strong>6 <strong>Access</strong> <strong>to</strong> irrigation <strong>water</strong><strong>Access</strong> <strong>to</strong> reliable <strong>water</strong> supplies for irrigation,lives<strong>to</strong>ck and other productive purposes isextremely important <strong>to</strong> the livelihoods of a largenumber of people living in the study mandals.Although there is some growth in the servicesec<strong>to</strong>r, the majority still rely heavily onagricultural production. There is a strong beliefamongst small and marginal farmers, based onexperience, that gaining access <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>resources</strong>and becoming an irriga<strong>to</strong>r farmer is a reliablemeans of escaping from poverty. Hence,considerable amounts of money have been andcontinue <strong>to</strong> be invested in borewell constructionin Dhone and Kalyandurg. Private borewellinvestments <strong>to</strong>tal around Rs. 4 crores in Dhoneand around Rs. 22 crores in Kalyandurg (basedon a cost of Rs. 35,000 per borewell at 2002prices). This level of investment reflects therelative profitability of irrigated cropping.However, over-exploitation of ground<strong>water</strong> inboth study mandals has led <strong>to</strong> a situation wherebyinvestments in irrigation have become awidespread cause of poverty (see Box 16).Box 1<strong>5.</strong> Villagers’ views on women’sparticipation in decision-making“Women are not included in communitymeetings. They are scared <strong>to</strong> participate.Women participate only for theirproblems, and are not involved incommunity problem solving.” (Manirevu).“Men are not giving much importance <strong>to</strong>women’s participation in communitymeetings.” (Obalpuram).“Women are not encouraged <strong>to</strong> participatein community decisions, even thoughmost of them have minimum education.”(Kadadarakunta).“Women are not being allowed and alsowomen are not interested inparticipating.” (Venkatampalli).“Women mainly participate in VidyaCommittee meetings. But once they madea dharna for <strong>water</strong> problem at KalyandurgMRO office.” (Vitlampalli).“Women participated in communitydecision-making; asked for communitylatrines. Decision taken and work alsodone.” (Mudigal).“DWCRA groups participated in roadformation by shramadan. Women attendcommunity and Gram Sabha meetings andspeak about their problems.” (Golla).Overhead tank in Kocheruvu, Dhone69
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