Beneficiary Participation in Irrigation Water Management: The Kerala

eneficiaries together. Two-thirds of them favoured the idea of beneficiary farmers contributing
a small portion of the cost of construction of irrigation projects. Obviously, such a contribution,
however small it may be, is necessary to create among them a sense of ownership of the
project, and inculcate a sense of responsibility for its upkeeping. It would also help reducing
several malpractices, like tampering with the irrigation system. There were a few others
(constituting about 27 percent of the total number of respondents) who held that the entire
burden of the projects must be on the government. Their argument was that in Kerala most
of the farmers are very small holders financially incapable of contributing towards meeting
the costs. At best they might be able to contribute some amount of unskilled voluntary
labour. This group did not attach much significance in conferment of consultative status to
farmers either. In this question, much difference was not seen as between the opinions of
ordinary members and office-bearers of BFAs.
Obviously, the shift in the views of farmers and office-bearers of BFAs, in favour of the
farming community sharing a part of the costs of irrigation projects is borne out of their
experience for the past quarter of a century of mismanagement of the Malampuzha project.
The shift augurs well for the future of irrigation schemes in the State.
Measures of promotion
We have observed earlier that most BFAs in the study area are alive legally, in the sense that
all of them annually renew registration to become eligible for management subsidy conducted
tours, etc. For these benefits, performance is not at all a criterion. CADA makes no distinction
among BFAs on this score. Most of BFA members and office- bearers endorsed the view
that benefits should be given to BFAs on the basis of performance. In order to enhance the
health of BFAs several measures were suggested. A major suggestion was incentives to wellperforming
BFAs such as economic incentives, merit certificates, and public recognition.
Measures to avoid contract work
CADA Act has stipulated that minor civil works such as field channel lining, repairs, and
maintenance of minor canal networks must be entrusted with and undertaken by BFAs.
With the exception of two BFAs, such works in our study area were done by professional
contractors though official documents show otherwise. The contention of the BFA leadership
in this regard was that, given the prevailing conditions they are not in a position to carry out
the works themselves. This naturally raised the question, as to what all conditions are there
which discourage BFAs from taking up these works themselves.
More than two-thirds of the office-bearers held lack of finance to make the initial investments
as the major handicap. Ordinary members are too poor to make contributions for raising the
required investment funds even if the BFA committee so decide. There may be a few among
them who are rich enough to contribute; however, they are reluctant to take up the burden.
Factional fights, village feuds, caste rivalry, and mutual distrust rampant among members
of the BFA, also have played their role. In such circumstances they found that awarding
contract to experienced contractors was the most practical solution.
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