Asserting The Rights of The Toiling Peasantry For Water Use: Movement of the Dam Oustees and the Drought Affected Toilers In South Maharashtra

This paper describes in some detail, an important, innovative movement in recent years, of the dam-oustees and the drought affected people in south Maharashtra, to assert their right to influence the policy about dams and water use. The successful attempt of this movement to ‘dialogue’, on the basis of united strength, with various decision-makers and stake-holders constitutes a rich, rare example of historic importance and a lot can be learnt from this experience. [This paper is a chapter in IWRM book]