Impact of Sujala Watershed Project on socio-economic status of women beneficiaries in Chitradurga district of Karnataka

Abstract

Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India, with highest proportion of drought prone area. Natural resource is being subjected for poor land management practices. in order to overcome this the Government of Karnataka has initiated Sujala watershed project. Chitradurga district was selected purposefully to study the impact of watershed project on women. The project covered all six taluks. Scale has been developed for the measurement of women participation in watershed development activities with 50 statements under five broad components viz., Soil and water conservation measures, Judicious use of water, Natural resource management, Income generating activities and community based organizations. Participation was medium in 59.5percent of the respondents followed by high (28%) and low (12.5%) categories. Socio-economic status of women after implementation of Sujala Watershed project was 55 percent medium and no one belonged to high, before the project implementation 50.5 percent of respondents showed high level education, 90.5 percent high income, 99 percent low social participation, material possession, low level of farm status and after the implementation of the project, increase in medium level of education, high income, social participation, material possession and medium level of farm status. When we compared data before and after implementation of the project, respondents livestock possession was increased to 97 percent from 29 percent, family status from 29.5 to 33 percent and farm power status doubled (9% to 18 newline%), leadership ability increased to 80 percent. extension participation to 43 from 6 percent, credit orientation from 30.5 to 80.5 percent, high risk orientation from 46 to 84.5, deferred gratification decreased to 7.5 from 44 percent. There was a significant relationship between participation and extension contact, extension participation, risk orientation, livestock possession and leadership ability.