The management of groundwater continues to pose a major challenge to sustainable livelihoods. In many parts of the world, drinking water, irrigation and industrial needs are met from groundwater resources. However, these resources are being depleted and degraded at an alarming rate. Hence, while groundwater supply is essentially non-negotiable (managed recharge does occur but only at the margin), managing the demand for groundwater is

often the only areundwater resources. These approaches include appropriate technologies, water laws and regua where there is room for manoeuvre A variety of approaches and solutions have been offered and tried in different parts of the world in order to promote sustainable management of grolations, and institutional responsed at different levels. It is evident however, that unless the users themselves take the initiative in the management and regulation of groundwater resources, there is little scope to reverse current trends and sustain the livelihoods that are dependant upon continued access to groundwater. Not least because very high investments for groundwater use are made by private individuals. This user-based approach is gaining strength and showing concrete results in certain settings.

If users have to manage the groundwater resources they need access to social and technical knowledge, support in building local level, inclusive institutions for management, and for preparing regulatory frameworks, and facilitation in creating awareness in the communities. The Learning Workshop on Demand Management of Groundwater will bring to you the experiences in these aspects and will highlight the processes by which users can manage and regulate their own demands for groundwater. It will provide an opportunity to interact at great length with practicing farmers who had many a successes during the last 4-6 years.

STRUCTURE

The Learning Workshop will comprise of thematic discussions, group work, presentations, project work and field work. During the field work sessions, participants will be able to interact with farmers, farmers groups and civil society institutions and experience different processes being used to facilitate demand side management of groundwater. The project work will be undertaken in groups.