Vol. 10, Special Issue 2 (2021)

Author(s):
Neha Singh and Neena Sareen

Abstract:
Natural resources are resources that exist without actions of human kind. Farm women play dual role in farming as well as in household chores. Most important natural resource is water. The water scarcity in Bikaner district is a major issue since the years. Thus, the present study was conducted to find out the role of farm women in rainwater harvesting & water conservation activities. The role scale was developed by the researcher & herself was applied. The findings of the study showed that in rainfed area, more than half i.e. 56.90 per cent of the respondents belonged to young age group, other backward caste (50%), illiterate (60 per cent), low extent of social participation (66.90%), medium level of mass media exposure (68.10%), low extension personnel contact (64.40 per cent), low level of scientific orientation (56.90 %), low level of innovativeness (70.60%) towards natural resource management and low level of risk orientation (71.90%). In rainfed area, more than half of the farm women (63.10%) had performed low role in rainwater harvesting and water conservation activities. It can be concluded that farm women of both rainfed & irrigated area were not aware much about the concept of rain water harvesting. So, they have not performed much role in rainwater harvesting activities. But, they were actively performing the role towards water conservation activities. Instead of water harvesting, water conservation and water storage is more prevalent. Farm women of irrigated area were somewhat better than farm women of rainfed area because of prevailing Indira Gandhi Canal water, as they do not have to do much exercise in conserving & storage of water.