By Toki Blah
This world is so full of controversies. Contro-versies exist over faith; over political ideologies and even over a natural phenomenon like skin pigmentation. One can say that controversy is a vital ingredient in making an exciting world. It’s all part of human nature. There is however an exception and that pertains to the change taking place around us. None can dispute that change is upon us and neither can we deny the despondency that’s rapidly transforming into acute alarm as far as environmental change is concerned. The environment around us is changing; changing for the worse and we simply don’t have a clue on how to contain this downward slide. Instead of a seventh heaven here on Earth, man has simply managed to accelerate himself towards an impending doomsday scenario. For want of a better word we call this process of acceleration, Climate Change and it’s not a good word. Unless urgent drastic steps are taken, life as we know it, is already doomed – a statement that is unlikely to create any controversy what so ever!
People in the know are panicking. Panicking because a majority of homosapiens remain indifferent to the threat. Religion takes no notice because environmental degradation is simply not listed as a sin. So why bother if the soul is not threatened? Politics and politicians ignore it because the issue is no vote catcher. Actually, it drives away votes as effective environmental management is likely to adversely affect people and institutions that fund elections. To attack your benefactor is suicidal, so politicians prefer to talk but not act! Civil Society; scientists and the academia may shout and scream but who listens? For the rest of the world, its politics and economics that matter. The former provides leadership, the latter the wherewithal that brings bread to the table. Since neither the political leaders nor the bread providers are serious about it, why should the rest of humanity worry?
If the above is the mental makeup humanity in general has towards environmental change, Meghalaya can claim for itself the dubious distinction of being the perfect embodiment of an uncaring, indifferent world. The forests of the state have been wiped out. Who cares? Its rich mineral resources exploited to enrich a few at the cost of the environment. Who gives a damn as long as enough money is generated, no matter how, to fund the next elections? But things are changing and our rivers and streams are now screaming for attention. Rivers of Jaintia Hills can no longer support life nor their waters fit for drinking. The water bodies of Khasi and Garo hills not far behind this tragedy. Meghalaya has strong powerful organisations who never shy away from their claim as protectors of indigenous culture and identity. Some have even taken up arms to uphold this mandate they have imposed on themselves. None can deny the strong connection between Tribal identity and the environment; the intrinsic bond between our rivers, our land and ourselves. If our waters dry up; if we are forced away from our lands; we have nowhere to go. Identity will be the first casualty. Why then are the champions of tribal identity silent and mum on the issue?
There is a saying “daylight will still come even if dark clouds hide the dawn” and for Meghalaya that silver lining recently appeared on the horizon. It came with the holding of The Shillong Water Conclave on the 22nd March 2014 at the Convention Centre NEHU. It was an event to discuss the essence of water and organised by the Government of Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Water Resources Development Agency, The Meghalaya Water Foundation, the India Water Foundation, ICIMOD and GIZ. It was a conclave where International, National and State level organisations came together in a joint display of concern over a common resource property; a resource traditionally taken for granted; a common resource that is now vanishing; a resource rapidly being privatised by the powerful and the rich; a resource in Meghalaya that is continuously being subjected to the worst forms of abuse from man and his greed; a life sustaining resource called water! The conclave signalled an advent – someone is willing to take up the cause of the common man. There are those willing to fight for the very survival of humanity. They call themselves Stakeholders.
As the stakeholders confabulated and debated on the life giving aspects of water, a few home truths soon became apparent. Soon it became clearer by the hour that Water; fresh drinking water; life sustaining water would be the single defining crisis of the 21st Century! Death is described as the most democratic process ever. Both rich and poor alike fall victim to it. None are spared. The same can be said of water. All life forms need it. As such it is one item that can never and should never be controlled by the rich at the cost of the poor; by a few at the cost of many; nor ever be a possession of the elite at the cost of the marginalised and the underprivileged. As far as Meghalaya Tribal society is concerned, management and community ownership of water is one aspect that can demonstrate our egalitarian social character as nothing ever could. Social egalitarianism best defines our indigenous tradition and identity. An aspect we should never lose sight of. A social facet we need to preserve at all cost.
It was within the perspective of our indigenous character that Shri Mihir Shah, Member of the Planning Commission of India, a participant of the conclave observed that, solutions to water management problems if any in Meghalaya, should come up from the grassroots. The answer must emanate from a bottom up approach, as elsewhere, the top down paradigm has failed to satisfy. Water is too complex an issue to be governed by Government alone. Its multi disciplinary charact-eristics are so complex that its governance needs to be addressed through a participatory and stakeholdership appr-oach. It must be a sustainable approach. Of importance is the priority given to water and its sustainable management by the 12th plan. Given that Meghalaya receives more than 63.05 billion cu. mt of precipitation every year and that surface runoff alone forms 90% of such rainfall ( 56.75 billion cu.mt of precious water wasted because of poor harvesting and management) the need for the state to integrate itself into the water policy of the 12th plan becomes non negotiable.
It must be acknowledged that the sincerity of the conclave was expressed through the Shillong Water Declaration, a resolution passed at the end of the day, that enshrined the vision of all participants. The declaration emphasised on the urgent need for Meghalaya and its Water Policy to support the 12th Plan strategic thrust towards sustainable, inclusive, participatory and people centric paradigms in water management. Management of water and not its extraction alone should be the focal point of such a strategy. A call for the protection of spring catchment areas must be given while there is requirement to also reduce the industrial footprint over our water bodies. Rapid urbanisation within the state also calls for greater attention on safe drinking water and sanitation. No state can ignore this social obligation and for the above to happen, Meghalaya must ensure a rapid and early build up of partnership between academia, Civil Society, Technical research institutions and Local communities on water management paradigms for both urban as well as rural areas. In such a setup the promotion of gender participation cannot be underscored. It is pivotal for the element of inclusiveness to be carried forward.
In conclusion we must be prepared to admit and accept that the Shillong Water Conclave flagged off some critical issues for the state of Meghalaya, the NE region and its people. The first flag is really the most important and its message is clear- We can no longer take water for granted. Second, water, especially fresh drinking water will be the new capital for 21st century economy. Invest in water or perish. Nothing can be more brutally simple than that! Thirdly this investment, especially for an area where such capital falls freely from the skies, calls for specialised expertise in water management. For the indigenous people of the region it would mean revisiting their traditional wisdom to come up with a bottom up, participatory, people centric and sustainable water management paradigms. Fourthly, the success of such efforts would entail a trophy. The trophy of survival for those who are prepared. A trophy well within reach, but which at the same time, can easily slip away unless we contain it with a participatory vision.
The author is President of ICARE, an organisation that focuses on issues of Good Governance.