REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES - THE CASE OF A COMMUNITY-BASED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA

In India donors, governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs ) are currently investing heavily in participatory watershed developme nt, yet with only partial success. Focusing on a community-based water shed project in Rajasthan implemented by Seva Mandir, this article app lies the tools of environmental entitlements analysis in a project eva luation mode to explore the effects of social difference on project ex perience and impact. Seva Mandir's investments in capabilities and soc ial capital have successfully facilitated 'community' identity and act ion, across caste, class and gender differences, in the context of loc al political struggles; Yet natural resource management remains an are na of conflict: while certain stakeholders have benefited from sail an d moisture conservation activities and the enclosure of commons, other s - especially pastoralists and women - have faced high costs to their livelihoods.