Locating women's rights in the Blue Revolution

This paper explores the role of water in women's lives, and the impact that a Blue Revolution would have on them. The article is about women who have managed and conserved water resources but whose voices go unheard, and whos e knowledge is ignored. It explores the system related to water, which is b lind to the needs of women and continues to be inclined in favour of male t echnologies and ideologies. The paper concludes that a Blue Revolution as e nvisaged by a male designed and implemented policy in the market place woul d keep women out. The initiation of recent polices which have started to tr eat it as a product in the market economy and not a service, is endangering women's choices for a better life. Planning based on technocratic and bure aucratic groups without the people who have lived and coped with nature, it ascertains will intensify gender-based differences. It suggests that any f uture hydrological regime maintenance must acknowledge women's rights. It c oncludes that an emphasis on both men and women's participation and a decen tralised policy planning which encourages the use of local knowledge, would bring about a Blue Revolution that is close to people. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.