This article examines the impact of the policy initiative for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) on women’s membership and leadership in Water User Associations of Sathanur, Tamil Nadu. Evidence from this major irrigation system reveals male dominance in irrigation management not only due to denial of opportunity and entitlement to women but also gender bigotry in agrarian relations and deprival of women’s access to land. Thus in practice the neoliberal paradigm of institutional reforms in irrigation despite its manifest agenda of gender mainstreaming latently fortifies patriarchal enclave forfeiting inclusion, participation and representation of women in PIM.
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