Water Insecurity

An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide face severe water shortages. Although scarcity in south and south-east Asia is widely recognised, its social dimensions receive far less attention. Across this region, access to available water has long been shaped by social hierarchies, including caste and religious community, which makes water a complex socio-political concern with many layers.

This book offers a critical examination of the social problems that come with growing water scarcity in India. It records how scarcity affects communities and the hardships people endure as a result. Topics include arsenic contamination, the effect of salinity on livelihoods and ways to reduce it, and drought resilience, adaptation and policy.

Written for researchers, policymakers, development and environmental practitioners, and water planners, the book is also intended as a reference for future work on water scarcity and risk management. It closes by setting out the lessons, challenges and future prospects for water insecurity.