Village councils, social capital and sustainability

A study of urban water management of Shillong in Meghalaya, India

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21697053
AutoresBankerlang Kharmylliem (0000-0002-7873-3656, a Shillong Commerce College, Shillong, Meghalaya, India), Ngamjahao Kipgen (0000-0002-2264-7812, b Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India, autor correspondente)
Ano2025
Volume27
Fascículo3
Páginas301-316
Data de publicação2025-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoWater Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1366-7017 • E-ISSN: 1996-9759
EditoraIWA Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2166/wp.2025.209
OpenAlexW4407773803
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas32

This study examines water governance in Shillong, India, focusing on the role of traditional institutions called dorbar shnongs (village councils) in managing water resources. Through qualitative research methods, including interviews and narrative analysis, the study investigates how these councils interact with clan systems, groundwater management, and broader water distribution challenges in an urban context. The findings reveal significant variations in water governance across different localities, with some councils successfully implementing communal resource management while others struggle with commercialization and inequitable distribution. The research highlights how clan systems significantly influence water access and management, particularly through their control of springs and borewells. While some clans adopt profit-driven approaches, others maintain traditional communal sharing practices. The study demonstrates that effective water governance through village councils depends on strong leadership, transparent rules, inclusive decision-making, and robust enforcement mechanisms. However, these institutions face mounting challenges from urbanization, cultural erosion, and other significant factors. The research concludes that while village councils show promise as effective water management institutions in urban settings, their success requires balancing traditional practices with modern governance approaches and addressing locality-specific challenges through customized solutions

Archaeology · Geography · Social capital · Social science · Sociology · Sustainability · Social and Economic Development in India