The political ecology of small freshwater bodies in Kerala, India

Abstract

This article situates the empirical context of small freshwater bodies in the theoretical debates of commons and political ecology to understand the processes of institutionalization. We argue that a "politics of empty space" operating in the policy narratives and the practices have resulted in a partial decommodification of rural waters in Kerala. The communities, especially the oppressed and the marginalized, have managed to co-produce ecological assets like rural ponds. Such efforts towards re-embedding the economy in the society could be a starting point to address the water and the larger environmental crisis that we are in today.

Water security in the South Asia region: Challenges, experiences, and lessons learned

“…The 2023 World Water Conference and the 2023 World Water Development Report (United Nations, 2023) both highlighted the need, benefits, and opportunities arising from partnerships and collaboration to address the increasingly connected water and climate challenges around the world. In another example from the paper The political ecology of small freshwater bodies in Kerala, India , published in WWP earlier this year, Sankar and Suresh (2023) argued that a “politics of empty space” has resulted in a partial decommodification of rural waters in Kerala and, as a result, communities, especially the oppressed and the marginalized, have managed to co‐produce ecological assets like rural ponds. Such efforts toward re‐embedding the economy in society could be a starting point to address the water and the larger environmental crisis that we are in today.…”