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.

本文研究了参与式灌溉管理 (PIM) 政策倡议对泰米尔纳德邦 Sathanur 用水者协会的妇女成员资格和领导力的影响。来自这个主要灌溉系统的证据表明，男性在灌溉管理中占主导地位，这不仅是因为剥夺了妇女的机会和权利，而且还因为土地关系中的性别偏见和剥夺了妇女获得土地的机会。因此，在实践中，灌溉制度改革的新自由主义范式尽管其明确的性别主流化议程潜在地强化了父权制飞地，剥夺了妇女在 PIM 中的包容性、参与性和代表性。