| While water privatization started to dominate all over the world, rural communities in Andhra Pradesh, India have restored both groundwater and livelihood collectively using a community control system. Questions arise whether or not water privatization is the best option or whether community control can be an alternative option. The author will review theories that support each type of water management: the theory of the commons for community control, the theory of neoclassical economics for privatization, and the theory of "public stewardship" for public management. The author will argue that the theory of neoclassical economics does not support water privatization and water does not belong to private entities, such as corporations. Analyzing information acquired in a field study in Andhra Pradesh, the author will deliver three arguments. First, community control in Andhra Pradesh is sustainable in every dimension of the environment, society, and economy. Second, the main mechanism of community control in Andhra Pradesh is crop-water budgeting and crop-water budgeting functions as a system that is supported by the social, political, and economic practices in Andhra Pradesh and India. Third, the allocation of groundwater in Andhra Pradesh is fair for every farmer, the practices can be replicated in other places, and the practices correspond to Ostrom's theory of the commons. |
