Recommendations from the Jury at the 'National Water Parliament- Pani Panchayat'
on March 22, 2002

1. Water is a natural resource, a gift of the earth and thus belongs to all living beings.

2. All living beings have an equal natural right on water.

3. Moves to privatize water and turn it into a marketable commodity for profit must stop immediately. However, water used for economically gainful purpose must be paid for. In large human settlements where special provisions have been made for the supply of safe water, services must be paid for, not the water. If we are in the command area of a dam, we must pay for it, then we will want fewer dams.

4. Water Policy must be shaped demographically on participatory principle and not arbitrarily. The policy must be based on social justice and environmental sustainability. Access to water is every citizen's basic right - irrespective of his/her position in society based on religion, caste, region etc.

5. Women being the most impacted by the water abuse and water scarcity, their voices must be central to any decision - national, regional and local - regarding water.

6. Any decision regarding water, its procurement, management, distribution, recycling must be a result of a cross-cultural dialogue within the community or the settlement, which will be affected by it. Its thought processes must bear in mind the specific context and rootedness of the people central to it

7. Pollution of water is a crime against all living beings, agricultural and industrial pollution must be banned.

8. A culture that values water as an invaluable and sacred element of nature must be promoted. Its conservation and judicious use must become a part of every citizen's attitude to life.

(As read out by Ms Vibha Parthasarthy, one of the jury members, on March 22, 2002)