ABSTRACT
In keeping with the central argument forwarded in this volume, this chapter examines the drought-prone terrain of Gujarat and its influence on shaping the gender roles of women, in particular their role in water-related household tasks. In this, the study emphasizes the roles women are expected to play within their households as these are moulded by their relationship and responsibilities related to the water needs of the household, against the backdrop of the parched, arid landscape of the state. As water is scarce, it is women who are mainly engaged in its collection, its conservation and its management for household uses. While doing this, they develop a particular relationship with the resource and exercise a certain kind of control over its use within the household.
