Action Research

          Legal and Policy  R & D
 

Reframing Governance for Living Systems

DCAP’s Action Research programmes advance nature-integrated governance in India, advocating for natural resources to be governed as living systems rather than treated merely as economic inputs. Our approach draws from Bharat’s civilizational Dharmic traditions, which recognise all living beings—including humans—as part of an inseparable, interdependent whole.

At a time of escalating ecological stress, there is an urgent need for natural resource governance in Bharat to move beyond extractive paradigms towards a biocentric vision of development—one that understands human well-being as intrinsically linked to ecosystem health and the rights and livelihoods of communities

 

 

Knowledge Systems for Biocentric Governance

Sound governance begins with deep understanding. DCAP’s research and scholarship draw from Indian classical law, customary practices, and contemporary environmental jurisprudence to build an intellectual foundation for ecological stewardship.

Key knowledge domains include:

  • Indian classical Dharma as a basis for biocentric jurisprudence
  • Customary law and legal pluralism
  • Panchayat-led environmental governance
  • Water rights, justice, and equity
  • Community stewardship of natural resources
  • Decentralised data systems and GIS for democratic planning

Our work bridges traditional ecological wisdom with modern governance tools, ensuring that policy reform is rooted in both cultural continuity and scientific insight.

 

National Frameworks for Ecological Regeneration

At the national level, DCAP has contributed to legislative and policy instruments that support the recovery of degraded ecosystems and commons.

  • Watershed Development for Rainfed and Drought-Prone Regions
    Strategy guidelines for the National Watershed Development Programme, integrating soil, water, and vegetation restoration.
  • National Groundwater Bill (2011) Recognising Groundwater as a shared ecological commons requiring collective stewardship.
  • National Water Framework Bill (2011) Advancing river basin based, ecological and culturally informed water governance.
  • National Alternate Water Policy – A civil society led articulation of biocentric principles in water governance.

 

State-Level Transformative Engagements - Grounded Reforms Across Diverse Ecologies

DCAP’s work across states has focused on cultivating institutions that enable communities, farmers, and local governments to govern natural resources sustainably.

Uttar Pradesh — Deregulation, Groundwater & Governance Reform.

  • Reviewed 272 laws across 18 sectors using a “Good Governance” framework incorporating environmental sustainability.  Recommendations for reform, repeal, and retention enabled 4,675+ governance reforms across 45 departments.
  • Prepared the Draft State Groundwater Policy through consultations with government and civil society, contributing to the enactment of the Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Act (2019) for aquifer sustainability.

Uttarakhand — Water Policy, Irrigation & Social Dialogue

  • Contributed to AIBP irrigation sector reforms prioritizing farmer-led water management.
  • Reviewed and re-developed State Water Policy for State Government.  Shared publicly through year-long stakeholder consultations. Government enacts – Uttarakhand Water Management & Regulatory Act (2013)
    – Groundwater Regulation Act (2016) to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the judicious, equitable, and sustainable management and utilisation of State’s water Resources.

Himachal Pradesh — Forests as Living Ecosystems

Served as Lead Consultant for the landmark Forest Sector Policy (2005), centred on:

  • Conservation of Natural Forests as living ecosystems
  • Livelihood security of Forest-dependent communities
  • Restoring harmony between humans and nature
  • Contributed to Minor Irrigation and Drinking Water reforms, including legislation empowering Water Users Associations.

Odisha — Participatory Irrigation & Community Stewardship

  • Designed the legal framework enabling transfer of irrigation management to farmer institutions, institutionalised through the Orissa Pani Panchayat Act (2002)—placing water governance in the hands of dependent communities.

Madhya Pradesh — Community-Led Watershed Governance

  • Developed Legislative Frameworks for community-based watershed governance underthe Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Programme. Amendments to the Panchayati Raj and Gram Swaraj Acts recognised local institutions as custodians of ecological health.

Maharashtra — Rural Drinking Water Reform

Provided strategic legal and institutional inputs for rural drinking water reforms grounded in:

  • Conservation-first principles
  • Demand management
  • Groundwater protection

 

Towards Ecological Balance and Inter-Generational Equity

Across all engagements, DCAP’s work seeks to restore balance between human societies and natural systems—ensuring that governance frameworks protect ecological integrity, uphold community rights, and secure resources for future generations.

By embedding biocentric values into Law, Policy and Institutions, DCAP advances governance that restores harmony between people, nature, and the commons they share.