India: Indigenous systems of water management and their modern applications
The indigenous knowledge in India has always developed practical ways for society to live in a sustainable manner with nature, in full respect with the diversity of agro-ecological climatic zones, even those that seems the most difficult and inhospitable. In Indian tradition, the knowledge was transmitted through practical work under the direction of respected elders and gurus. Thus the people engaged in practical work were really the pupils of the indigenous knowledge system. The poor pupils, the prosperous pupils, and the state joined hands for the conservation of water and the preservation of knowledge. The prosperous pupils provided help to the poorest who were working for water conservation, and the state provided only the land. It was a pupil-driven decentralised water management, which is another name for indigenous water management.
http://lokfolk.blogspot.com/2010/03/indigenous-systems-of-water-management.html