Local Understanding and Organization Water development projects are often carried out without a proper knowledge of the users' habits and perceptions. As a result wateryards are constructed without knowing how they will be used by the local people. The standard manage met procedure through direct government control is followed everywhere. The water source is controlled by three government officials-a clerk, a guard, and an operator. The Rural Water Development Corporation instructs them on how to run the wateryard with respect to opening hours and water prices.
Local involvement is limited and is left to the initiative of the clerk.
This limited involvement is not institutionalized and so is not effective in responding to local conditions. Some rural councils have become aware of this problem and have started involving the community in the management of the wateryards. It became clear from the investigation that local participation is vital particularly in the work of maintenance and repair. In two cases wateryard committees help the clerk in the maintenance of the wateryard through self help. If this important self help policy is to continue and succeed, it is necessary for acceptably composed committees to be created with specific tasks and responsibilities allocated to them.