WATER USER GROUP

Written By- Anil Lima

CONTEND

            Subject 

1. Background

2. Meaning of water user group

3. Aims and Objectives of water user group

4. Characteristics of water user group

5. Eligible criteria for the membership

6. Functions and responsibilities of water user group

7. Moral code of water user group’s Representative

8. Termination of the representative

9. Registration of water user group

10. Meeting process for the water user group

11. Documentation process

12. Opening a bank passbook

13. Fund collection and its utilization

14. Role of a Gram Panchayat (GP)

15. Role and responsibilities of the members in desilting work  

Background:

The water user group is not a new conceptualization. This concept is as old as the 8000-7000 BC of human civilization. In the beginning the hunter human beings wandered by bits and pieces for their dwelling. There were no scientific reasons or specific rules to be established a permanent settlement in one habitat. It could possible only and only for the uses of water. Because water is life and life on earth is linked to water. Without water it is impossible to survive the human life and couldn’t dream the development of human civilization. Our existence depends on water and our civilization/society has built on the uses of water. Water is used for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, animal drinking and agriculture purpose etc. The water user group needs to be formed for the use of water effectively in irrigation purpose and to manage the water reliability. The pond desilting and livelihood promotion project will be successful only by forming the water user group. The district of Balangir in Odisha records the scarcity of water and prominent drought prone area. The magnitude of migration is high compeer to other district of Odisha. The aim of the project is to enhance the water storage capacity of existing ponds and to promote seepage water for irrigation purpose. The water user group plays a vital role to achieve the objectives of the project.  

    

Meaning of water user group:

Water user group is a formal association which has been formally registered in the GP office. The water user comes forward for the operation and conservation of pond water . They pay the water charges towards using the pond water for irrigation purpose. They have the authority to use the pond water for irrigation and cultivation. The farmers from the downstream of the pond area comes together and form a group and utilize the water for irrigation purpose effectively. They make the planning, monitoring and evaluating the pond water.   

Aims and Objectives of water user group:

The main objective of forming a water user group is to create an ownership over the pond and the optimum utilization of water for irrigation purpose. The water user group maintains the reliable and effective water supply. The water user group can become the self governance and self-reliance. The water user group will utilize to government and private sector's facilities and other services as an organized group. The responsibility and the authority of managing the pond desilting work will be given to the water user group. The water user group will obtains the maximum mutual benefits of the farmers by executing the water relative activities.

 Characteristics of water user group:

1.  There should be a defined boundary in the user group. 
2.  All should respect to the collective interest.
3. Rules and regulations are formed for the optimum uses of water for irrigation purpose.
4. The members are to be good efficient enough for resolving their local conflicts.
5. The water charges fees to be collected for the maintenance and management of the pond.
6. The user group creates friendly relationship among the farmers.

Eligible criteria for the membership:

1. Only the farmers having land in the downstream of the pond can become a member in the     water user group.
2. The member should pay the water charges and one time membership  charges.
3.  The member should obey the rules and regulations of water user groups.
4.  The member should take the responsibility of maintenance of pond.
5. The member should respect the collective interest. 

Functions and responsibility of water user group:

1.  Water user group plays an alliance role between the farmers and the       Govt. or the non-Govt. agency.
2. The water user group helps in the pond selection process.
3. The water user group monitor the day to day desilting work.
4. The water user group select the silt dumping area.  
5. The water user group operate and maintenance the pond water.
6. The water user group uses the water for the irrigation purpose.
7. The water user group distribute the water equally as it requires.
8. The water user group collect the water charges and penalty fees.
9. The water user group resolve the dispute among the members.
10. The water user group clear up the conflicts between the members and     non-members.
11. The water user group keeps and maintenance all the records.  

Moral code of water user group’s Representative:

The representatives of the water user group are elected by the members of the group. The representatives of the selected representatives are to respect to the interest of all the members. They should take fair and kind decision during the time of water distribution. In case of any conflicts between the members and outsiders the representatives should take the honest and appropriate decision to resolve the conflicts. Since they have the authorization of money transaction the representatives should not create any extortion. During the collection of water user charges the representatives should behave in a gracefully manner with the members. 
 

Termination of the representative:

The representative of water user group will be terminated from the position if they commit the following offences:

1.   If the representative found in corruption.
2.   If the representative does not participate in the group activities.
3.   If the representative will not pay the water charges.
4.  If the representative takes unfair and malicious decision during distribution of water.

Registration of water user group:

The water user group would be formally registered in the Gram Panchayat office. The formation of water user group proposal should be introduced in the palli sabha and to be approved by the Gram Panchayat. The user group should be consist more than five beneficiaries irrespective of land availability of the farmers. The group should have a bank account in the name of the user group. There should be minimum 2 village meetings before registration of water user groups. The documentation process should be updated before registration. The water user group’s aims objectives, norms, functions, moral code, limitation, role and responsibilities should be properly mentioned in the resolution.

Meeting process for the water user group:

The water user group meeting should be always related to the subject matter of water uses. The meeting should have an objective and the conversation should be documented. In the initially there should have a formal meeting with the farmers and Gram Panchayat representative. The community expert briefs overview of the project and its intention to form a water user group. The second meeting should be organized for the formation of the group and electing the representatives. The third meeting should be conducted for opening of a bank account. In the meeting all members opinions should be respected. All members should participate seriously and be specific about the purpose.   

Documentation process:

All the activities, actions and processes of water user group must be documented properly and honestly. The secretary of the group has the prime responsibility to write and update all the documents. The documents justifies all the activities and achievement of the water user groups. So, the documentation process plays an important element to be taken sincerely. The following documents/records should be maintained by the water user group:

1.    Meeting register
2.    Collection and Expenditure register
3.    Bank passbook
4.    Pond desilting register
5.    Notepad
6.   Site visitor register

Opening a Bank Passbook:

The bank account should be opened nearby the village so that it can be easy to access. The bank account should open in the name of the water user group. The president and secretary of the user group will remain authenticate for money transaction. The money can be withdrawn only with the resolution passed by the group.

Fund collection and its utilization:

All the members of the group have to pay the water charges for using the water in agriculture purpose. The water charges should be finalized by the water user group. They should collect the water charges yearly or quarterly and the collected money has to be deposited in the group bank account. The collected money is to be invested for the minor maintenance of the pond. Any disbursements of group fund must be documented with prior knowledge of all members. If requires to withdraw the group money than resolution has to be passed in the meeting with the authentic signature of all members.

Role of a Gram Panchayat (GP):

The Gram Panchayat plays a vital role of forming, storming, norming and performing of water user group. The Gram Panchayat has an important role to open a bank account. The Gram Panchayat resolve all the conflicts related to the water user group and pond desilting work. The Gram Panchayat decision will be consider as a final decision. The Gram panchayat assists in all process of documentation. The request letter shall be collected by the Gram Panchayat before starting the desilting work. 

Role and responsibilities of the members in desilting work:    

1.   Water user group plays an alliance role between the farmers and the     Govt.  or the non-Govt. agency.
2.   The water user group helps in the pond selection process.
3.   The water user group monitor the day to day desilting work.
4.   The water user group select the silt dumping area.  
5.   The water user group operate and maintenance the pond water.
6.   The water user group uses the water for the irrigation purpose.
7.   The water user group distribute the water equally as it requires.
8.   The water user group collect the water charges and penalty fees.
9.   The water user group resolve the dispute among the members.
10.   The water user group clear up the conflicts between the members and     non-members.
11.  The water user group keeps and maintenances all the records.   

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