Page 151 - Prathima Volume 12

CBO managed water supply projects in mitigating rural water deficiency in the
selected coastal villages of Akkaraipattu region, Sri Lanka
had led to reduce water crisis in the country as well as in the region. But, the people
who somewhat involved in the water poverty reduction activities in the study region,
But, the involvement of youth was inadequate; meantime the people normally can
support us when we go for a field visit or observation. The public participation is
normally happening as temporary or situational effort but it should be promoted as a
continuous and effective process among all villages in the study region respectively”
(Interviewed with Sociologist, NWSDB).

Two focus group discussions were also carried out for gathering primary information
from the local people relevant to the CBO managed water facilities, in order to analyze
the level of the local people's participation in Akkaraipattu region. The members from
CBOs, representatives from NGOs, local people who have experience and knowledge
about CBO managed RWS system, and others participated in the discussions. Based
on two focus group discussions, it can be figured out that even though 92% of people in
the research area have realized and understood the importance of public participation
in water poverty reduction programs, only 15% of people are involved in the CBO
managed community water projects. To ensure the public participation in the CBO
managed water projects, some mechanisms have to be formulated or implemented,
such as, every citizen of the country or every member of the society should have the
responsibility or the social obligation to participate voluntarily in all kinds of
communal works like disease prevention, development, environmental protection,
community water project and disaster management etc. The problems of water is a
serious public concern, since it is a social phenomenon which is brought to the
community as a result of the behavior of every individual in the family, group and
society. In the meantime, the social problem should be handled by the community,
therefore, people need an attitude change to understand this aspect and to make
behavioral changes in order to involve voluntarily in any kind of public related actions,
especially community water projects in the study villages.

According to the findings derived from primary and secondary data analysis, it can be
determined that the public participation in the CBO managed water supply projects
was very poor in the selected villages in Akkaraipattu region due to the social,
economic, cultural, psychological aspects and the institutional setup currently
prevailing in the research area. Further, the following factors also have been identified
as the key issues in the study area, such as, the idea of community water scheme did not
reach the grass-root level at all times, lack of social network or ownership among
village people in the area of research, individualism and the feeling of exclusion from
the main stream social events and in the communal duties, the local people are
expecting money for their societal attachment, challenges for keeping the gender
equity in any kind of social work due to the cultural barriers and religious restriction
they follow, and awareness programs and other community water projects were
implemented mainly by the NWSDB with the support of CBOs, not by other

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