--- title: "Users' committee and participatory techniques" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:users-committee-participatory" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/users-committee-participatory site: BCT Engineering --- # Users' committee and participatory techniques Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 2: Development Approach - Asked in: 2073 Chaitra, 8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/users-committee-participatory - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-2 ## Question What is the role of a users' committee? Also explain participatory techniques to collect information from a community. ## Short answer A users' committee represents beneficiaries, plans, implements, monitors, manages conflicts, ensures transparency, and operates/maintains projects, including women and marginalized groups. Participatory techniques include social and resource mapping, transect walks, seasonal calendars, wealth ranking, Venn diagrams, ranking, FGD, and key informant interviews to collect community information. ## Answer A **users' committee** (upabhokta samiti) is a group elected from among the beneficiaries of a project (drinking water, irrigation, rural road, micro-hydro, community forest) to plan, implement, operate and maintain it on behalf of all users. In Nepal it is recognised by the Local Infrastructure Development Policy, 2061, the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 and the Public Procurement Regulations. #### Role of a users' committee 1. **Represent the users** – bring the needs and priorities of the community to the local government and project. 2. **Planning and selection** – take part in project selection, site and alignment decisions. 3. **Resource mobilisation** – collect users' contribution in cash, labour or local materials. 4. **Implementation** – carry out works (for projects within the legal limit), hire local labour, buy materials, keep records. 5. **Monitoring and quality control** – supervise work, check materials and measurements with technicians. 6. **Transparency** – hold public hearing and public audit, display cost boards, keep accounts open. 7. **Conflict management** – solve disputes over land, water share and benefits. 8. **Operation and maintenance** – fix tariff or user fee, collect maintenance fund, appoint caretakers or maintenance workers. 9. **Inclusion** – ensure women (usually at least 33% members, with a woman in a key post), Dalits and the poor take part and benefit. #### Participatory techniques to collect information from a community | Technique | What it gives | |---|---| | Social mapping | Households, caste, facilities | | Resource mapping | Land, water, forest, hazards | | Transect walk | Land use and problems along a line | | Seasonal calendar | Work, rain, disease, food shortage by month | | Time line / trend | History of key events and changes | | Wealth ranking | Rich, medium, poor households | | Venn diagram | Institutions and their importance | | Matrix / pair-wise ranking | Priority of problems or projects | | Focus group discussion | Shared views of a group | | Key informant interview | Expert local knowledge | Brief notes on the main ones: - **Mapping:** people draw their village showing houses and resources; outsiders learn quickly and people see their own situation. - **Transect walk:** facilitator and villagers walk across the area, observing and discussing soil, crops, water and problems. - **Seasonal calendar:** shows in which months labour is free (best time to build), when rain stops works, and when sickness is high. - **Ranking:** the community lists problems and ranks them, so the most needed project is chosen. - **FGD and key informant interviews:** give reasons, opinions and history. Information collected this way is cross-checked (triangulation) and shared back with the community, and the users' committee then uses it to prepare the plan. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Who forms a users' committee? A. A group elected from among the beneficiaries of a project B. Contractor's staff appointed by the engineer C. Government officers posted to the district D. Foreign donors Answer: A. It is elected from the users to plan, implement, operate and maintain the project. (Key point: Users' committee definition) 2. What does the answer say about women's representation in a users' committee? A. Women are excluded from key posts B. Exactly 10% of members C. Usually at least 33% members, with a woman in a key post D. Only one woman is needed if she is the treasurer Answer: C. Inclusion of women, Dalits and the poor is a role of the committee. (Key point: Inclusion) 3. Which activity is part of the committee's transparency role? A. Keeping accounts confidential from users B. Public hearing, public audit and displaying cost boards C. Awarding contracts without announcement D. Collecting fees without receipts Answer: B. Open accounts, public hearing and audit keep the committee accountable. (Key point: Transparency) 4. What is a seasonal calendar used for? A. Marking land ownership boundaries B. Ranking households by wealth C. Listing institutions in a village D. Showing by month when labour is free, when rain stops work and when sickness or food shortage occurs Answer: D. It helps choose the best time to build and understand seasonal problems. 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