Discussion on Papers 15-17

DR A. M. CAIRNCROSS, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK With regard to Dr Ghooprasert1s Paper on the social aspects of water supply, I would like to underline the importance of a subject mentioned in his presentation - that of local institutions. Much of the literature on community participation in water supply and sanitation neglects the fact that communities participate through their institutions. All human communities have some form of organization through which decisions are made and collective endeavours are planned, and this is what distinguishes a community from a simple group of people.

If rural communities are to participate in the construction or maintenance of water supplies or any other social infrastructure, their institutions must play a major role and will often need strengthening. What is needed is no less than the first step to setting up local government. There is often much to be learned, in this context, from the experience of traditional village institutions, such as those responsible for building and maintaining the rickety looking but practical bamboo channel water supplies of some mountain villages in Thailand.