It had also increased women’s attendance at meetings and
many were eager to receive training in case a position on the
committee was to become available. The committee had
increased household tariff and connection charges so that
more members could receive financial compensation for managing
the project. They pointed out that it allowed women
(along with men) to earn and contribute to household income
giving them more influence in household decision-making.
Women brought home almost Rs.1,500 monthly. They
emphasized that women deserved to be compensated since it
was difficult for them to devote time to the project alongside
household chores. Some women reported that they also felt
pride in taking on community responsibility and that it
allowed them to fulfill their duty toward society. In Gwalior,
membership was voluntary. However, some men on the committee
who were also in charge of O&M received financial
compensation. The committee secretary reiterated that the
user committee was not a vehicle for employment and was
meant to be social service although some members strongly
disagreed. They complained that the opportunity costs of participation
were too high for income-earning women. However,
the reason it had remained voluntary, unlike in the other two
cases, could be because cost recovery was very low and the
committee barely managed to meet its O&M expenses. Moreover,
the members who supported volunteerism had alternate
sources of income that they could rely on. In Jabalpur, despite
financial compensation, there were few women participants.