Pani samitis are sub-committees of village panchayats. As the 73rd Constitutional Amendment made Ppanchayati Raj Institutions responsible for drinking water and sanitation in villages, pani samitis have been created in all WASMO project villages to oversee those affairs.

Each pani samiti has 10-15 members, and conform to the October 24, 2002 Government Resolution. At least one third of the members are women, while weaker sections of society are also proportionally represented. The term of a pani samiti is two years and its chairperson is elected by the members. The Government of Gujarat Resolution of October 24, 2004 specifies how people's participation in sustainable and equitable community water management is to be realised with the help of pani samitis.

WASMO, with the help of ISAs, aims at and assists in creating strong village-level pani samitis that can assume the responsibility for

• Preparation of a village action plan for water supply and sanitation
• Timely collection of capital, operation and maintenance costs and water tariffs
• Construction of water supply, water harvesting and sanitation structures
• Monitoring the construction work
• Transparency in fund collection and utilisation
• Maintaining environmental cleanliness and improving sanitation and hygiene
• Operating and maintaining the newly-created structures
• Ensuring that the distribution and use of water is both equitable and optimal.