A study of three user groups in Indiasuggests that such groups rarely perform as expected. Thenote is based on such study, which comprised the performanceof 100 community user groups, involved in the collectivemanagement of natural resources in three Bank-supportedprojects in the country. Two aspects of performance wereevaluated: groups achievement, and group functioning. Amongthe issues analyzed were member perceptions of group'sachievement of formal, and member objectives, participationin different group activities, realization of benefits,group transparency, and, internal accountability. Despitethe hierarchical, social context, distribution of benefitswas not biased toward any social, or economic group.However, women played almost no role in group affairs -regardless of their caste or class. In all three cases,members knew very little about group governance, and,regardless of awareness, accountability mechanisms wererarely - if ever - applied. The note emphasizes that lowtransparency can destroy a group's ability to promotecooperation, and collective action, while project designers,and implementers need to better understand memberobjectives, be more pragmatic with expectations of localorganizations, and functions, and, be more realistic aboutaccomplishments given the resource management available vs. required.
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