Decentralise MGNREGS
Source: Hindu
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies
What is discussed under Decentralised MGNREGS?
- About MGNREGS
- About the Study
Why in News?
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), according to an internal report commissioned by the Ministry of Rural Development, should be decentralised to allow for more “flexibility” at the local level.
About MGNREGS
- The MGNREGS is a demand-driven wage employment programme that aims to increase the livelihood security of rural households by guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment to each household whose adult members volunteer to perform unskilled manual labour during each fiscal year.
- When no other work opportunities are available, it offers rural households a secure means of living or alternative choices.
- According to the 2005 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, emphasis must be given to women such that they make up at least one-third of the beneficiaries.
- The Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme is a gender-neutral initiative that encourages women’s engagement by offering pay equity with men, a different schedule of rates of salaries for women, childcare facilities, crèche facilities, and work-side huts for kids.
- Women Mates have also been introduced in alignment with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), which again facilitates women’s engagement.
- Additionally, the Scheme makes an effort to place projects close to recipients’ homes.
- The plan calls for the provision of worksite amenities such as drinking water, a shed, medications, etc.
MGNREGS’ primary goals
- Providing every household in rural areas with at least 100 days of unskilled manual labour as a guaranteed job in a fiscal year, as needed, leading to the creation of productive assets of a specified quality and durability
- Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor
- Proactively ensuring social inclusion
- and Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions
About the Study
- In seven States, the sixth Common Review Mission reviewed the implementation of all rural development initiatives, including the MGNREGS.
- States: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Nagaland, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh — as well as the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
- The surveyors found that in the Lower Subansiri area of Arunachal Pradesh, the recipients eventually had to make their own purchases of construction materials to complete the projects.
- The material component was six months late in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh while the pay was three to four months late.
- The report also noted that the MGNREGS pay was significantly below market rates in several States, undermining its intended role as a safety net.
- Gujarat’s current minimum agricultural worker salary is 324.20 rupees, compared to 229 rupees for MGNREGS.
Private contractors are far more expensive.- The difficult topography in Nagaland is not taken into consideration by the daily pay of 212 rupees.
- In Jammu & Kashmir, the rate is 214 per day.
- This is less than what is given by private contractors, which can range up to $600-$700 per day.
- Fund management has been centralised recently as opposed to providing gramme sabhas with an advance so they could choose the jobs they wished to complete.
Suggestions by the Study
- More flexibility at the local level is made possible by the decentralisation of the MGNREGA programme.
- Increased variety of works that are allowed instead of identifying specific types of permitted works, broad categories of works could be specified instead, with flexibility being provided at the local level to choose the type of works according to the broad categories.
- It is possible to build up revolving funds. Anytime the Central funds are delayed, this fund may be used.
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