NREGA: Is there a way forward?

Despite criticisms, money and time are being invested in NREGA. The following post attempts to contrast the intent of the Act with the implementation problems it suffers from. A few ways forward are suggested as food for thought.

NREGA recognizes the legitimate role of Panchayats in addressing their fundamental duty as set up in the 73th Constitutional Amendment of “providing economic development and social justice” in their area. However, in reality, bureaucratic implementation has bypassed Panchayati institutions.

‘Demand for work’ is a driver for the implementation of NREGA. Demand is decided by the number of job seekers who obtain job cards. Several surveys and reports indicate malpractices in issuing job cards. When genuine job seekers are not given job cards, there is no official record of demand for work. As it is a demand-based provisioning system, it has failed to monitor the demand for jobs.

Even if a job card is given, it does not guarantee a female or a differently abled person a job. Despite its insistence on inclusiveness, NREGA suffers caste and gender bias in allocation of jobs.

NREGA has an inbuilt structure of disincentive for non-performance of the state government in providing jobs. Inability to provide employment to a job seeker would require the state government to pay an unemployment allowance. This, however, begs attention to the practice of not issuing receipts for applications. With such people are unable to demand unemployment wages if they are not allotted jobs within 15 days of their application.

NREGA suggests that works should be chosen according to developmental requirements of the area and the need for providing employment to the people. However, it turns out that the people’s representatives and government employees arbitrarily decide the projects to suit their vested interests. Thus, the creation of assets through NREGA may turn out to be of little significance to the village or its people.

Rural Development Minister, Joshi himself admitted, “Had we devised a correct way of issuing job cards, maintaining muster rolls, and local planning of works, among other things, we would not have been hearing all the complaints about deficiencies in implementation of the scheme,” while addressing a national workshop on the NREGS in August 2009, organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

Despite such problems, NREGA continues to be defended by intellectuals like Montek Singh Aluwaliah who maintains that NREGA is largely a success albeit its variance in effectiveness. Columnist and social activist Harsh Mander says, “I have observed how much NREGA, again with its flaws, has meant for millions of India's poorest people. It has reduced distress migration and debt, brought more food to their plates and those of their children, and has raised agricultural wages. To me, this is evidence of democracy delivering to its dispossessed people.”

So, is there a way forward? The answer is a yes, provided the present day flaws in NREGA are seen as a call for action. Strengthening demand of jobs can happen if there is an increased awareness brought about through the effective use of mass media.

At present, the government appoints technically sound people to audit the asset building. Similarly, periodic auditing of finance can be taken up, to ensure transparency and appropriate use of funds.

Clear definition and strengthening of the roles of Panchayats will help in increasing the utility of assets which are built. It will also eliminate the domination of bureaucracy. Planning must involve setting deadlines; and any deviance must be punished. Different departments involved must be accountable.

Proactive intervention to fill present lacunae will accelerate NREGA’s success in establishing the dignity of labour for each individual and strengthening democracy in the country as a whole.

ChildSexualAbuse

NREGA

Child sexual abuse: is the silence breaking?

November 19 is celebrated as ‘World day for prevention of child abuse’. Shouldn’t everyday be a day for prevention of child abuse? After a long tradition of silence, child sexual abuse is now increasingly becoming a topic for public discussion and action.
Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a universal problem demanding serious attention. Efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family, local, national and international level. Myths such as child abuse occurs only among the poor, the victims are mostly girls or children habitually lie about it are being dispelled. However, there is a long way to go. There are two approaches to tackling child sexual abuse: first to heal abused children; and second, to prevent child abuse from happening. Breaking the silence is one of the biggest steps forward towards tackling child sexual abuse.
A study commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India says that 53% of the children surveyed in India reported one or more forms of sexual abuse. The study concluded that two out of every three children in India are physically abused. The issue of child abuse has been raised in the past by non-governmental organizations, but this study is the first time an attempt has been made by the government to document the scale of the problem. (http://digg.com/d37Fpj)
On the 7th of October, the UNICEF detailed severe child abuse in rich nations. The Progress for Children report estimates that that throughout the course of their childhood, five to ten per cent of girls and up to five per cent of boys suffer penetrative sexual abuse. "Understanding the extent of abuses of children's rights is a first step to building an environment where children are protected and have the opportunity to reach their full potential," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman.(http://www.karmayog.org/redirect/strred.asp?docId=26330)
Healing child abuse is a difficult but surmountable challenge. It is a long and painful process that requires tremendous efforts, perseverance and support. The right kind of intervention at the right time, reassurance and professional advice will aid the healing process.
Prevention requires every member of society to play a proactive role. In India, to prevent child abuse, it is imperative that the legal system is strengthened. Although India ranks second in child population of the world, there is no separate legislation to deal with offences against children. The laws relating to child sexual abuse are absurd, making it easy for abusers to evade punishment. (http://www.karmayog.org/childsexabuse/childsexabuse_3301.htm)
The organization Tulir in India (http://www.tulir.org/), a centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (CPHCSA), deserves mention here. It is a registered, nongovernmental, non-profit organization committed to working against child sexual abuse. Tulir, in Tamil means the first tender leaves of a plant; leaves following a period of adversity- symbolizing children and the belief in the resilience and resurgence of the human spirit. It inspires faith that efforts of such organizations, increased awareness and collective responsibility of society will quash this silent conspiracy.

From NREGA to ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act’: An apt tribute to Mahatma Gandhi?

On October 2nd, NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) was named as ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act’ after the Father of the Nation, who dreamt of Gram Swaraj. NREGA was notified on 7th of September 2005 and promises at least 100 days of work to one member of any rural family and operates in all 605 districts of the country. NREGA focuses on rural asset building projects like water conservation and harvesting, afforestation, rural connectivity, flood control and protection projects such as construction and repair of embankments. Rs.39, 100 crore has been allotted for 2009-10 for the NREGA, which marks an increase of 144 per cent over 2008-09 budget.

NREGA has become a buzzword in the media for both good and bad reasons. Some claim that it has empowered rural India. At the same time, there are allegations that it has only made the middlemen richer. The occasion of NREGA being named after Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps an opportune time to reflect upon the Act, focusing on its successes and failures, and tracking its progress from inception.

NREGA is the first national programme that has attempted to bring transparency and accountability to the challenging interface between people and government. It is India’s first piece of legislation to codify development rights in a legal framework. However, four years on, several reports and studies indicate that a shocking amount of corruption and inefficiency clouds the programme, making it nearly impossible for the benefits to reach the poor.

NREGA, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government’s showpiece social welfare program during its first term (2004-09), captured the imagination of rural voters during the 2009 General Elections. In its election manifesto, the UPA had promised to expand NREGA in three ways: first, to raise daily wages to hundred rupees; second, to extend the employment guarantee to individual workers rather than entire households; and finally, to extend to the scheme to urban areas. The rest, as they say, is history. The UPA won a massive victory in the 2009 elections, largely on the strength of rural votes. However, have poor people actually benefited from the programme?

Every state has a different story to tell about the implementation of NREGA. Left-ruled West Bengal and BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh have emerged as the top states in implementing NREGA for the disabled. Meanwhile, NREGA is a tragic failure in Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in the country. The scheme has proved to be a breather for women in Punjab who are being given opportunities to earn whereas Assam has recorded a reduction in employment generation under NREGA as compared to its predecessor, Sanjay Gandhi Rozgar Yojana (SGRY).

The government is persevering in its efforts to make the programme more effective by introducing responsive and transparent measures such as social auditing involving NGOs and appointment of district-level ombudsman. The Rural Development ministry at the Centre, the nodal agency for NREGA, is testing an ATM-like machine which would help reduce NREGA workers’ dependence on panchayat officials or the local administration. As a pilot project, the Rural Development ministry has launched the machine in Raila panchayat of Bhilwara in Rajasthan on October 4, 2009. Rural Development minister C P Joshi has stated that the software developed for NREGA by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) would help curb corruption. The experiment testifies to a sense of urgency on the part of government in trying to address issues plaguing the programme.

A programme such as NREGA honours the people’s right to work, apart from providing much needed income generation activities to mitigate the effects of seasonal unemployment. However, we cannot ignore problems in its implementation. These will be discussed in a follow-up post next week. Notwithstanding such problems, it would be churlish to dismiss the programme as ‘wasteful expenditure of public money’. If the political classes can look beyond their narrow goals and use NREGA to create the change that it envisions, that would be a meaningful tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who urged one and all to be the change they want to see in the world.

Tulir

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Why "Parithranaya Sadhunam....."?

परिथ्रानाया साधुनाम can be loosely translated to mean...."to protect honest, virtous and peace loving people"। These lines are believed to be said by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavath Gita. To me, 'Parithranaya Sadhunam' puts into perspective my calling as an aspiring writer and a social change agent. It reminds me that my words, thoughts and actions must be aligned to protect interests of the deserving people, irrespective of caste, class,age,sex.... Parithranaya Sadhunam.....