Sainath 2008 (NREGA A fine balance).pdf

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India Together: NREGA: A fine balance - 13 July 2008 file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/Navjyot...

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"Why only 100 days of work," askpeople. And they do not get those100 days fully.

• They lock on to the NREGA

• NREGA hits buses to Mumbai

INDIA TOGETHER Tue 02 Mar 2010 The news in proportion.

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EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE

NREGA: A fine balanceThe employment guarantee in rural areas is having multiple and layered effects.With better wages, the bargaining power of the weakest has gone up a notch. PSainath reports.

13 July 2008 - "Why can't they keep the schools

open during summer," asks P. Somamma in

Mosangi. A strange question, with the mercury

blazing past 43 Celsius in the Nalgonda village and

all of us cowering in the little shade we can find.

"Why would you want to send the kids to school in

this heat, Somamma?"

"At least there," she says, "they got one decent meal a day. I can't afford to give them

one now, during the vacation."

In Kondapur in Mahbubnagar district, Bharatamma echoes that demand. "When the

schools are closed, there is no mid-day meal. That means, instead of getting to eat, the

children go to work. How else does the family manage?" Hit by rising food prices, poor

families can't afford one more meal. For those with two children in school, the costs really

go up. When the schools are open, you can find some young ones saving a part of their

meal for a hungry grandparent at home.

Back in Mosangi, Somamma's son Bikshapati says he preferred the mid-day meal at

school to food at home. "It was better," he says. "We got dal, rice, tomatoes, rasam, even

eggs." Much of that is beyond his family's reach now. If he and his family are able to pull

on at all, it's because of the work the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act brings to

their village. In Mosangi, there is bitterness over how it has worked. In Kondapur, where

it has done better, there are some complaints. Yet, in the eyes of all them, this is the

most important programme the countryside has seen in years.

There are complaints of rip-offs. "We've been paid only Rs.30 a day," says an angry P.

Mallamma in Mosangi. The record says they got Rs.84 a day. K. Kalamma says she has

"worked for over a month, without being paid." Even a former deputy sarpanch, Saiddulu,

has not been paid for a week's work. He is well over 60 - yet another older person

returning to work, driven by food costs. But he is clear that the work the NREGA brings is

"very vital to us. It should run well, that's all."

Three issues

Three major issues confront a programme that is the lifeline of these communities at this

time. Two of these are built into it. "Why only 100 days of work," ask people. And they do

not get those 100 days fully. The second is the rule of only one member per family being

able to use it. In Andhra Pradesh, very sensibly, field assistants at NREG sites are

breaking that rule. It is possible to see husband and wife together at the same site.

That's as far as it goes, though.

Poor families see themselves as a collective. "One family member cannot go to Guntur to

work and another to the site," says Lashkar in Lambapur village. Splitting up is bad

economics. A day's wage at a brick kiln might be less than what it is for NREG work. But

though brick kilns are brutal and exploitative, all members of a family can work there -

and for more than a hundred days. These two restrictions hobble a programme people

say they badly need.

Third are the usual local problems.

Payment delays for one. Though Andhra

Pradesh seems to be ahead of several

other States, this remains a problem.

"People here have waited four months to

get much less than what was owed to

them," says Mallamma. "People are

recorded as working when they did not

work. Others are not recorded as working

when they did," says B. Ramaiah in

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Vadlaparthi village of Nalgonda.

Lambapur in the same district throws up this kind of paradox. This is a village where

NREG work has dramatically curbed migrations. There is no one who will tell you things

have not improved. Yet, most "passbooks" show zero days of work. This is an adivasi

'tanda' with very low literacy and education. The records are a mess and a formal audit

would conclude there has been a disaster. But Lambapur has done well out of the

NREGA. To make it more complex, the reverse could be true in Mosangi. The records

would show Mosangi has done better, which it has not. Everywhere is the backlash from

the old contractor-local official-low bureaucracy that feels threatened by the NREGA.

Capturing the records and the process is part of the fightback. In at least two other

States, activists promoting the NREGA have been killed.

A.P. fares better

Yet Andhra Pradesh has fared better, thanks to the growing awareness of people of their

rights. Even at the start, 2.7 million people applied for job cards in the first month after

the programme was announced. From top officials in the State's NREGA team to unions

of landless labourers, many have worked hard to promote the programme

In this process, a small but vital reordering of power relations is under way. The NREGA

is having multiple and layered effects. With better wages, the bargaining power of the

weakest has gone up a notch. For some, their access to costly services like health has

risen slightly. NREG work has been a lifejacket in the flood waters of the price rise. And

no other programme has had the positive impact on distress migrations that it has

achieved.

Lakshmamma hopes the NREG work

will continue. But she's up against a

powerful combine of forces entrenched

in the countryside and ensconced in

Delhi's power elite. (Picture by P

Sainath)

"It is not just low level officials," laughs

a very senior official in Delhi. "There is

hostility right here at top levels of

bureaucracy and politicians. There are

efforts on to make it less attractive to

people needing work. Complaints that

the NREGA is raising wages and

hurting farmers are being used to push

for limiting that wage. And making even

those 100 days of work harder to

access. This would be disastrous. But

it seems certain such efforts will soon

follow."

"Of course, there is much scope for

improvement," he says. "You could get

people to participate more in choosing

the kind of works needed locally. We could provide better technical support and advice.

Restrictions on the number of days and family members could be sorted out by making it

more universal." And by aligning it to works that benefit the whole community, including

local farmers, some of those other problems could also be met.

In Tatikolu village, Lakshmamma hopes the programme will continue. She is up against a

powerful combine of forces entrenched in the countryside and ensconced in Delhi's

power elite. A widow with young children, she finds it hard to get work at the site to begin

with. Seated in her bleak home, she wonders when her food supply will run out. And

hopes the NREG work won't. "Without it, I don't know what we would do." ⊕⊕⊕⊕

P Sainath

13 Jul 2008

P. Sainath is the 2007 winner of the Ramon Magsaysay award for Journalism,Literature, and Creative Communication Arts. He is one of the two recipients ofthe A.H. Boerma Award, 2001, granted for his contributions in changing thenature of the development debate on food, hunger and rural development in theIndian media.

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Comments (20)

Posted by Sidhartha,

I understand the idea of job creation for the poor. However, I am not convinced

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3 of 7 3/3/2010 7:45 PM

that this kind of work is not feeding on the desperate conditions and poverty.

Posted by nawal srivastava,

The article is a moving account of truth prevailing in rural India. Despite all the

criticism of the scheme, which is not based on sound research, this article tells

the utility of the NREG for a poor man in a remote corner of the country. The

need today is to generate economic opportunities in rural India where vast

potentail remains untapped. NREG can resolve two dilemmas of employment

generation and development activities in rural areas.

Posted by Anand Gupta,

I'm pleasantly surprised that your team did not find anyone talking of corruption in

NREG local implementation. If indeed people get Rs.80-85 for a days work within

their village, and 30-40 days work, it is indeed laudable.

Posted by jitendraa,

I am complaining about NREGA in Rajasthan, Bundi panchayat samiti talera. No

facility is being provided by the controller to the NREGA technical staff like water

to drink, table and chair to sit, no stationery has been provided, no lockable

storage has been provided to keep safe the muster rolls and measurement books

and other important documents like estimate etc. there are 3 chair and 2 tables

for 7 peoples and one computer with no printer and no window. Nobody wants to

listen, and says 'just relax'.

Posted by Vispi Jokhi,

NREG is a success of UPA government albeit it leaves scope for improvement.

Empowering the Panchayats to distribute work is needed to make it better.

Posted by radhakrishna,

I visited anantpur disrict and some villages where NREGS was launched. people

rememebr you .

Posted by Kuku,

It's heartening to see some good effects of this scheme but the problem with such

schemes are that they are decided by people sitting in Delhi or even

Hyderabad(or any state capital) who are disconnected from reality.

I'm not trying to dismiss them - but a case study in one village or one area doesn't

imply its good for all villages and all areas. Any long term solution would have to

empower the villages and its inhabitants ie. Swaraj as proposed by Gandhiji.

Posted by known,

Socialism = Preventing Race to the Bottom

Capitalism = Promoting Race to the Top

We need both (either implicitly or indirectly) for a nation to succeed!

Posted by Surya Prakash Loonker,

Finally, i can see a positive article about some govt scheme from India Together.

NERGS is a wonderful scheme which is benefitting millions and I am glad finally

someone had the guts to say govt is doing good work. Every scheme or work has

problems, private or govt, does not mean you keep bombarding every govt

initiative as a bad thing. Thanks to P Sainath.

Posted by Ram Krishnan,

NREGA was started in the tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu in its 3rd phase in April

2008

See 2 pictures here.

http://akash-ganga-rwh.com/DSC01476.JPG

http://akash-ganga-rwh.com/DSC01477.JPG

I have personally see many such projects, creating water flow channels to collect

rainwater.

When any program in India has even a 10% success, I think of that as a 'roaring

success', since others are merely plans on a Spreadsheet in Delhi.

I also hear that in some cases the daily wages are deposited in the bank ccounts,

thereby eliminating the possibiliy of stealing by the intermediates.

Posted by RAJENDRA,

It reminds me of the work giving tactics of digging a hole uptil the noon and then

filling the hole by sunset just to give wages to the needy.

The programe can be sustainable economically, like what shivakashi did in the

fire works industry, or how surath imports dimonds polishes them and sends

back. So can we have some high earning works like embroidary,or readymade

garments or even making papads or hand made stuff snacks being produced by

these people in Anathapur and Mahaboobnagar.I think where ever human jobs


4 of 7 3/3/2010 7:45 PM

are absolute necessary these folks can be trained and these products can be

marketed with zero duties then i think it will be much better. I learnt that inmates

of Tihar jail are bringing out very good products then why not these folks.

Posted by BHAVIL,

After going through its various pros and cons I must say that it has become a

necessary evil. Not only in AP but also in M.P. it has achieved substantial

success. Now its been more than 2 years that NREGS was implemented nad

later got converted to NREGA. However no one can deny that this fact that it has

brought some winds of change in rural India although this act has been cursed by

various factors.Having worked for an NGO in Jharkhand I experienced that it is

working in such a backward state although mauled by various factors, I also

encountered various caveats in a form of slogan like "NREGA KAREGA TO

MAREGA"

Although not a ardent supporter of UPA govt but this scheme is slowly and slowly

changing the face of rural India although in a limited domain.

Posted by satider,

nerga not yet start in our village(dalam) block dera baba nanak

Posted by vb dandapani,

I am interested in getting data about Athmakur Mandal, reg.(i)area of barren land

(ii) number of persons holding such lands (iii) average number of dependents of

such landholders and (iv) problems pertaining to irrigation of these lands.

Posted by Arun Kumar.B,

NREGA is proved itself as a good programe for the rural through its launch in

other districts also. The prime factor, that is transperancy is maintained in the Job

card and wage payment, NREGA will be a mile stone

Posted by Rajesh,

In my Openion for Nrega:- Kya baat hai sarkar ki Job bhi diya to aisa ki hum T.A.

na gar ke hai na hi ghat ke.Sarkar ki Planing to jabardast hai but kamiya

hajar.phayda to sab Pradhan Uthata hai or hum Technical Hand ko Kiray per liye

ghar ane jane ka kharch bhi nahi milta hai, to bhi aash laga bhaithe hai.

amayar Tumko batadu 3Months ho gaye honge join kiye.7000/- se Upper to aise

hi kharch ho gaye

or abhi tak aas ka ek tinka bhi nahi mila.

aise me yadi koi pariwar wala ho to kya kare ga khud khushi wo bhi hoga.

Posted by Usman,

@ BHAVIL

Having worked in Jharkhand myself i must add this to what you've quoted. This

was said by a worker of an NREGA work "narega karega to marega, nahi karega

to bhi marega".

I wouldnt agree that its become a necessary evil. i think its better to look at it as a

programme with immense potential but severely hampered due to the dilapidated

implementation and administrative structures which continue to prevail. Means

and methods need to be deviced to better its working.

There is also another very important aspect of the NREGA which i find wasnt

quite mentioned by Sainath (and this is not a criticism, but an addition to what

he's said). The NREGA has also had profound impact in empowering the people

by way of giving them the power to decide what works are to be undertaken and

where in the village. Though this doesnt hold in all places(that i have seen), in

places it does it has had some amazing effects. See for instance the case of Pati

block in Badwani district of MP. This feature of the people deciding through their

gram sabhas has really added very significantly to the process of democratization

where it matters, in the local community.

There is a pressing need to educate people about the misguiding remarks that

surface in the corporate media declaring the NREGA a waste and a failure.

Posted by Gaurav Singhal,

Searching on internet, found this news about NREGS:

Times of India, 26 March 2009

CAG review had found major gaps in NREGA functioning

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had found that there was no data on the

number of people who demanded jobs and who actually benefitted.

The CAG review said in as many as 70% of the villages checked, there were no

proper records available on number of households who demanded jobs and the

actual number of people who benefited from the job guarantee scheme.

The survey was initiated in 2006 and completed late last year.


5 of 7 3/3/2010 7:45 PM

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In 26 states, 558 village panchayats were identified for the survey spread over 68

districts and 141 blocks.

Surprisingly, the report said in many cases, it found that jobs were allocated on

"verbal basis" and no documentation was available with the village body.

However, the fact-finding revealed that in 340 villages in 24 states, no such

meetings were conducted, neither was there any documentary evidence

available in this regard. No door-to-door survey was conducted in these villages

to identify persons.

To prevent any leakages, the government had launched a drive to allocate

unique identity numbers to job applicants. However, out of 558 gram panchayats

checked, it was found that in 331 of them, unique identity numbers were not

allotted.

A similar survey conducted by CAG in 2007 on the effectiveness of the Centre's

Public Distribution System, through which it gives subsidised foodgrains to poor,

revealed that 40% of beneficiaries were kept away from the scheme by denying

them ration cards and 99% of those who availed the benefits reported they had

not received foodgrains regularly.

Posted by debasis behera,

Dear friends,

NREGA is a bonanza for all. It helps the poor people to get some money (may be

less then they deserve)who were not getting anything earlier. It also helps the

babus and netas to collect huge sum through this scheme. It also helps us â€“the

so called civil society people to argue in favor or against the scheme or do

research on it for money. So never oppose the scheme and just carry on the

great tamasa.

Posted by shailender thakur,

The success of NREGA completely depends on honesty of pradhan and

concerned administrative agencies. In our village Lech block mehla distt chamba

H.P the scheme became a good source of collecting and amassing money. There

is about RS/200000 of financial irregularity only through job-cards, proved by

enquiry done by BDO MEHLA on complaint of villagers on dated 14/5/2008 to

D.C chamba. Till date no action has been taken by concerned authorities up to

Director, panchyati raj shimla. The well known reluctance and illegal favouritism

of administrative agencies really helps pradhans to increase their bank balances

nevertheless. [logon ki garivi mite na mite pradhano ki garivi pucca mit jaegy]

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