B&E: What have been NREGA’s key achievements apart from providing 100-day livelihoods?
BKS: NREGA is the only programme which is recognised across the length and breadth of the country. If you think in terms of national economy, we find that it permits work on the categories of SC/STs, land reforms beneficiaries, small farmers et al, a combination of which comprises of 90-95% of the farming population operating in about 60-65% of the land area. The result is that we have enormous lands at our disposal for NREGA works and once the development has taken place; there is no need for NREGA. Also, the rise of jobs under the programme has arrested the migration from rural households.
B&E: What is the level of impact that NREGA has had on the wage market in our rural areas?
BKS: Agricultural wages had been static till before the rise of NREGA. There is an acknowledged effect of NREGA on agricultural wages, which is why the farmers are so against it. The labour class is beholden to the farmer or the rural elite structure for two reasons. One is for employment and the other for money to be borrowed in times of need. Sitting here, we may not realise the importance of Rs.10,000 that the labour is getting through this programme but nevertheless, it is important to recognise its significance in diminishing the stronghold, which the rural elite class has had over development in the past.
B&E: There has been a lot of negative talk over issues related to implementation and monitoring schemes of the programme. What is your take?
BKS: I admit that there have been glitches but we know what is to be done and we are unfolding. Much depends on the robustness of the institutions involved in the implementation of the projects and upon the quality of thought of the state governments. The most critical thing in NREGA is how decisions are taken. The Act has very comprehensive guidelines and is democratic in nature but it is not implemented in a democratic manner. No central government can adequately monitor a programme of this magnitude. The panchayats do not have the requisite machinery, state governments have their own way of looking at things and we have to make provisions for these diversities. It will see tremendous success if we are able to upgrade 65% of our land.
B&E: In cases of corruption or mismanagement of work or funds, why don’t you direct the officers involved to stop funding for work?
BKS: The formulation of the Act is such that most powers rest with the state governments where planning is not right. If we find anomalies in a certain area and decide to stop funding or work, it will violate the right to 100 days of employment of every household. If there is some official involved in corruption, taking action against him is as important as ensuring that the democratic right to livelihood of the people does not get affected. In many places, the Act is bureaucratically controlled, making petty bureaucrats very powerful, since they have the power to stop work and funding. When you have such power, you have to take decisions very judiciously.
Read more......
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
BKS: NREGA is the only programme which is recognised across the length and breadth of the country. If you think in terms of national economy, we find that it permits work on the categories of SC/STs, land reforms beneficiaries, small farmers et al, a combination of which comprises of 90-95% of the farming population operating in about 60-65% of the land area. The result is that we have enormous lands at our disposal for NREGA works and once the development has taken place; there is no need for NREGA. Also, the rise of jobs under the programme has arrested the migration from rural households.
B&E: What is the level of impact that NREGA has had on the wage market in our rural areas?
BKS: Agricultural wages had been static till before the rise of NREGA. There is an acknowledged effect of NREGA on agricultural wages, which is why the farmers are so against it. The labour class is beholden to the farmer or the rural elite structure for two reasons. One is for employment and the other for money to be borrowed in times of need. Sitting here, we may not realise the importance of Rs.10,000 that the labour is getting through this programme but nevertheless, it is important to recognise its significance in diminishing the stronghold, which the rural elite class has had over development in the past.
B&E: There has been a lot of negative talk over issues related to implementation and monitoring schemes of the programme. What is your take?
BKS: I admit that there have been glitches but we know what is to be done and we are unfolding. Much depends on the robustness of the institutions involved in the implementation of the projects and upon the quality of thought of the state governments. The most critical thing in NREGA is how decisions are taken. The Act has very comprehensive guidelines and is democratic in nature but it is not implemented in a democratic manner. No central government can adequately monitor a programme of this magnitude. The panchayats do not have the requisite machinery, state governments have their own way of looking at things and we have to make provisions for these diversities. It will see tremendous success if we are able to upgrade 65% of our land.
B&E: In cases of corruption or mismanagement of work or funds, why don’t you direct the officers involved to stop funding for work?
BKS: The formulation of the Act is such that most powers rest with the state governments where planning is not right. If we find anomalies in a certain area and decide to stop funding or work, it will violate the right to 100 days of employment of every household. If there is some official involved in corruption, taking action against him is as important as ensuring that the democratic right to livelihood of the people does not get affected. In many places, the Act is bureaucratically controlled, making petty bureaucrats very powerful, since they have the power to stop work and funding. When you have such power, you have to take decisions very judiciously.
Read more......
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
