NREGA

NREGA details

1. National rural employment guarantee act ( nrega ) Course Seminar on Advised by: Dr. K. Ghadei Lecturer Presented by: Nirupam Biswas ID No. X-0748 Department of Extension Education Institute of Agricultural Sciences B.H.U. WELCOME

2. Introduction An act to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household. This is the largest ever public employment programme visualized in human history. Enacted on August 25, 2005; came into force on February 2, 2006.

3. Wage Employment Programmes (WEP) National Rural Employment Programme (NREP): 1980-89 Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP): 1983-89 Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY): 1989-99 Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS): 1993-99 Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY):1999-2002 Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY): Since September 2001 National Food For Work Programme (NFFWP): Launched on November 14, 2004 National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) : 2005 From Programme to Act

4. Employment Guarantee Act: The Basic Idea The Employment Guarantee Act is a step towards the right to work, as an aspect of the fundamental right to live with dignity.

5. The right to work as a “fundamental right” The “right to life” is a fundamental right of all citizens under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. “Right to life… includes the right to live with human dignity, it would include all these aspects which would make life meaningful, complete and living.” (Supreme Court)

6. The right to work in the “Directive Principles” of the Constitution “The State shall… direct its policy towards securing that the citizen, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood…” (Article 39A) “The State shall … make effective provision for securing the right to work…” (Article 41)

7. COMPARISON OF NREGS & EARLIER PROGRAMMES Parameters NREGS Earlier Programmes Concept Demand based Supply based Focus on employment Focus on assets Off-season employment Peak season expenditure Planning Long preparatory phase Hurried quick-fix plans Real People’s Plan Bureaucratic plan Organization Panchayat in central place Middleman-contractor in central place Fortnightly measuring and payment Often once or twice per work Administration Real records Often "created" records Close monitoring Routine monitoring Special features Difficult to manipulate Easy to manipulate Proactive role of GOI Routine role of GOI

8. Can EGS stop Distressed Migration? 91% migrating HH said that they prefer work at home if it is continuous and at the minimum wage rate, 100 days may not be adequate. Migration is an old tradition with some advantages, so, adequate compensation is needed to prevent them from migrating. EGS may improve wages and working conditions of the migrants.

9. NREGA GOALS Strong social safety net for the vulnerable groups by providing a fall-back employment source, when other employment alternatives are scare or inadequate Growth engine for sustainable development of an agricultural economy Empowerment of Rural poor through the processes of a rights-based Law.

10. Objectives of NREGA The basic objective of the Act is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by Providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every BPL & APL household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work This work guarantee can also serves other objectives like Generating productive assets, Protecting the environment, empowering rural women, Reducing rural urban migration and fostering social equity, among others.

11. NREGA 2005 in a Nutshell The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 is a law whereby: any adult who is willing to do unskilled manual work at the minimum wage is entitled to being employed on local public works within 15 days of applying.

12. Who is eligible? Anyone above the age of 18 who resides in rural areas.

13. Is there a limit on the number of days of work? Yes: 100 days per household per year . Each nuclear family counts as a separate “ household ”.

14. The Unemployment Allowance If employment is not provided within 15 days, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance : At least one fourth of the minimum wage for the first 30 days . At least one half of the minimum wage thereafter.

15. Where will the work be provided? Within 5 kilometres of the applicant’s residence, as far as possible . If work is provided beyond 5 kilometres, a travel allowance has to be paid.

16. What is the minimum wage due to NREGA labourers? Labourers are entitled to the statutory minimum wage for agricultural labourers in the state, unless the Central Government “ notifies” a different norm . If the Central Government notifies, the norm is subject to a minimum of Rs 60/day.

17. How and when are wages to be paid? Weekly, or in any case not later than a fortnight. Directly to the person concerned, in front of the community.

18. Mandatory worksite facilities Drinking water Shade Medical aid Creche if more than five children below age 6 are present Note : These facilities are to be provided by the implementing agency.

19. Work Execution Work progress monitoring Wage computation based on outturn Material and Effort Re-Estimation Modifications to wage rates, muster rolls. MCC Panchayat Work Site Shelf of Works Grouping of Wage seekers Progress Report Muster Roll Closure Report Work SU Intimation Generate Comm Letter Mtrl SO Work Sty 1 2 3 7 5 6 4

20. Fund & Accounts Management Fund Allocation Note Wage Gram Panchayat MCC Wage Seekers Material Suppliers Payment for material delivered Work Startup Order Fund Status Report Fund receipt, transfer Advances Claims Savings Account Mgt Maint of ledgers Period financial reports

21. WOMEN 46.54% OTHERS 53.45 % At least 1/3rd of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work under the Scheme (NREGA ACT, Schedule II, Section 6) till March 2008 Gender-related provisions

22. Key Processes: Demand for Employment Rural Household Registration Application Gram Panchayat Work allocation 15 days of Demand Wages-15 days Muster roll with Job Card Nos. Measurement Else Unemployment Allowance (GP) Verification- local residence not poverty, employment Registration Job Card HH Employment Demand Work- Site Facilities: Creche,medical aid,water GP Dated Receipt

23. Key Processes:Selection of Works Gram Sabha Recommends Gram Panchayat finalises Village Plan Programme Coordinator- District- Panchayat Final shelf of Projects -Block- Panchayat Consolidates village Plans: Block Plan Programme Officer Other agencies Water conservation, land development Afforestation,roads, other works 60:40, labour:material No contractors,machinery

24. Concerns Inflated Schemes Inflated Quantity of Work Depressed Productivity Inflated Person Day estimates Bogus Registrations Registration of non-living persons, minors and medically unfit Duplicate and/or Proxy Registrations Fictitious Registrations Fraudulent Requisition of Funds False Measurement Inflated Progress of Works Omitting an operation or work item Fraudulent Wage Payment Under Payments Dependant Fraudulent Payments Inflated Muster Ghost Workmen Bogus Attendance

25. 16/11/06 26 Discriminations Incidences of discrimination on the basis of caste, community, disability and proximity to Sarpanch , Panchayat Secretary and Officials have been noticed. BPL families were given preference over others Women were discouraged to get registered. Aged and physically challenged persons were not provided registration forms in some places.

26. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY All NREGA-related documents to be available for public scrutiny. Copies of documents to be made available at nominal cost. Muster rolls to be pro-actively displayed at Panchayat Bhawan. Documents can also be obtained under the Right to Information Act.

27. Social Audits Gram Sabhas to conduct social audits of all works taken up within Gram Panchayat All relevant documents to be provided to the Gram Sabha by the Gram Panchayat and other implementing agencies

28. 4/15/2009 Ministry of Rural Development 29 If the Act delivers.. Mitigate hard times Household earnings may increase through 100 days supplement Strengthen natural resource base of livelihood and build community assets Quantum of fiscal resources needed for wage employment programmes may reduce Because of better targeting-Mirror of Poverty Possible spin off: - more schooling for children of migrant families, - Women greater participation in work force:more voice?

29. STAKEHOLDERS Key Stakeholders are : Wage seekers Gram Sabha PRIs, specially the gram panchayat Programme Officer at the block level District Programme Coordinator State Government Ministry of Rural Development

30. Key Issues in NREGA We welcome the landmark legislation of the NREGA which has potential to provide income security, poverty reduction and develop the backward rural areas To succeed in intent and potential of NREGA the following key aspects merit attention to plan and implement the NREGA Corruption Wages Works Monitoring Human Capacity

31. PERMISSIBLE WORKS The Works permissible under NREG are : Water conservation and water harvesting; drought proofing, including afforestation and tree plantation; irrigation canals, including micro and minor irrigation works; provision of irrigation facility, plantation, horticulture, land development to land owned by households belonging to the SC/ST, or to land of the beneficiaries of land reforms, or to land of the beneficiaries under the Indira Awas Yojana/BPL families

32. PERMISSIBLE WORKS contd… renovation of traditional water bodies, including de-silting of tanks; land development; flood-control and protection works, including drainage in waterlogged areas; rural connectivity to provide all-weather access. The construction of roads may include culverts where necessary, and within the village area may be taken up along with drains. Care should be taken not to take up roads included in the PMGSY network under NREGA. No cement concrete roads should be taken up under NREGA. Priority should be given to roads that give access to SC/ST habitations; any other work that may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government.

33. Tribal Development & Agriculture Deptt All Tribal agriculturists are entitled for Works related to land development. Works that provide irrigation including micro irrigation facility to tribal agriculturists. Horticulture projects. Works like cannel and channel digging. Providing pipelines to the field of agriculturists. Irrigation wells

34. Contd….. Earth work related activities where village is adopted. Eco friendly activities ,establishment of model nurseries Checking salinity in coastal areas Reclamation of saline and alkaline soils Rain fed area development Water shed development Land development of hilly areas

35. Works related to RKVY can be taken up under NREGA Development of Horticulture Farms Plantation of Date ,Palm ,Jetropha and Sandal Treatment of saline and water logged areas. Labour intensive and earth work related ,land development activities for quality seed protection.

36. NREGS: Success Story of Hardoi Name of Work – Renovation of Kakhraiya Pond at Gram Bahmanakheda,Block - Ahirori,Year – 2006-07 Executing Agency- Block Ahirori,Cost of the work – 1.126 Lakh . Mandays Created- 1300 Benefit of the Project – It is useful for recharging the ground water , for drinking water for animals, for irrigation purpose as well as it has provided the employment to the local labourers.

37. 4/15/2009 NREGA,2005 48 Serious accidents at work site If any person employed under the scheme is or child accompanying any person injured ; he/she shall be entitled to free of charge medical treatment . During the period of hospitalization of injured worker. Accommodation, treatment and medicines & Half of the wage per day to be paid to injured person.

38. 4/15/2009 NREGA,2005 49 Serious accidents at work site continued……….. If a person employed under a scheme dies or becomes permanent disabled by the accident at site The legal heirs of the deceased or the disabled shall be paid an ex gratia payment at the rate of Rs.25000 By the Central government.

39. OUTCOMES [field reports] Reduction in distress out-migration due to availability of additional income and work creation and repair of rural infrastructure like roads and water bodies Retention of children in school and purchase of books for them Greater interest in local area development due to flow of funds and village meetings Changing local dynamics in many places with the recognition by workers that they are right holders Expansion in membership and activities of workers’ and peasant organizations

40. Recommendations: Information, education and communication Capacity building of the PRI staff and elected members Recruitment of technical persons at GP level Diversification in the NREG works Supervision

41. CONCLUSION Teething trouble apart, the same forces of fiscal conservatism that earlier tried to dilute the Act are now trying to curtail entitlements and minimize expenditure. However, the NREGA offers an unprecedented opportunity to initiate broad-based growth through poverty reducing employment generation and consequent demand expansion. Therefore, some recent reports of mobilization and struggles by rural workers for the full and proper implementation of the NREGA is good news!

42. THANK YOU