It seems red tape is holding back MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) from attracting many labourers to seek work. The rural job scheme that can help reduce distress by providing jobs to the poor in their villages, puts them off due to delayed payment and avoidable paper work, farmers’ leaders say.
Last year’s figures indicate the leaders may be right. In a district with a population of 17 lakh, only around 1.7 lakh job cards were issued. Of the estimated 3.4 lakh families, only around 42,750 sought work and 23,241 benefited. Of the targeted 22 lakh person days, only around 2.7 lakh person days were generated. Of the 17,874 works taken up, only 3,156 were completed. Of the Rs. 8 crore financial target, only around Rs. 4.1 crore was spent. This year’s figures are slightly upward looking. Of the proposed budget of Rs. 77.5 crore, works consuming upto Rs. 9 crore have been completed till now.
Farmers’ leaders are upset about these figures. Bidar is among the most backward districts in the country. It has over 70 per cent small and marginal farmers. “By that count, we should have had over 10 lakh job cards and two lakh families should have benefited from the scheme,” says Siddappa Metre, Karnataka Pradesh Raitha Sangha leader.
“In several villages, wages were paid only after we organised protest rallies,” Baburao Honna, farm labourers’ union leader, said. In some villages in Aurad and Bhalki taluks, wages were not released even after 12 months.
He said that officials at the gram panchayat levels routinely violated the rule that wage payments were to be made within 14 days of them working on the job site. Most officials take more than a month just to complete the paper work. He felt that the scheme would achieve great success if payments were made in a week.
Panchayat development officers who coordinate between the zilla panchayat and gram panchayats, have another story to tell. Several labourers don’t come to work even after registering their names at the gram panchayat. Some others come only for a few days but seek wages for a full week. “Sometimes, GP members and other leaders side with
such labourers and we are left in the lurch,” said a PDO.
Officials, however, defend their performance. “We are the third best performing district in generating person days,” Bhimsen Gudur, zilla panchayat deputy secretary, said. “We have succeeded in reducing the number of gram panchayats that had zero demand for MNREGA to 15 from 63 last year. This is significant progress.”
“We are bound by law to pay wages. It (wage payment) may be delayed, but it will surely come,” said Sharat B., ZP chief executive officer. He admitted there had been some delays, but said a set of processes were planned to ensure faster disbursal.
Performance
1.7 lakh job cards issued
23,241 got work
Of the 22 lakh person days, only around 2.7 lakh person days were generated.
Of the 17,874 works taken up last year, only 3,156 were completed.
Only ten per cent of the target person days achieved
Half of the money spent last year.
Works that can be taken up
Irrigation
Watershed development and rainwater harvesting
Forest development
Cattle and animal shed building
Farm pond construction
Desilting of ponds
Approach roads in villages
