Field Report-District Poonch
(Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a revolutionary step towards the development of Rural India. The act which came into operation on September7th, 2005 guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. The NREGA under Section 4 of the Act calls for the formulation of a Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) by each State Government where the Act is notified (Including J&K), within six months of the date of commencement of the Act.
The basic objective of the scheme is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual Work.
The state of J&K is successfully implementing Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) in three districts of Poonch, Kupwara and Doda in the first phase.
A process evaluation study of the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Poonch District was carried out jointly by the NIRD, Hyderabad and J&K IMPA, Regional Center Jammu. The basic objective of the study was centered to assess the progress of scheme in a reportedly high performing district of Poonch. The study team has visited Poonch district from 25th to 27th September, 2007. While traveling to different parts of the district, the study team observed successful implementation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in many villages. Popularly known as “Seventy Rupees Scheme”, the scheme was practically started in February – March, 2006. During implementation of scheme it was practically felt to initiate those projects, which could benefit directly to beneficiaries. Therefore, under the prescribed guidelines, priority works were decided and initiated in the district. The team also met different officials, who have been practically implementing scheme on the ground. In this regard, the Assistant Commissioner Development expressed his appraisal about the scheme. He was of the opinion that Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is functioning progressively but the amount of wages and other systems including priority works needs to be reviewed. He also expressed his comparative observations of NREGA with Contract Labour system which was prevailed earlier. The construction of Roads Network has also been undertaken under the scheme. Since Land Holding is small and the Geographical and Geological Topography is diverse, people have constructed their houses on both banks of river called “Dariya Poonch”. Further, the project works pertaining to Land Development as well as construction of Protection Bunds have also been undertaken to channelise Nallas in order to prevent possible erosion due to flash floods occurring quite frequently during June-July every year. Several Awareness Campaigns have also been initiated to aware people about this scheme that showed positive results. During discussion, it was strongly emphasized by the implementing authority that minimum wages of Rs. 70.00 per day is not adequate to meet daily expenses of workers; therefore, the amount of minimum wages should be revised so that more interest about this scheme could be generated among people of the district. The minimum wages have not been revised since last year.
The REGS coupled with Total Sanitation Campaign facilitated the construction of 70 units of Toilets in Bafliaz block. It was further suggested that the Government of India should lay emphasis on Assets Creation. In this context, some modifications in the existing guidelines are required.
As far as the participation of workers in the scheme is concerned, it was clarified that the district Poonch, unlike some other districts has been implementing scheme with contribution only from Native workers of Poonch.Till date approx. 33708 job cards have been filled and issued properly to labourers and payments are being released through Cheques. For that reason, Bank Accounts have been opened for these workers at an opening balance of Rs. 50.00 or sometimes with nil balance.
The concept of “Social Audit” is also been implemented practically in some of the villages of Mendhar block viz-Balnoi, Mankot, Sagra, Gani, Chajla etc., where the concerned Block Development Officer had read out publicly, the details of the project works and expenses incurred on them
It has been observed, that women participation under NREGA is still negligible in Poonch possibly due to “Ethno Religious Feelings”. During discussion, a need to evolve strategies to motivate women force to participate in the scheme was also expressed by officers.
The study team also had a detailed discussion with Block Development Officers (BDOs) of different blocks in Poonch. Most of the BDOs were of the opinion that Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is one of the best schemes being executed under Rural Development Programmes. The scheme has practically replaced Contract Labour System with participatory system of labour. This has also resulted in the abolition of Middle Man Concept. The out migration of labourers has been stopped and now they have a feeling of working in their own project on their own land. Now people are even deciding their own works to be executed under REGS.
On the other hand, it was strongly felt that contribution of some Durable Assets like Panchayat Ghar, Community Centres etc., should also be undertaken. Since the area is hilly and water scarce, there is also need to construct Water Storage Tanks in order to collect spring water for drinking and other purposes. Further, there are no clear instructions regarding provision to purchase agricultural and construction related equipments like digging equipments etc. It is significant to know that REGS undertook works in a cost effective manner as compared to similar works undertaken by Road construction Department, which costs much higher than the average. It was informed that some of the blocks like Surankote which is also a high performing block in Poonch are moving one step ahead in the settlement of personal and family disputes at Panchayat (Halqa) level.
BDO, Mendhar apprised that Social Audit is being practiced successfully, creating awareness among stakeholders. This is considered as an important step towards the realization of the right to work to people. The officer also expressed his dissatisfaction regarding less number of unskilled workers turned up for project works. Sometimes it has been observed that only 50% labourers actually have turned up for demanding works under the scheme .There is also spatial and temporal (seasonal) variation in the availability of workers. The months from August to October in Poonch and adjoining areas are harvesting period for farmers, workers are engaged in harvesting and other subsidiary agricultural practices, as a result of which there is scarcity of workers .The actual demand period for job works start from November to April every year.
The block Bafliaz is among those blocks which are successfully implementing the scheme. The Block Development Officer of Bafliaze opined that approx 787 families on record have put their work demand, out of which 977 personnel have been engaged with 24411 Man days of works. He cited typical climatic conditions of some of the blocks where agricultural sowing period is much earlier (i.e. February-March), therefore, months from May to June are lean period during which job demands become higher. During the period from November to February, there is almost negligible demand of job works due to heavy snowfall in many uphill areas of the district (e.g. Dugra, Poshan etc.).It has been emphasized by the BDO Bafliaz that Government of India should reconsider the priorities of Project works, keeping in view the spatial variations in the topographical as well as climatological conditions of the area. Most of the blocks in Poonch are having poor condition of connectivity, therefore Rural Connectivity should have been in the top priority list followed by Flood Conservation; water Conservation, Land Development and Management, Soil Conservation etc.
(Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a revolutionary step towards the development of Rural India. The act which came into operation on September7th, 2005 guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. The NREGA under Section 4 of the Act calls for the formulation of a Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) by each State Government where the Act is notified (Including J&K), within six months of the date of commencement of the Act.
The basic objective of the scheme is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual Work.
The state of J&K is successfully implementing Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) in three districts of Poonch, Kupwara and Doda in the first phase.
A process evaluation study of the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Poonch District was carried out jointly by the NIRD, Hyderabad and J&K IMPA, Regional Center Jammu. The basic objective of the study was centered to assess the progress of scheme in a reportedly high performing district of Poonch. The study team has visited Poonch district from 25th to 27th September, 2007. While traveling to different parts of the district, the study team observed successful implementation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in many villages. Popularly known as “Seventy Rupees Scheme”, the scheme was practically started in February – March, 2006. During implementation of scheme it was practically felt to initiate those projects, which could benefit directly to beneficiaries. Therefore, under the prescribed guidelines, priority works were decided and initiated in the district. The team also met different officials, who have been practically implementing scheme on the ground. In this regard, the Assistant Commissioner Development expressed his appraisal about the scheme. He was of the opinion that Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is functioning progressively but the amount of wages and other systems including priority works needs to be reviewed. He also expressed his comparative observations of NREGA with Contract Labour system which was prevailed earlier. The construction of Roads Network has also been undertaken under the scheme. Since Land Holding is small and the Geographical and Geological Topography is diverse, people have constructed their houses on both banks of river called “Dariya Poonch”. Further, the project works pertaining to Land Development as well as construction of Protection Bunds have also been undertaken to channelise Nallas in order to prevent possible erosion due to flash floods occurring quite frequently during June-July every year. Several Awareness Campaigns have also been initiated to aware people about this scheme that showed positive results. During discussion, it was strongly emphasized by the implementing authority that minimum wages of Rs. 70.00 per day is not adequate to meet daily expenses of workers; therefore, the amount of minimum wages should be revised so that more interest about this scheme could be generated among people of the district. The minimum wages have not been revised since last year.
The REGS coupled with Total Sanitation Campaign facilitated the construction of 70 units of Toilets in Bafliaz block. It was further suggested that the Government of India should lay emphasis on Assets Creation. In this context, some modifications in the existing guidelines are required.
As far as the participation of workers in the scheme is concerned, it was clarified that the district Poonch, unlike some other districts has been implementing scheme with contribution only from Native workers of Poonch.Till date approx. 33708 job cards have been filled and issued properly to labourers and payments are being released through Cheques. For that reason, Bank Accounts have been opened for these workers at an opening balance of Rs. 50.00 or sometimes with nil balance.
The concept of “Social Audit” is also been implemented practically in some of the villages of Mendhar block viz-Balnoi, Mankot, Sagra, Gani, Chajla etc., where the concerned Block Development Officer had read out publicly, the details of the project works and expenses incurred on them
It has been observed, that women participation under NREGA is still negligible in Poonch possibly due to “Ethno Religious Feelings”. During discussion, a need to evolve strategies to motivate women force to participate in the scheme was also expressed by officers.
The study team also had a detailed discussion with Block Development Officers (BDOs) of different blocks in Poonch. Most of the BDOs were of the opinion that Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is one of the best schemes being executed under Rural Development Programmes. The scheme has practically replaced Contract Labour System with participatory system of labour. This has also resulted in the abolition of Middle Man Concept. The out migration of labourers has been stopped and now they have a feeling of working in their own project on their own land. Now people are even deciding their own works to be executed under REGS.
On the other hand, it was strongly felt that contribution of some Durable Assets like Panchayat Ghar, Community Centres etc., should also be undertaken. Since the area is hilly and water scarce, there is also need to construct Water Storage Tanks in order to collect spring water for drinking and other purposes. Further, there are no clear instructions regarding provision to purchase agricultural and construction related equipments like digging equipments etc. It is significant to know that REGS undertook works in a cost effective manner as compared to similar works undertaken by Road construction Department, which costs much higher than the average. It was informed that some of the blocks like Surankote which is also a high performing block in Poonch are moving one step ahead in the settlement of personal and family disputes at Panchayat (Halqa) level.
BDO, Mendhar apprised that Social Audit is being practiced successfully, creating awareness among stakeholders. This is considered as an important step towards the realization of the right to work to people. The officer also expressed his dissatisfaction regarding less number of unskilled workers turned up for project works. Sometimes it has been observed that only 50% labourers actually have turned up for demanding works under the scheme .There is also spatial and temporal (seasonal) variation in the availability of workers. The months from August to October in Poonch and adjoining areas are harvesting period for farmers, workers are engaged in harvesting and other subsidiary agricultural practices, as a result of which there is scarcity of workers .The actual demand period for job works start from November to April every year.
The block Bafliaz is among those blocks which are successfully implementing the scheme. The Block Development Officer of Bafliaze opined that approx 787 families on record have put their work demand, out of which 977 personnel have been engaged with 24411 Man days of works. He cited typical climatic conditions of some of the blocks where agricultural sowing period is much earlier (i.e. February-March), therefore, months from May to June are lean period during which job demands become higher. During the period from November to February, there is almost negligible demand of job works due to heavy snowfall in many uphill areas of the district (e.g. Dugra, Poshan etc.).It has been emphasized by the BDO Bafliaz that Government of India should reconsider the priorities of Project works, keeping in view the spatial variations in the topographical as well as climatological conditions of the area. Most of the blocks in Poonch are having poor condition of connectivity, therefore Rural Connectivity should have been in the top priority list followed by Flood Conservation; water Conservation, Land Development and Management, Soil Conservation etc.
As far as the payment to workers is concerned, this was informed that the cheque system of payment is being applied here in order to maintain transparency. As per the prevailing system of payment, workers get payments through cheques every 15 days of their work. In order to encash cheques, they have to open an account in a nearby bank. It has been reported that, the whole process of payment causes excessive delay in disbursing remuneration to workers. Further, there are also problems in collecting Cheques from them and even sometimes there happens to be shortage of Cheque books to issue Cheques to workers. Therefore, it was sought to evolve another system of payment.
The District Agriculture Officer, Poonch expressed his observation about a typical problem of Parthenium Weeds in Agricultural Lands, which are causing great harm to the agricultural productivity. He suggested Weediside Programmes should also be included under the scheme.
The Deputy Commissioner, Poonch in his concluding remarks expressed satisfaction over the implementation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS) in the district. He emphasized the need to have a demand driven Programme strategy for the success of scheme. Keeping in view the typical terrain topography of the region, it is difficult to perform manual work, therefore, machinery oriented works should also be included under the scheme, he added. The district administration of Poonch assured their commitment to the study team, about overall success of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
(Dr. Rajnish Ranjan)
Assistant. Prof.
J&K IMPA, Jammu
1 comment:
Very good work, i will advise u to put some information about disaster management .for example article ,do's donts etc
Post a Comment