1

RESEARCH PAPER ON

NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT (NREGA)

Ms. Mamta. Shah Under the Guidance of DR.B.L.VERMA

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction ........................................................................... 4-5

Section I.................................................................................

Formation ......................................................................6

Need................................................................................. 6

Features...........................................................................7-8

Structure.......................................................................... 9

Advantages ........................................................................10-13

Shortcomings..................................................................... 14-17

Section II ...............................................................................

Impact on economic Development................. ................. 18

Trends................................................................................. 19-22

Conclusion..............................................................................

ABSTRACT
The most ambitious and universal poverty eradication progarmme introduced in India since independence is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). The historic National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) came into force on February 2, 2006 in 200 hundred most backward Indian districts and later from April 1st 2008 onwards extended to cover all the districts in the country. It ensures the livelihood security of the poor households in the rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment, to the adult members who are willing to do unskilled manual labor, in every financial year.

The present study is an attempt to study about the concept of NREGA as a corruption less wage employment programme and to analyze the impact of NREGA on the Indian economy

The paper is divided in to two sections. Section I presents a brief discussion of the concept of NREGA . It also deals with a brief discussion of the unique features of NREGA as a wage employment programme

SectionII deals with the experience of the people of india regarding objectives of implementing NREGS

Key Words :formation, features,structure ,advantages and disadvantages,data based analysis of working,success ,factors affecting implantation of NREGA,women empowerment,

Introduction
Independent Indias serious efforts to alleviate poverty began with the famous slogan Gharibi Hatao of the 1970s. It was soon followed by a flood 2 of wage employment programme to eradicate poverty; like National Rural Employment Programe (NREP), Rural Landless Employment Programe (RLEGP), Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) , Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and Jawhar Gram Samrithi Yojana (JGSY). But the huge backlog of rural unemployed poor stands testimony to the limited success of these wage employment programs. However NREGS is quite distinct from all its predecessors.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (NREGA) guarantees 100 days of employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. The Act initially came into force in 200 districts with effect from 2 February 20061.

The basic objective of the Act is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment on demand. This work guarantee also serve other objectives like generating productive assets, protecting the environment, empowering rural women, reducing rural-urban migration and fostering social equity, among others. The Act requires every State to formulate a State Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (REGS), which should conform to the minimum features specified under the Act. According to the Act, rural households have a right to register themselves with the local Gram Panchayats (GPs), and seek employment. Work is to be provided within 15 days from the date of demand, failing which the State Government will have to pay unemployment allowance at the stipulated rates.

The State Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes are implemented as Centrally Sponsored Schemes on a cost sharing basis between the Centre and the States. The Central Government

will bear all costs, other than the following: 25 per cent of the cost of material and wages for semi-skilled/ skilled workers; Unemployment allowance; and Administrative expenses of the State Employment Guarantee Council.

Detailed Operational Guidelines have been issued by the Ministry of Rural Development (Ministry), Government of India. Together with the provisions of the Act, they prescribe: the types of works that can be covered under NREGA (subject to additions in respect of different States); the minimum entitlements of labour; the roles and responsibilities of different functionaries right from the State Government to the District, Block and Panchayat level functionaries, including those of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at various levels; the detailed procedures for planning, financial management, registration and employment allotment, execution of works, and payment of wages and unemployment allowance; the detailed records to be maintained at different levels; and the mechanisms for social audit, as well as monitoring and evaluation of outcomes.

SECTION I Formation
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was notified on September, 2005. The Act provides a legal Guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work at the minimum wage rate notified for agricultural labour prescribed in the State or else an unemployment allowance. The objective of the Act is to supplement wage employment opportunities in rural areas and in the process also build up durable assets. The Govt. of India has extended NREGA to all rural areas of all the remaining Districts

Need
Until the coming of NREGA, the right to work envisaged in Article 41 of the Indian Constitution remained only on paper. The Rural Labor Enquiry revealed that between 1993-94 and 19992000, the average number of days of employment declined. The Central Government, recognizing the urgent need to ensure a certain minimum days of wage employment, enacted the NREGA. NREGA empowers the citizens to demand employment, to get employment within 15 days of their demand. It provides the right to be paid statutory wages prevalent in the state and also to work-site facilities like drinking water, sheds for children and first aid. The Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) will have principle role in the planning and implementation. This central role for PRIs would go a long way in energizing local selfgovernance and will also ensure that the labor spent by the people would be for welfare schemes and projects that the local people feel a need for. With community ownership of development works in mind, the Act provides for an institutional mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability through Social Audit. NREGA requires that the employment be given within 5 Kms. of the applicant's residence; else additional wages be paid. The Act also requires that one third of the beneficiaries of the program are women. NREGA is significant for various reasons, it is one of the few experiments in the world to provide alternative source of livelihood which will have an impact on reducing migration, growth in education and healthcare spending

Features
1. Decentralized Planning The principal role of Panchayat Raj Institutions would be planning, monitoring and implementation where the shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the Gram Sabha and approved by the Zilla Panchayat and 50% of works will be allotted to Gram Panchayats for execution. 2 Employment An adult members (Any person who is above the age of 18) of a rural household, willing to do unskilled manual work, can apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card which will bear the photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under NREGA and it is free of cost. This job card should be issued within 15 days of application and the job card holder may submit a written application for employment to the Gram Panchayat, stating the time and duration for which work is sought. The minimum days of employment have to be at least fourteen. The Gram Panchayat issues a dated receipt of the written application for employment, against which the guarantee of providing employment within 15 days operates. Employment is given within 15 days of application for work, if it is not then daily unemployment allowance as per the Act has to be paid and the liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the States. The work should ordinarily be provided within 5 km radius of the village and in case, the work is provided beyond 5 km, extra wages of 10% are payable to meet additional transportation and living expenses. 3. Wage Payment Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State, unless the Centre notifies a wage rate which will not be less than Rs. 60/ per day. Equal wages are provided to both men and women. Wages are to be paid according to piece rate or daily rate. Disbursement of wages has to be done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case. Payment of wages is to be made directly to the person concerned in the presence of independent persons of the community on -pre-announced dates. A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained. No contractors and machinery is allowed. Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, forestation and land development works. Payment of wage is to be done through Bank and Post Office Accounts. 4.Women empowerment At least one-third beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested work under the scheme. 5.Work site facilities Labourers are entitled to various facilities at the worksite such as clean drinking water, shade for periods of rest, emergency health care and crche.

6.Transparency & Accountability The Act includes various provisions for transparency and accountability, such as regular social audits by the Gram Sabhas, mandatory disclosure of muster rolls, public accessibility of all documents and account, regular updating of job cards, etc. Also, grievance redressal mechanisms are put in place for ensuring a responsive implementation process. 7. Funding The Central Government bears the costs of the entire cost of wages of unskilled manual workers and 75% of the cost of material and wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers and also of some administrative expenses. The State Governments bear the costs of 25% of the cost of material and wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers. Some other administrative costs and the Unemployment Allowance payable in case the state government cannot provide wage employment on time. [ 8.ApplicabilityThe NREGS is open to all rural households who are in need of wage employment and desire to do unskilled manual work in and around his/her village. NREGS is not confined to BPL families. Every Panchayat/Tribal Council shall provide employment to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work for seven hours a day, not less than one hundred days of such work in a financial year.

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE OF NAREGA

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ADVANTAGES

1. Enabling Articulation of Demand for Employment. The demand process of NREGA distinguishes it from other wage-employment programmes and also constitutes its biggest challenge, especially if wage seekers are not literate and not organised. Generating awareness among local rural communities through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) becomes critical for enabling the rural poor to articulate demand. States have forged a variety of methods for communication and social mobilisation that include preparation of communication material on NREGA processes in simple local language, one day orientations of Sarpanchs/ Ward Members, convening Gram Sabhas, using district teams for village level interactions, local vernacular newspapers, TV and radio spots, pamphlets and brochures and local cultural forms. Innovative methods like Information counters on local market days, Village Information Walls, fixing a Rozgar Day in the week and establishing a Helpline have also been used. Hence, there is more employment as there is more demand of jobs due to enabling articulation through IEC under this Act which were earlier dormant. 2. Planning for Works and the Quality of Assets Created The Act guarantees providing employment within fifteen days of demand and the instrument for providing employment is unskilled manual work selected from the list of permissible works. This legal guarantee has implication for the way in which works have to be planned. A Labour Budget has been stipulated under the Act as an instrument to facilitate advance planning, whereby districts estimate their labour demand for the ensuing financial year by December end. Districts prepare shelves of projects to keep a list of works ready to meet employment demand. In this way this Act permits us to harness the potential of workforce and helps create infrastructure for the development of the economy. 3. Record of Work Done and Payment of Wages The legal guarantee of the Act mandates that wages due to workers be paid within fifteen days of work completion. This requires that a fair record be maintained for the work done. Key factors involved in ensuring this are (a) proper maintenance of muster rolls (b) timely measurement and record in the measurement books (c) realistic formulation and notificationof schedule rates. a) Maintenance of authentic muster rolls To ensure authentic muster rolls are used, numbered muster rolls are to be issued for each sanctioned work by Programme Officer and maintained on the work site by the executing agency. b) Measurement and supervision of work done Regular measurement and supervision of works has to be done by qualified technical personnel on time.

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Measurement needs to be recorded in authenticated measurement books and measurement details need to be read out to workers. c) Schedule of Rates The Act stipulates that a worker working seven hours should normally earn an amount equal to the wage rate. The Act directs that task rates should be fixed so that this objective is fulfilled. The Schedule of Rates needs to be reviewed on the basis of Work-Time-Motion-Studies and be made transparent so that workers know the rates payable for a specific quantum of work. By maintaining proper muster rolls and keeping timely measurement and record of the books, supervision of the work can be done easily and also a fair record of the work can be kept, which helps checking any kind of corruption. 4. Vigilance and Transparency Since the Act seeks to establish a rights-based framework for wage employment, it places a strong emphasis on vigilance and transparency. Key strategies in this direction include: Management Information System (MIS): A web-enabled MIS www.nrega.nic.in has been developed that seeks to place all information in the public domain. It is a household level data base and has internal checks for ensuring consistency and conformity to normative processes. All critical parameters get monitored in public the domain: a) workers entitlement data and documents such as registration, Job Cards, muster rolls (b) work selection and execution data including shelf of approved and sanctioned works, work estimates, works under execution, measurement (c) employment demanded and provided (d) Financial indicators such as funds available, funds used, and the disaggregated structure of fund utilisation to assess the amount paid as wages, materials and administrative expenses. Sincethe MIS places all critical data on the web and this data is software engineered, it has significant advantages in terms of transparency as it allows cross verification of records and generation of reports on any parameter of the Act. The aim is to ensure connectivity at the block level on priority and wherever possible, at the Gram Panchayat level a Geographic Information System is also being planned for NREGS. 5. Public Accountability While placing data in the public domain, monitoring and evaluation, create systems of accountability, the Act contains specific provisions for public accountability which is advantageous for the workforce and others as there would be check on corruption. Based on the statutory directives, a three-pronged strategy for public accountability has been adopted:

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a) Proactive Disclosure: Annual Reports on outcomes to the Parliament and the state legislature are mandated. In addition, the Minister for Rural Development has tabled a statement on NREGA in every session, since the passage of the Act. b) Information upon Payment (RTI): Documents have to be made available to the public on payment of a prescribed fee.[4] c) Social Audit: Social audit of all works in a Gram Panchayat has to be carried by the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat has to provide all its records for the same. Social Audit is a compulsory element in NREGA.[5] Social audit processes can be divided into pre social audit processes, processes during social audit and follow-up processes after social audit. 6. Grievance Redressal Enforcement of the right to employment requires setting up an effective grievance redressal system. The Act vests the responsibility for grievance redressal with the Programme Officer. Efforts are on to strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms at all levels. 7. Strengthening Management Support to NREGA In this Scheme since there is a captive workforce so a lot of projects are being undertaken, and experts are also being hired for the same which helps in better implementation of projects. a) Central Employment Guarantee Council: At the State level, 4% of the total cost is to be used as the administrative cost enabling resource support for deploying additional personnel critical to implementation, viz. the Gram Rozgar Sewak at the GP level and Programme Officer, engineers, IT and accounts personnel at the Block Level. At the level of the Ministry, the Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) has been set up. CEGC members are actively involved in field visits, social audit along with the State Government/District officials Executive Committee has been set up and the Technical Secretariat is being set up to infuse multi-disciplinary professional expertise for technical resource support. b) Deployment of additional dedicated personnel for NREGA: Learning from the implementation of earlier wage employment programmes, the Central Government has initiated steps to support the management and implementation of NREGS. Under the Act, the Central Government may provide assistance for administrative expenses up to a limit as fixed by the Centre. The Ministry has permitted 4% of the total cost to be made as administrative cost, enabling resource support for deploying additional personnel critical to implementation, viz. the Gram Rozgar Sewak at the GP level and Programme Officer, engineers, IT and accounts personnel at the Block Level. c) Training:

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Another issue critical to strengthening administrative systems pertains to training of different stakeholders. The requirements of training are considerable at all levels and include functionaries, PRIs, and the local vigilance committees. 8. Financial Management Under NREGA, financial resources are released on the basis of demand for employment received in a district. A non-lapsable Central Employment Guarantee Fund has been set up to ensure availability of funds to match working season demands. Labour Budgets are being prepared by Districts to project annual fund requirements based on estimation of labour demand and works proposed to meet it. Fund releases are based on appraisal of both financial Sand physical indicators of outcomes as: Person days generated. Wage material ratio. Average work cost and wage paid.

Thus, this Act has primarily given employment to the unemployed people and BPL families and has also lead to the creation of infrastructure and development projects.

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SHORTCOMINGS The NREGA is being closely monitored by various stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots organisations. Surveys; both rapid and extensive are being carried out to assess its implementation on the ground. Reports point out where the Act is lagging behind, and areas where efforts are visible and appreciated. Some quarters that need to be addressed in order to meet the objectives of the Act are:Registration of families 1.Definition of a household The operational guidelines of the NREGA detail a household as a nuclear family comprising mother, father and their children. In addition, a household refers to a single-member family. Despite this explanation, there is still a lot of confusion about the definition of this critical term. For instance, reports from Madhya Pradesh (Dhar district) show that gram panchayats treat joint families as one household, thus issuing them a single job card. Our country has historically followed the system of joint families; such practices will put joint families in a disadvantageous position. 2.Denial of registration There are reports from the field point to incidents of denial of registration to single-womanheaded households and physically challenged individuals. Discrimination based on caste has also been noted in some states like Gujarat. During a survey conducted by Participatory Research in Action (PRIA) in the state of Uttar Pradesh (Sitapur district), women were discouraged from registering. In Gujarat (Sabarkantha district) the aged and physically challenged were denied registration forms.[8] 3Distribution of job cards According to data provided on the NREGA website[9], maintained by the Ministry of Rural Development, the percentage of job cards issued to registered households varies across states. For some states like Maharashtra it stands at 12%, while for others such as Andhra Pradesh it is over 90%. 4Delay in distribution of job cards The point of concern, however, is not just the percentage of issue of job cards but the percentage of distribution of job cards. Though job cards have been prepared across most states, in many states they have not reached the people, thereby restricting their right to demand work. A probable cause for this is the workload of the panchayat sevak who undertakes the task of

15

distribution. On average, each sevak has two or three panchayats under him/her, thus making the task extremely difficult. 5.Applications for work and their receipt a. Unsolicited fees being charged for work application forms Fees for application forms are being charged in many states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. The fee ranges from Rs 5 to Rs 50 in some states. Forms are also sold openly in local markets. This flouts the NREGA guidelines that state that applications may even be submitted to the gram panchayat on a plain piece of paper. b. Non-issuance of receipts Another general problem noted in the villages is the absence of a system to issue receipts to applicants. This could be because of lack of awareness on the part of the panchayat sevak and the villagers. Receipts, however, are crucial as a proof of work demanded. 6.Implementation and supervision of NREGS works a. Absence of worksite facilities The NREGA provides for facilities for safe drinking water, shade for children, periods of rest and a first-aid box at the work site. But a lot has to be done to ensure these facilities, the notable absence of which is a problem that cuts across states. Some reports from the field in Orissa (Kalahandi district), Chhattisgarh (Jashpur district), Jharkhand (Palamau district), Madhya Pradesh (Jhabua, Khandwa and Umaria districts) and Gujarat (Sabarkantha district) observe a complete lack of facilities at the worksite. In Rajasthans Dungarpur district, however, it was heartening to note that medical kits were found at most worksites. Small children remain unattended, in the heat. As a consequence, women are hesitant to bring their children to the sites. It also forces them to rethink about applying for work in the first place. Trees act as the only source of shade for the rural poor working at the sites. The Commissioners of the Supreme Court (PUCL vs UoI and others) has advised the states that if need be, temporary shelters must be built for those doing NREGA labour. The PIL focuses on the general need to uphold the right to food, which follows from the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. b. Presence of contractors Like in many other rural development programmes, contractors are increasingly becoming a threat to the NREGA. Though this may not be very apparent on the surface, private contractors are slowly finding their way into the system. The Act clearly states, that no contractor is permitted in the implementation of these project Yet, reports from Chhattisgarh and Orissa point towards this emerging problem .

16

c. Non-availability of muster rolls at the worksite It is rare indeed to find muster rolls at the worksites. Reports from across NREGA districts show that muster rolls/attendance sheets are being maintained by people at worksites. Rough notebooks and diaries are being used to mark attendance and make wage payments. d. Shortage of staff and delay in appointments The Acts launch was not accompanied by the appointment of additional staff for its implementation. This has resulted in the existing staff being burdened with additional work. At the panchayat level, the guidelines specifically advised the appointment of a rozgar sevak. Disappointingly, this has not yet been done. The lack of staff is having a negative impact on the workings of the NREGA. A survey in Jashpur block, Chhattisgarh, found that sub-engineers were being burdened with the task of maintaining job cards, implying that their primary tasks suffered. Such additional appointments are a rare opportunity to provide employment to the youth in our villages and should not be allowed to be squandered due to administrative hurdles. e. Stopping of works Some states like Chhattisgarh have disrupted work under the NREGA on account of the monsoons. A circular issued by the Chhattisgarh government clearly states that from June 15 to October 15, the state will not be liable to open works within 15 days, or provide an unemployment allowance. Rumours of similar disruptions also abound in the state of Orissa. Such declarations not only violate the Act, they also affect landless farmers. Field organisations from Chhattisgarh report that due to such stoppages, the wage rate has decreased to as little as Rs 15, leaving landless farmers with no negotiating powers. They are forced to accept whatever is determined by rich landlords. Such occurrences beat the objectives of the formulation of the NREGA. f. Disruption due to imposition of election code of conduct Elections also disrupt the Acts implementation. During elections, some states like West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam witnessed a disruption in the NREGA due to the imposition of the election code of conduct. Absence of confirmed employment, refusal of work to applicants and a ban on starting new works in these areas are forcing labourers to migrate in search of work. 7.Payment of wages a.Delay in wage payments Delays in wage payments have always been a matter of concern in previous employment programmes, and this issue continues to plague the NREGA. Wage payments are delayed

17

for weeks, sometimes months. The time lag varies from state to state. For instance, in Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh, month-long delays were noted. In some areas like Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, the delay was for a period of 15 to 30 days. Delays were also noted in Manika and Manatu blocks in Jharkhand. b.Payment of less than the minimum wage In many states, workers do not earn minimum wages. For instance, in Gujarats Sabarkantha district the paid wage is as low as Rs 4 to Rs 7; in Kalahandi district (Bhawanipatna block) of Orissa workers earn between Rs 40-Rs 50, whereas the minimum wage is Rs 55. Women are paid even less about Rs 30 per day. In some states like Jharkhand, workers are paid as little as Rs 10. This is a violation of the Act, which states that the schedule of rates should be such that a labourer working for seven hours would normally earn the minimum wages

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IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic development refers to increases in the standard of living of a nations population associated with sustained growth from a simple, low-income economy to a modern, high-income economy. Its scope includes the process and policies by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people. A large-scale public works programme like NREGA, creates purchasing power among workers. When those receiving tax breaks or working on NREGA sites spend this additional money, they create demand for commodities. The production of these commodities, in turn, creates demand for capital, raw materials and workers. The extra incomes so generated cause further demand, which again provides a stimulus to production, employment and demand . . . and so on in a spiral. This demand stimulating process is called the multiplier. The value of this multiplier depends on the marginal propensity to consume (mpc) of those benefiting from government intervention. The mpc is our extra spending out of the additional rupee we earn. Clearly, the higher the mpc, the greater the stimulus provided to demand. The great thing about NREGA from this point of view is that it is putting money into the hands of those whose mpc is the highest. Those on the margins of existence are more likely to spend than save most of what they earn. Apparently, demand in the economy is being sustained by rural buying, which has received a boost from NREGA incomes. In addition to this, it promises transformation of rural livelihoods. To understand how NREGA can deliver on this potential, we need to grasp a curious unrecognized fact about agricultural labor in the most backward regions. Not many people know what data from the Rural Labour Enquiry of the National Sample Survey confirms, that a very high proportion of agricultural labour households in India actually owns land. The percentage is around 50 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, 60 in Orissa and Uttar Pradesh and over 70 in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. And if we focus on Adivasis, the proportion shoots up to as high as 76-87 per cent in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. This helps us understand that NREGA workers are not just consumers stimulating demand in an economy. They also include producers i.e. millions of small and marginal farmers forced to work under NREGA because the productivity of their own farms is no longer enough to make ends meet. NREGA will become really powerful when it helps rebuild this decimated productivity of small farms. Public investment in the programme incentivises private investment by small farmers and gives them a chance to return to full-time farming. Like in the central Indian tribal belt, the earthen dams on common land have recharged wells of those poor farmers who earlier worked as labourers to build these dams. These farmers are now busy making a series of investments to improve their own farms.

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Thus, a mutually reinforcing relationship between investment and income is catalysed by NREGA. First, investment generates demand and income through the multiplier. Then, income stimulates investment via the accelerator. Giving rise to a spiralling cycle repeated in successive rounds. Although not usually deployed in such a context, the accelerator principle in macroeconomic theory describes the positive impact of growing incomes on private fixed investment. Rising incomes also improve capacity utilisation and happier expectations act as incentives for more investment. Under NREGA, farmers have come back to land they long abandoned, as increased output, in an atmosphere of renewed hope, spurs further investment. Thus, the Act has indeed led to an economic development

NREGA: Some trends so far STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT GENERATION UNDER NREGA TILL SEPTEMBER 2011
No.of No.of househo househo lds who lds have provide demand d Total ed employ employ ment ment Persondays In Lakhs Averag e person % Age % Age % Age days of of SC of ST Wom Other per SCs STs Women participa participa en s Househ participa tion tion old tion Number of Househo lds Availed 100 days of Employ ment 13

S.N o.

States

10

11

12

ANDHRA 557127 581422 2649. 642.7 24.26 PRADESH 6 8 61 5 ARUNACH AL 0 PRADESH ASSAM BIHAR

405.2 15.30 6

1512. 57.07 01

1601. 45.57 592358 60

0.00

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

3 4

616036 598974 97.46 5.33 5.47 755015 721719 200.7 55.17 27.49 2 241.9 23.58 9.75 2

17.10 17.55 3.57 1.78

21.93 22.51 61.05 30.42 115.9 47.93 6 5.87 35.22

75.02 16.27 1482 141.9 27.81 13898 7 147.6 35.74 25764 0 8.12 22.44 817

5 6

GUJARAT 695114 676867

70.75 29.24 0.01 0.04

HARYANA 74844 74296 16.67 8.55 51.26

20 HIMACHAL 271177 260853 77.29 23.11 29.90 PRADESH JAMMU AND 19619 17912 3.17 KASHMIR

5.97 7.73

42.11 54.48

48.20 29.63 1569

0.35 11.03

0.45 14.26

0.19 6.03

2.37 17.70 48

KARNATAK 342938 332185 98.32 17.07 17.37 A 749348 733749 153.2 26.57 17.34 0

11.10 11.29

44.81 45.58 139.0 90.74 1 307.5 42.28 4 53.60 51.60 12.14 39.94 1175. 69.15 78 4.61 48.68 1326. 76.64 81 67.13 37.63 172.2 15.56 7 210.9 31.59 1 302.7 47.06 7 126.8 32.72 4

70.14 29.60 7937 121.6 20.88 701 9 356.4 30.14 49714 0 85.09 36.43 17578 6.71 19.69 658 1025. 37.76 76769 69 5.83 34.77 524 1185. 33.35 95763 69 67.80 34.86 2072 796.6 27.68 54670 2 350.2 18.11 17775 1 376.8 32.56 42832 7 170.8 31.95 24203 7

10 KERALA

4.94 3.23 213.9 29.41 5 12.25 11.79 0.01 0.05 370.7 21.81 7 3.20 33.81 20.47 1.18

11

MADHYA 242802 241363 727.4 157.1 21.60 PRADESH 0 4 7 2 MAHARAS 103.8 287954 285092 6.53 6.29 HTRA 6 155282 154361 30.39 23.66 77.87

12

13 PUNJAB 14

RAJASTHA 467178 450255 1700. 303.8 17.87 N 9 8 27 1 28680 27241 9.47 0.44 4.67

15 SIKKIM 16 TAMIL NADU

514524 519074 1731. 525.1 30.33 7 2 30 4 513270 511741 178.3 31.69 17.76 9

17 TRIPURA

78.91 44.23

18

UTTAR 405594 399968 1107. 295.2 26.67 PRADESH 9 3 02 6 WEST BENGAL 373478 368681 667.7 245.5 36.77 0 1 5 0

15.15 1.37

19

72.03 10.79 197.4 30.69 6 167.5 43.22 5

20

CHHATTIS 198081 197597 643.3 69.02 10.73 GARH 6 4 5 JHARKHAN 122390 121354 387.6 49.26 12.71 D 8 4 8

21

21 UTTARAKH 208706 205403 46.98 9.25 19.69 AND 0.11 5.57

22

1.62 3.44 0.08 3.70 25.37 96.10 12.47 99.64 82.67 89.54 157.0 31.82 4 0.00 0.00

20.08 42.74 0.89 43.72 11.52 43.66 1.90 15.17 31.13 33.72 189.2 38.34 5 1.42 75.91

36.11 22.87 1510 1.86 10.45 0 0.84 21.95 62 0.04 21.05 0 9.39 35.30 2808 242.6 38.08 43247 6 0.98 21.05 4

23 MANIPUR 33318 19571 2.05 24

MEGHALA 122063 120282 26.40 0.19 0.73 YA

25 MIZORAM 63813 59448 12.51 0.00 0.01 26 NAGALAN 261683 261558 92.32 0.27 0.29 D 133407 129618 493.5 93.87 19.02 7 3 7 8900 1.87 0.90 47.94

27 ORISSA

28

PUDUCHE 9001 RRY

ANDAMAN 29 AND 2166 NICOBAR 30 LAKSHAD 496 WEEP CHANDIGA 0 RH

2063

0.29

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.17 56.13

0.29 14.27 0

422

0.05

0.00 0.00

0.04 99.05

0.02 33.29

0.00 10.71 0

31

0.00

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

DADRA & 32 NAGAR 0 HAVELI 33 DAMAN & 0 DIU 5277

0.00

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

0.00 0

0 5198

0.00 1.26

0.00 0 0.07 5.59

0.00 0 0.34 27.22 1950. 16.96 54

0.00 0 0.83 65.98 5960. 51.82 54

0.00 0

34 GOA Grand Total

0.85 24.26 21 6937. 107478 32.70 51 4

353616 351711 11502 2614. 22.73 62 92 .62 58

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CONCLUSION
The NREGA addresses itself chiefly to working people and their fundamental right to live with dignity. The success of the NREGA, however, will depend on peoples realisation of the Act as a right. Effective levels of awareness and sustained public pressure are crucial to ensure that the implementation problems are addressed and the objectives met. To increase the effectiveness of the Act, we should empower the workers. NREGA is a rightsbased statute and its effectiveness lies eventually in the extent to which wage seekers can exercise their choice and assert their rights to claim entitlements under the Act. While the state is expected to play a pro-active role in communicating information and facilitating access to the employment opportunities under NREGA, in the long run, workers capacity to demand and negotiate employment is critical if the Act has to be an instrument in the hands of the worker for enhancing his/her levels of employment and earnings. The issues involved in empowering workers are in the range of enhancement of knowledge levels, development of literacy skills and organizing workers. Enhancing social security levels of workers also needs to be considered. Opening savings accounts of workers in banks and post offices that have been initiated need to be supported on a larger scale so that thrift and small savings can be encouraged among workers engaged in casual labour. Including NREGA workers under the cover of various life and health insurance schemes and improving the institutional capacity of Gram Panchayats will also raise their security thresholds. Another important task is to link NREGA with other Developmental Programmes. Empowerment of workers and creation of durable assets depend, in terms of their strategies, to a great extent on the linkages between NREGA and other development programmes. Linkages with human development programmes such as the National Rural Health Mission and the National Literacy Mission are needed to ensure basic human entitlements to workers that in turn will enhance their capacity to negotiate their rights under the Act. Linkages with other livelihood and infrastructure initiatives need to be considered for sustainable employment. The thrust of NREGA is on strengthening the natural resource base of livelihood. The full potential of the kind of work permissible under NREGA can be tapped if planning for these works is coordinated with other development projects, for example watershed management, agricultural programmes, horticultural projects. Initiatives for natural resource management also need to be dovetailed with income generation projects to enable workers to move from wage employment to self-sustaining employment. In addition to this, there is a need to improve the technological options for performances and monitoring.[16]

It is important to note that the Act is still in its infancy and it takes years to put in place the tools and instruments needed to actualise the right to employment through a scheme, even in the best of circumstances. And with the implementation of the above mentioned the fruits of the Act would be countless.

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SStructure

Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) Advise GoI on NREGArelated matters Monitoring and Evaluation Prepare Annual Reports