PIN

1
1

Appraisal of NREGA in West Bengal
Top line Findings
08 04 09
PIN
IIM Calcutta
2
Time Line of the Study Dec 08-April 09

• Sample Districts
• Bardhaman
• Birbhum
• Purulia
• Malda

Background of the appraisal
Blocks and Gram Panchayats Two blocks from each
district, four Gram Panchayat, four villages (one
in each GP) from each block. Works One work
surveyed per Gram Panchayat. Out of the total 4
works per block, 3 were ongoing and 1 completed.
Workers/Non-beneficiaries Ten workers per work
2
3

• Review and appraise implementation of NREGA
  Processes, Documentation, Transparency Mechanisms
  and Human Resources
• Share and discuss findings with State Governments
  and Central Government
• Suggest remedial action to State and Central
  Government monitor follow up action at quick
  intervals

Objectives of the Appraisal
3
4
Key Findings
Demographics
4
5
Awareness
Rozgar Diwas at GP Level
5
6
Registration and Job Card
6
7
Application for Employment
7
8
Work Process

• No response obtained for perceived reasons for
  non-issuance of 100 days of employment in a
  year. As no one has answered this question, we
  believe that the no respondent has completed one
  year of employment under the scheme

8
9
Wage Payment

• All but one of the respondents reportedly said
  that there was no difference in task rates for
  women compared to their male counter parts

9
10
Transparency in Wage Payment
10
11
Best Practices

• usage of computers
• awareness programmes are made through the mike
  van/announcement from a van fitted with loud
  speakers
• Participation of local SHGs in meetings
• SHGs acting as publicity partners
• Ground water recycling
• Soil reformation work
• Constructing roads to connect with cut-off tribal
  areas
• Development of nurseries

Innovations
11
12
Perceived Problems

• Social audit loosing its utility value
• Political will is missing at the project level
• Shortage of technical personnel at the Gram
  Panchayat level
• Volume of work is too large to be handled
  properly by a lone Nirman Sahayak
• Distribution of payment in not on time

Constraints Faced
All the respondents said that there are no
complaint registers/ help line known to be
available at GP office
12
13
Methodology
Sample Distribution
Out of 4 works per block, 3 were ongoing and 1
completed
13
14
Information Matrix
Methodology
14
15
Methods of Data collection
Where- At the work level 4 work sites per
block (2x4x432 work sites) What - Basic
physical and financial data The muster rolls at
the work places checked and the checklist filled
in Where- Discussions with District, Block and
GP level officials What - Discussion with the
Dist Nodal Officer (DNO), NREGA (4 x 1) To
capture the innovative ways of implementing
NREGA Discussion with the block level officials
(4x2 8 blocks- 2 from each district). The key
contacts at the block level finalized in
consultation with the DNO Where - At the workers
level- 10 workers per work What- Structured
Interview with the workers
Methodology
15
16
Tools for Data collection

• Discussion guides for key resource persons at
  Dist, block
• and GP level
• Structured questionnaire for the beneficiaries
• Check List for the work sites
• FGD guidelines for 1 group per block

Methodology
16