Role of Panchayats in Implementation of NREGA National StudyPhase I

1
Role of Panchayats in Implementation of NREGA
National Study-Phase I

• Manoj Rai
• PRIA, New Delhi
• www.pria.org

2
Study

• Three Stage Random Sampling
• Reference Date for Data 31.08.2006
• 16 States, 24 Districts, 74 Blocks
• 563 G.Ps, 5630 Households
• Study Period Sept Nov. 2006
• 7 Schedules State, District, Block, Gram
  Panchayats, Household (HH) Listing, Registered
  HH, Unregistered HH

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Findings From Sample Survey Overall Trends

• Significant Variations among States in terms of
  their Performances on Different Parameters
• Within a State, between District Variations quite
  high
• Within a District, variations among blocks

4
Registration and Job Cards

• Registration Percentage of eligible households
  vary from 14.1 in Madhubani (Bihar) to 100 in
  Shivpuri (M.P.) Increasing Trends everywhere
• Overall percentage of Registered HH receiving Job
  Cards are 60-70. But variations range from 3.5
  of registered HH in Mahendragarh (Haryana) to
  100 of registered HH in Pakur (Jharkhand)

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Weaker Demands for Employment

• Confusion that NREGA gives Right without
  Demanding it Height of Confusions, Bhattewali
  Yojana (Haryana) , Berozgari Bhatta for
  Uneducated Employed (U.P.)
• On average, about 80 of all Households are not
  aware that after getting the Job Card, one has to
  apply for getting wage employment

6
Identification and Planning

• Gram Sabha meetings (70-90) held for
  registration, but fewer Gram Sabhas (30-50) for
  Identification and Planning. Identification of
  Works, more individually. More than 50 of works
  under NREGA relate to Rural Connectivity
• Expert Led Planning/ Contractual Planning in
  place of Peoples Planning IIM, SIRDs, Private
  Consultants, etc.

7
Exclusive Officials for NREGA

• Exclusive officials at Block and District levels
  for NREGA only in A.P. and Kerala
• Lack of Technical Staff adversely affects
  Planning and Implementation of work. 25 50 GPs
  across the States say that often Junior Engineer
  or other Technical Staff are not available to
  measure their works. So, delayed and/or even
  under payment of wages.

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Supports to Panchayats for Implementation of
NREGA

• Less than 50 of Elected Representatives of
  Panchayats, on an average, have received any
  input on their roles in implementation of NREGA
• Employment Guarantee Assistant not available to
  Gram Panchayats in most of states. Exceptions are
  A.P., Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Proactive Intermediate and District Panchayats
  provide supports to GPs

9
Transparency and Accountability

• At most 20 Gram Panchayats proactively display
  Information
• About 10 of Households aware about existence of
  Grievances Redressal Mechanism at Block levels
• Less than 25 of GPs across the States have
  formed Monitoring and Vigilance Committees
• On average, less than 25-35 GPs conduct Social
  Audit (if it could be said social audit at all)

10
Emerging Trends

• NREGA has very effectively piggy backed on
  existing structure of Panchayati Raj Intuitions.
  It is most visible and most talked about
  governmental initiative.
• However, institutional role of Panchayats is
  becoming (is being promoted as?) synonymous with
  only Sarpanchs roles. It is neither good to
  NREGA nor Panchayat System.

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Emerging Trends

• Registration is picking up, Job Cards being
  provided. However, demand side still unaware
  about their rights .
• Pressures on Panchayats building up to deliver.
  In absence of support systems, Panchayats find it
  difficult to respond.
• Panchayats are also facing Blame it on
  Panchayats for every thing attitude of
  Government Officials

12
Ways Forward

• Devolution of Genuine Powers and Authorities to
  Panchayats. They are Institutions of Local Self
  Governance, not mere implementers of NREGA
• Strengthen Gram Sabha and match its
  responsibilities with resources
• Build Capacities of Panchayats as a whole, not of
  Sarapanches only.
• Activity Mapping of Panchayats and NREGA nodes.

13
Ways Forward

• Recruitment and Deployment of Exclusive Officials
  for NREGA as additional work-additional staff
  attitude affects spirit and implementation of
  NREGA
• Centrally sponsored scheme for establishment of
  Panchayat Resource Centres as sustainable support
  system for Panchayats

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Ways Forward

• Engaging Village Youths and Catalyzing Roles of
  Civil Society Organizations, as Facilitators for
  Implementation of NREGA
• Addressing Proactively- Gender, Caste, Disability
  and Region specific issues Notifying a
  Comprehensive List of Works under category (ix)
  of Schedule I (1) of NREGA