1. law, govt and politics
2. government

Saransh
Vol.2 Issue: 3
The
MGNREGA
Newsletter
Dec-Feb 2015
The Dry Yard that Changed Their Life
Visit to Rameyapatna village under Katuru Gram
Panchayat in Chikkiti block in Ganjam district in Odisha
is always an exciting experience as you get the scope
to see as to how dry fish platform constructed under
MGNREGA is slowly becoming a great source of adding
permanent source of income to the fishing communityin
the tiny village close to the coast of Bay of Bengal.
On reaching the Rameyapatna, one could see the
feverish involvement of women in a number of activities
that include carrying fish
from the seashore to the
village, drying the fish,
taking the fish out of the big
pot where it is kept in salty
water for some days etc.
The dry fish trade comes
in handy for the fishing
community as thereremains
a strong market demand
for traditional fish products
which continue to ensure
livelihood and food security
for a substantial number of poor dried fish producers
and consumers.
During the glut period they set aside a good volume of
fresh catch to be converted into dry fish.
Normally drying fish process starts early in the morning
and they carry out the entire process on first come
basis, so that there is no confusion or tension within the
community.
Drying fish on the platform – If one tries to dry fish in a
heap mode on the platform, one can dry 1000 kg of fish
on one platform. While in an individual mode one can
dry only 500 kg of fish on the platform.
There is a strong preference in market for the sand free
fish.
“Now, we are saved from distress sale of fish. As during
the time of high catching of fish, we are preferring dry
fish instead of distress sale,” says a beneficiary.
The drying process is faster on concrete platform and
people are getting a good amount of profit i.eRs. 100 to
Rs.150 per Kg depending on the kind of fish, by selling
a huge quantity of fish in a
bulk to the traders.
When asked about the
project, Programme officer,
District Rural Development
Agency (DRDA), Ganjam,
MrPradeepta
Kumar
Mohapatrasaid“ The
Fish Drying Yards under
MGNREGS
has
been
constructed to suit the local
requirement
maintaining
hygienic condition.”
“Some fishermen here have taken up marketing of dried
fish for human consumption in a big way. Attractive and
hygienic vacuum packaging of the products practiced
by some people has helped in increasing the market
share of dried fish. About 400 labourers are directly or
indirectly employed in the fish drying and associated
work in the village”, Mohapatra said.
With the dry yard, the quality of the dry fish has gone up
so as the demand for it and the price for it has also gone
up. The fish which was earlier sold at Rs 100to 130 per
KG now fetching us Rs 180 to 200 per kg.
• It has empowered traditional fishing
community in coastal district of Ganjam by
providing a good means of livelihood in a semi
traditionalmethodology.
When asked about the how the dry yard changed
their life and income, K Sabitri, a fisherwomen , who
is also heading a SHG in the village said, “according to
a rough estimate every day we earn around Rs 15002000 as profit from the dry fish after the drying yard.
So the monthly income roughly come around 40000
– 50000 in peak period.”
• The children of the community will have a
bright future and may adoptthis practice in a
more advanced form and gain a regular source
oflivelihood.
A large majority of people involved in traditional
small-scale fish drying are women and the dry yard
under MGNREGS has cast multi-dimensional impact
upon the fishing community, such as
• It has given a new lease of life to a traditional
means of livelihood in thecoastal area.
Involving other depts will ensure more funds for MGNREGA:
Minister for Rural Development
JAIPUR: Union minister for rural development Mr
Birender Singh said that coordination between
Rural
Development
and other government
departments
would
increase availability of
funds for works under
the MGNREGA.
Mr Birender Singh presided over a meeting of
rural development officials from eight states—
Rajasthan,
Gujarat,
Madhya
Pradesh,
Haryana,
Punjab,
Himachal
Pradesh
and
Uttarakhand—
to
discuss
better
implementation
of
the MGNREGA. Rural
development minister
of
Rajasthan,
Shri
SurendraGoyal and of
Punjab, Shri Sikander
Singh Maluka also
attended the meet,
while ministers from
From MoRD Archives other states could not
reach Jaipur due to
foggy weather and flight disruptions.
“If MGNREGA is merged
with other government
departments, it can
lead to availability
of more funds and
creation of quality and
permanent assets,” the
Minister said at a press
conference conducted
at Jaipur after attending
the Regional Meeting of State Rural Development
Ministers.
The Minister also said the centre was trying to
ensure timely payment of wages by the states to the
MGNREGA workers. During the meeting, the Union
minister quoted a CAG report that said MGNREGA
had contributed to betterment of the socio-economic
structure in rural areas. “Across the country, 90%
beneficiaries of MGNREGA were daily wage labourers
and small and marginal farmers who migrate from
villages in search of employment,” the Minister
said, adding that 54% of those employed under
MGNREGA were women, of these 40% were from SC/
ST categories.
Mr Birender Singh explained that labour intensive
development works could be carried out with funds
for material components coming from the department
concerned, while the labour component could be
provided by the Rural Development department
under the MGNREGA. The Minister said it would
increase work opportunities for the MGNREGA
workers. Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development,
Shri L C Goyal said linking MGNREGA works with the
schemes of other departments could help increase
the material component.
2
Mobile Monitoring System to Improve Transparency
With a view to improve the monitoring of the MGNREGS
and provide a real time data visibility, the Government
has decided to launch the Mobile Monitoring System
(MMS) to all the GPs and technical/supervisory
personnel involved in MGNREGS in the Country, in
phases.
Mobile monitoring system uses the existing GSM/GPRS
connectivity and links it with the
NREGASoft central server, thereby providing access to
data at the village level.
All Gram/Block Panchayats implementing MGNREGA
are eligible under the scheme to get a Mobile/Tablet
PC along with GSM/GPRS connectivity. Ministry has
identified 10,000 Blocks/GPs for the pilot project.
Apart from this, 10 GPs each from the 2,500 IPPE
Blocks will be part of the first phase of MMS Scheme.
The objectives of the MMS scheme are to empower
Gram Panchayats and implementation agencies with
live data from the worksites, to allow an online and realtime updation of database, allow real-time visibility of
the data for complete transparency and provide location
of assets with geo-tagging for easy verification.
Over Draft Facility for MGNREGA Workers !
All MGNREGA workers will now have the facilities
availed by the bank account holders under the Pradhan
Mantri Jan DhanYojana(PMJDY). TheMinistry of Finance
has decided to extend the PMJDY facilities to MGNREGA
workersalso, as most of the MGNREGA workers have
been operating the accounts for more than six months.
This decision translates into an MGNREGA worker being
eligible for a RuPay debit card, accident insurance of
Rupees one lakh, overdraft facility of Rs. 5,000 and an
additional life insurance cover of Rs. 30,000 for all new
accounts opened till 26.01.2015.
The Ministry of Rural Development has
2. Expenditure on Wages
In the current financial year, 2014-15 (upto 31st
taken several key steps to strengthen the
December, 2014)Rs. 18859. 16 crore (76% of
implementation of the Act. Some of the main
the total expenditure) has been on wages.
quantitative achievements of the Scheme in News
s
FY 2014-15 are:
Byte
3. Employment Provided to the Marginalized
& Women
1. Households provided employment
As in each of the previous years, the programme
In the current financial year, 2014-15, (upto
had high work participation for marginalized
31st December, 2014) 3.60 crore households
groups like SC/ST (40%), in 2014-15 (upto 31st
were provided employment and 121.25 crore
December, 2014)
person-days of employment were generated.
3
Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) Feels the Pulse
Initial data pouring in gives an impression that the IPPE
has started feeling the pulse of the community. While
broader and in-depth analyses are yet to happen,
preliminary analysis of the data entered in the web based
management
information
system (MIS) suggests that
the IPPE has led to higher
estimations of demand for
work as compared to the
estimates for labour budget
2014-15. From information
received regarding a sample
of 18 blocks from 10 different
states, there appears to be on
an average 14% increase in
estimated demand for work.
Some blocks have shown
larger increases. For example,
in Geedam Block in Dantewada
district of Chhattisgarh, estimated demand has gone up
by 60% over that in FY 2014-15. Some blocks have also
shown large declines as well. For example, Alirajpur
Block of Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh has sown a
decline of 33% from 2014-15.
Block Level Planning Teams trained in the states have
mostly comprised of rural stakeholder youth (i.e.
youth from MGNREGS workers’ families). For instance
11,362 such youth were trained in Chhattisgarh, 5562
in Odisha, 17525 in Madhya
Pradesh, 105 in Sikkim, 6,221
in Tamil Nadu, about 50,000
in Bihar, about 34,000 in West
Bengal, and about 1500 in
Arunachal Pradesh. Based on
these figures (96,000 youth
in 1046 Blocks) the estimate
for
stakeholder
youth
trained across the country
would be about 250,000.
These trained youth can
continue to contribute to the
progress and strengthening
of planning, implementation
and monitoring of MGNREGS through voluntary
action, especially such action facilitated by the Block
Administration.
Preliminary trends also suggest that large proportions of
work being planned under IPPE are agriculture related.
As of 9th January 2015, while this report was scribed for
Saransh, more than two-thirds (69%) of all work that has
been entered in the MIS from the IPPE are agriculture
related work. This is significantly higher than what the
IPPE guidelines had proposed, that is for at least 60%
of works should be for the creation of community and
individual productive and durable assets directly linked
to agriculture and allied activities.
The Grassroots level work on the IPPE has started in all
the blocks across the states and has been completed for
a large number of blocks. As for the current information
provided by the different states, the grassroots work
on IPPE has been completed in all the IPPE Blocks of
Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
Tamil Nadu is close to completing grassroots work in all
blocks having completed it in 88 out of the 98 identified
blocks. Odisha has completed grassroots level work in
81 out of the 180 identified blocks. Other states are in
various stages of completion of grassroots work on IPPE.
Progress of IPPE at the Grassroots Level
Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) has been
initiated on a pilot basis to strengthen the planning
of MGNREGS works and to create a realistic demand
projection process. This is being implemented in selected
2500 blocks across the country. The total number of
Gram Panchayats being covered under IPPE is close to
one lakh.
Progress of Training
Training of Trainers at national level was completed by 5th
September 2014 for all the states barring Maharashtra.
The training for Maharashtra was completed by 18th of
November, 2014. Most states, other than Maharashtra
and Tripura, completed the trainings at state, district
and block level by the end of November, 2014. The
4
MEDIA SCAN
‘Rozgar Diwas’ observed in Jakhama, Pfutseromi, Nagaland
Jakhama
The BDO also highlighted the aims and objectives of
MGNREGA.
Jakhama RD Block in Nagaland observed ‘Rozgar Diwas’
(Employment guarantee day) under the Mahatma
Gandhi National Guarantee Scheme on November 4
at BDO Jakhama office premises. MrKevipodi, Project
Director of Rural Developmentwas the key speaker.
The programme was attended by more than 70 workers
from 12 villages from Southern Angami Area.
Pfutseromi
Mr KhoviThaprü, BDO of Jakhama, said that first
Tuesday of every month would be observed as Rozgar
Diwas day in every village and called upon the village
VCCs & VDBs to be proactive and act actively so as to
observe the day meaningfully.
Rozgar Diwas was observed on November 4 at
Pfutseromi village. The objective of Rozgar Diwas is to
register the demand for work under Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.More
than 300 participants attended the programme including
registered MGNREGA workers, village council, VDB, SHG,
Project Director of DRDA, and BDO of Phek block.
(Courtesy: Nagaland Post)
Thaprü also advised the VDBs and VCCs to print out
sufficient application forms for the public distribution.
PHOTO GALLERY
Social Mobilisation Activities Taken up in Koppal District of Karnataka in
Connection with Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA)Programme
World Toilet Day
Swatchata Doot Training
Awareness Activities
Collection of Applications
Construction
5
Consultation on National Occupational Standards
for Barefoot Engineers
A Consultation on National Occupational Standards
for Barefoot Engineers was held in New Delhi, in
the background of
incubating job roles
as per the National
Occupation Standards
– Qualification Pack
(QP) and National
Skill
Qualification
framework for key
occupations in the
government
sector.
The consultation was
organized by the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen
Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) division in collaboration
with MGNREGA division and International Labor
Organization (ILO).
The specific objective
of this workshop was
to share the draft
National Occupational
Standards prepared
for
Bare
Foot
Engineers (BFE) with
state
governments
and
initiate
the
ratification process.
The meeting also discussed the content design,
training delivery approaches including TOT skill
certification and timelines for future plans.
Critical Issues and Initiatives Taken to
Strengthen Implementation
categories: (i) Scheduled Castes (ii) Scheduled Tribes
(iii) Nomadic Tribes (iv) Denotified Tribes (v) Other
families below the poverty line (vi) women
Guidelines for Taking up Unskilled Component
headed households (vii) households headed
under MGNREGA in Construction of Houses under News
by persons with disabilities (viii) benficiaries
s
e
t
By
Indira AwaasYojana or such other State or Central
of land reforms (ix) the beneficaries under the
Government Scheme: To improve the quality and
Indira Awas Yojana and (x) beneficaries under
durability of the houses constructed under IAY or
the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest
such other State or Central Government Scheme
Dwellers [(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
it has been allowed to compensate the beneficiary
(2 of 2007)] and small and marginal farmers. It was
for the foregone wage employment and thereby
also suggested that the works should be identified in
monetize the hitherto unaccounted unskilled wage
a Gram Panchayat/ Block/ District in a manner that
component within the ambit of MGNREGA.
local needs/ priorities of the area and the community
and requirements of the vulnerable categories
Construction of Individual Household Latrines
are reflected; and need based quality and durable
(IHHL) under MGNREGA: To give impetus to Swachh
assets are created. It was also suggested that during
Bharat Mission and to achieve a clean India by 2019
the identification of works other than agriculture
revised guidelines on the construction of IHHL have
related works due priority should be given for tree
been issued. The unit cost of IHHL under MGNREGS
plantations along public infrastructure (like roads/
is Rs. 12,000/- including Rs.2000/- for water supply.
canals etc) and rural sanitation works.
The cost is as per the enhanced incentive of Rs.
12000/- for IHHL under Swachh Bharat Mission
Guidelines on Compensation for Delayed Wage
(Gramin). The design of IHHL is as prescribed under
Payments: To ensure that the MGNREGA workers
Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and have provision
are compensated adequately on account of delay
for water for hand wash and toilet cleaning.
in wage payment a guideline on compensation for
delayed wage payments has been issued. As per
Preparation of Realistic Labour Budget: To
the Guidelines MGNREGA workers are entitled to
prepare a realistic labour budget States were
receive delay compensation at a rate of 0.05% of
suggested to ensure that the demand for work
the unpaid wages as per day for the duration of the
was estimated through an intensive door-to-door
delay beyond sixteenth day of the closure of the
exercise covering all households in the following
muster roll.
6
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
Mrs. Lachi Maya Limboo, 59 years another
beneficiary said, “I planted 5000 plants in my 1.5
acre land in 2011 under MGNREGA. More than
90% of the plants survived and they yielded 20
kg of dry cardamom in the first year of harvest
in 2013 which I sold it for Rs. 25,000. This year
I am expecting 40 kg of dry cardamom which will fetch
me about Rs. 50,000. This scheme has been very useful
for my family and has been providing me additional
income. We have also expanded the cardamom
plantation to our new fields.”
Fight to Control Open Defecation in Andaman
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act’s (MGNREGA) convergence with
the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) provided an
opportunity to take up the rural sanitation works
in North & Middle Andaman District (N&MA).
N&MA District has constructed good quality toilet
under MGNREGA with
local design and easily
available construction
material. Recently this
district
completed
the construction of
IHHL work in Rampur
Gram
Panchayat
ofMayabunder Block.
thereby to ensure privacy and dignity to women,
the Gram Panchayat conducted special meetings to
create awareness among the community on health
hazards due to open defecation. Various outdoor
awareness activities were also conducted.
The IHHL work is being
identified by the Gram
Panchayats and passed
in Gram Sabha meeting
of concerned GP and
also incorporated in the
Annual Development Plan
of MGNREGA Scheme. As
per the proposal given by
the individual households,
In N&MA District, 87
the estimate is prepared
percent of the land is Awareness activities conducted in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and technically sanctioned
covered under forest.
by
Assistant
Engineer
So, most of the villagers followthe practice of
of concerned block and then sent to the District
open defecation. This is largely due to the lack of
Programme Coordinator to accord Administrative
awareness. To improve sanitation coverage, and
Approval and Expenditure sanctioned.
7
Himachal Pradesh starts implementation of Aadhaar
Based Payment System
The Union government selected Himachal Pradesh
as a pilot state for implementation of Aadhaar
Based Payment System (ABPS) to MGNREGA
workers with effect from October 2, 2014. Himachal
Pradesh has one of the highest percentage in
Aadhaar enrolmentsin the country and hence, the
Government of India has selected Himachal for
implementation of ABPS to MGNREGA workers.
Limited (NSDL) and Planning Commission to verify
the Aadhaar data collected by field workers.
Anotherrequirement to make payments through
APBS is that beneficiary’s bank account should be
frozen. Since a large percentage of accounts in HP
State were unfrozen, the Ministry also pushed for a
priority account freezing drive through Programme
Officers, which enabled Himachal Pradesh to achieve
such a coverage in Aadhaar seeding.
Aadhaar provides a unique solutionto address each
of the issues of ghost/ duplicate beneficiary records,
non-delivery of benefits and lack of last mile
banking infrastructure in MGNREGA. For instance,
Aadhaar seeding in NREGASoft will help in deduplication of this database and elimination of any
fake beneficiary records. At the same time, Aadhaar
underpins two useful payment platforms – Aadhaar
Payment Bridge System (APBS) and Aadhaar Enabled
Payment System (AEPS) – to make electronic
payments directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries
and allow beneficiaries to withdraw money at the
village level (using an Aadhaar-enabled micro-ATM)
respectively.
The pilot in HP State has helped the Ministry
identify key learnings for a nation-wide rollout.Over
the next few months, the Ministry’s focus will be
on increasing seeding in NREGASoft by conducting
videoconferences with the DPCs of the 287 focusDBT districts. Additionally, the Ministry will work
with States on a case-by-case basis to start APB
payments. States with high Aadhaar seeding in
NREGASoft and where Sponsor Banks are APB-ready
will be moved to the APB platform.
Districts of Himachal Pradeshcarried out the seeding
of Aadhaar number on a campaign approach
through the field functionaries/ Gram Rozgar Sevaks.
Periodic video-conferences with DPCs helped in
further enhancing seeding percentage in the State.
Moreover, MoRD implemented a central verification
exercise through National Securities Depository
Printed and Published by MGNREGA Division, Ministry of Rural Development, on behalf of the Ministry of Rural Development,
Govt of India, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi – 110001, Ph: 011 23383553
www.mgnrega.nic.in
For Private Circulation Only
Not For Sale
www.facebook.com/IndiaMGNREGA
8