Create a Visualisation for Streamlining of Reporting Framework for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS reports
Abstract : This study has evaluated the differentiating impact of MGNREGA on the extent of fulfilment of the basic entitlements such as days of employment, wages and earnings and the extent of coverage of social groups like dalits, adivasis and women and poverty alleviation. This study has disaggregated state level data to discern the factors that make a difference to the performance. Also some micro level scenarios are presented based on the reports of focus group discussions (FGDs) in the villages of Andhra Pradesh. There is growing evidence of an increase in agricultural wages across the country over the period between 2006-07 and2011- 12, in which the impact of MGNREGA is considerable. This review has also revealed a steep increase in female agriculture wage and a substantive decline in the male-female wage gap. The search for information on the impact of MGNREGA on agricultural labor markets leads to some evidence on labor shortage, changes in wages, mechanization, peak season adjustment of work or adoption of MGNREGA calendar and migration. The absolute decline in labor force has tightened the rural labor market leading to shortage of labor for farm operations. Thus labor scarcity has emerged as one of the major constraints to increase agricultural production in India. Furthermore, the tightened labor market has offered, better bargaining power to agricultural laborers, better treatment at the place of work, ability to negotiate the duration of the working day and has initiated a growing shift towards piece rate or contract work on agriculture facilitating change in the number of working days. Based on macro level results and micro level evidence some policy interventions are suggested - such as development of labor saving technologies and machines to mitigate labor scarcity, an inclusive farm mechanization program especially for women and youth, strengthening ruralurban connectivity, social protection for migrant labor and Capacity building programs for skill augmentation. Further, a revision of the time frame of MGNREGA work to create more employment in the lean season has been recommended.
? This is because of existence of high rural poverty, non-existence of occupational diversity in rural households, poor rural infrastructure and a high-incidence of distress migration.
? The existence of MGNREGA can also have implications for inter-state variation in average per capita income and poverty. There is reduction in supply of both migrant workers and even local workers due to existence of MGNREGA.
? The single most prevalent answer to the question of low male participation was that they have other work (often abroad), with frequent direct or indirect references to existing gender wage disparities.
? The Planning Commission’s proposal to make the scheme more farmer-friendly by extending its coverage to some of the agricultural operations, may address the problems of excluded small and marginal farmers, provided it is designed properly.
? The issue of wage rate for MGNREGA has been a subject of controversy because it is not fixed as a uniform daily wage rate applicable to all states.
? These programs were mostly adhoc in nature, had limited impact on the generation of employment, and lacked proper planning in relation to the creation of assets.
• One version of the proposed MNREGA bill seeks to provide “at least one hundred days of guaranteed employment at the statutory minimum wage” to adult members of every rural household who volunteer to do casual manual work.
• This has led to farmers being tempted to employ their land for non-agricultural purposes.
• This purpose, individual villages were selected randomly from larger groups of villages determined on the basis of the parameters noted.
? It would help to disaggregate at least to the state level to discern the factors that make a difference to the performance.
? There are interesting instances reported in FGDs which reveal varying degrees of impact depending on the local conditions and the performance of MGNREGA.
? The selection of households within villages we used a random walk technique, having approximately predefined the number of interviews to be collected in each village.
|