“Examine the factors that hinder the success of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and suggest suitable measures to rectify them.” (250 Words)
Factors that hinder efficiency of MNREGA
- Both the number and quality of human resource deployed so far are completely inadequate.
- Massive corruption as revealed by recent events in Jharkhand.
- Lack of awareness of their rights among MNREGA workers.
- Absence of any effective grievance redressal system for MNREGA.
- In absence of Gram Panchayats (the chief “implementing agency” under the Act), the implementation of NREGA in Jharkhand is effectively under the control of private contractors, or quasi-contractors such as the so-called “labhuk samitis” (beneficiary committees). But private contractors work for profit, and the only way to make profit from NREGA is to cheat.
- Even basic safeguards, such as the maintenance of job cards and the transparency of muster rolls, are not monitored properly.
Reforms needed to make MNREGA a success
- Need for a large number of full-time professionals, many of whom could be recruited from the open market, while strictly enforcing their accountability to PRIs.
- Much greater use of information technology would be critical for transparency, accountability and speed at all stages, from sanction of works, release of funds and wage payments to social audit.
- Outmoded Schedules of Rates need to be revised, to bring them in line with a new programme that bans machines and contractors.
- A new bottom-up, people-centred approach to planning of works and social audit is spoken of but the social mobilisers and technical personnel required to make this a reality have not been supplied.
- The government should also mandate a role for civil society organisations (CSOs) to work as support agencies for PRIs in NREGA planning, implementation and social audit. This would help institutionalise the CSO-PRI partnership, putting pressure on both CSOs and PRIs to learn to work together.
- Strong rules for NREGA, putting in place grievance redressal procedures, enforcing the transparency safeguards
- Creation of awareness among MNREGA labourers.
Reformed on these lines, the MNREGA has the potential to not only transform livelihoods but also herald a revolution in rural governance.
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