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Grameen Bharat

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Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh assumes Office as Minister forRural Development and Panchayati Raj

Editor-in-Chief: Niten Chandra

Joint Secretary (IEC)

Editor: Uday Moray, Director (IEC)

Associate Editor: A. Mazumdar

Dy. Dir. (IEC)

Members:

A. K. Sood, Dir. (RH)

N. K. Sahu, Dir. (Mon.)

T. Srinivas, Dir. (NSAP)

C. S. Mann, Dir. (LR)

V. Mittal, Dir. (IEC-DWS)

Sujoy Mozumdar, Dir. (DWS)

P. Nagrath, Dy. Secy. (DWS)

Sudhir Shyam, Dy. Secy. (SGSY)

N. C. Bhanwal, Dy. Secy. (Trg/GC)

Amit Kumar Saha, Dy. Adviser (DWS)

C. P. Reddy, DC (DoLR)

Uma Iyer Rawla, Media Consultant

(MoPR)

Photographic Assistance:

Ramesh Kumar, Staff Photographer,

MoRD

Published & Distributed by

Fountainhead Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd.,

New Delhi on behalf of the Ministry of

Rural Development

Editorial Board

Shri Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukhassumed charge on 19 January 2011 as

the new Minister for Rural Development

and Panchayati Raj. Prior to this he

was Minister for Heavy Industries and

Public Enterprises, Government of India.

Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh is a member of the

Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra.

He was also a two-time Chief Minister of

Maharashtra, from 1999 to 2003 and from

2004 to 2008.

Shri Deshmukh was born on 26 May 1945 in

Babhalgaon, Latur District, Maharashtra. He graduated with a degree in Science

(B.Sc.) and in Arts (B.A.) from M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College, (Pune University)

and went on to study law (L.L.B.) from ILS Law College (Pune University).

He started social work activities in his early youth focusing specifically on drought

relief work. He was elected Director of the Osmanabad district Central Cooperative

Bank and also of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.

Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh entered active politics and became a member of the

Babhalgaon village panchayat from 1974 to 1979 and its sarpanch (village chief)

from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Osmanabad Zila Parishad and Deputy

Chairman of Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti (Latur District Panchayat Committee)

from 1974 to 1980.

In 1987 he started the Manjra Cooperative Society factory in Latur. This sugar factory

transformed the socio-economic condition of the region and bagged many national

and state awards. It is the flagship institute for development of Latur.

He was responsible for the launch of the Tanta Mukti Abhiyan in Maharashtra.He

was a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1995 winningthe 1980, 1985 and 1990 elections. During this period, as the Minister of State and

the Cabinet Minister, Shri Deshmukh handled departments such as Home, General

Administration, Cooperation, Public Works, Transport, Legislative Affairs, Tourism,

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Fisheries, Industry, Rural

Development, Education, Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare,

He was re-elected to the State Legislature from Latur Constituency in the elections

held in September 1999. In the same year he was credited for delegating more

powers to Zila Panchayats and strengthening the Panchayati Raj system.

Shri Deshmukh visited Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kongand Netherlands in 1980 to study Cooperative Movements and Agricultural

Development.

Shri Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh

Contents

From the Secretary's Desk.. 3

Spotlight

Bharat Nirman Volunteers: 4

A Strategy for Organisation of a

Village Based Cadre of Volunteers to

Accelerate Rural Development

Landmarks of the Month

Afghan Delegation Calls on 8

Rural Development Minister

Shishir Saras Mela 9

Inaugurated

Know Your Campaign

Awards for 'Effective Initiatives 11

under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA'

Quiz

Check your Knowledge about 15

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

In the News 16


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Shri A.K. Misra, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in his office

From the

Secretary's Desk..

Challenges in reaching the benefits of DWS

schemes to the common man

To bring quality in life we all need to make our country clean

and healthy to live in. To achieve this target availability

of safe drinking water and safe sanitation practices are

important issues to be addressed. Water and Sanitation

programmes, for their success and sustainability, require

empowered, aware and skilled stakeholders capable of

planning, implementation, operation, maintenance and

management of water supply and sanitation schemes.

Since the inception of the Department of Drinking Water

and Sanitation, various IEC activities were carried out by

the Department to reach out to a large number of people

from the rural areas. IEC activities are needed to keep the

issue of sustainable water and sanitation at the forefront

of the global agenda. It will raise the issue prominently to

politicians, civil society, and the public in general focusing

on the need to take effective action.

The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission,

(RGNDWM) along with the respective State Governments,

has, over the last few decades, mobilized efforts to provide

safe drinking water and clean sanitation facilities to all

rural habitations. The lEC programmes play a critical role

in bringing success to the water and sanitation projects by

sensitising communities. For these activities 100% grant in

aid is provided to all states under the Support Fund which

is 5 % of the respective state allocation for carrying out

awareness among rural communities regarding all aspect

of water conservation, quality issues, health and hygiene

related Issues.

The Grameen Bharat team met Shri A.K. Misra,

Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation

recently. He shared his views, thoughts and concerns

regarding the programmes of his Department.

Neena Thomas brings you excerpts from the interview

Role of Panchayat

Panchayats have the most crucial role to play in successful

implementation of the sanitation campaign. This campaign

needs provision of infrastructure but also bring about

behavioural changes at individual and community levels.Panchayats play a vital role in shaping behaviour through

social, institutional and personal influences. Social

mobilization for the construction of toilets, safe disposal of

wastes, maintenance of community assets for improved

sanitation are all within the ambit of their responsibilities.

Panchayats can use their own development funds to

supplement the efforts under TSC and other sanitation

programmes. They can also open and operate Production

Centers/Rural Sanitary Marts for rural sanitation products.

Panchayats have an important role in the monitoring of the

TSC programme since they are in the best position to verify

the physical availability and usage of facilities created.

In the case of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme,

the States are in the process of transferring development

activities and responsibilities to the Panchayati Raj

Institutions (PRIs). Steps are being taken to iron out the

inherent problems in this process; build their capacities,

and reduce panchayats dependence on central and state

directions, etc. Under the New NRDWP guideline it has

been made mandatory for the States to hand over the

RWS schemes to PRI/ Water Supply Committees (WSCs)for Management of the schemes and release of 10% of

the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Central fund has

been linked to this.


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Spotlight Bharat Nirman Volunteers: A Strategy for Organisation of aVillage Based Cadre of Volunteers to AccelerateRural Development

Background and Development Challenges

The Ministry of Rural Development has introduced severaldevelopment schemes and initiatives to improve the lot

of the rural poor. While these programmes have been

successful in achieving many of their developmental

objectives, many evaluation studies have identified gaps

in programme implementation.

These gaps in development schemes adversely affect the

delivery of benefits to the intended beneficiaries. The Gram

Panchayat, the lowest rung in the hierarchy of Panchayati

Raj institutions, plans and implements these development

programmes. However, it is poorly equipped with manpower

in most of the states. Further the skills and knowledge of the

Gram Panchayat functionaries are often inadequate. The

situation at the intermediary level of the Block Panchayat

is somewhat better. Nevertheless, much needs to be done

to enhance their capacity to deliver public services.

One way of ensuring the success of these programmes is

through large scale peoples involvement and sensitisationto development needs across a diverse range, whether this

be in the areas of health and sanitation, infrastructure and

environment, literacy or agriculture.

Voluntary Action to Streamline Programme Delivery

It may be possible to avoid many of the problems in rural

areas if steps are taken for streamlining the implementation

of existing government programmes by a campaign for

awareness generation, capacity building of institutions

and greater engagement with the people. This will require

closer contact with the people which could be established

through a large village based cadre of volunteers who

are provided suitable training and incentives to actively

support the administrative machinery and the Panchayati

Raj Institutions in the implementation of government

programmes. Besides establishing closer contacts with the

rural households, the volunteers can assist the government

functionaries in shouldering the responsibilities of delivering

public services in a variety of ways. This can greatly improve

administrative efficiency in a cost effective manner.

To translate this into reality, the Ministry of Rural Development

has undertaken a unique initiative of putting in place a

village based cadre of volunteers to be christened as

Bharat Nirman Volunteers (BNV).

Objectives of Bharat Nirman Volunteers Cadre

The objectives of the Bharat Nirman Volunteers cadre are

to:

1. Establish close contact with rural households who are

stakeholders of government programmes;

2. Generate awareness about government programmes

and the procedures to avail of the benefits of these

programmes;

3. Encourage legal literacy and generate awareness

and understanding among people of their rights and

obligations under various government programmes,

particularly those relating to rural development,

agriculture, watershed development, health and family

welfare, education, women and child development,infrastructure (including roads, electrification, irrigation,

drinking water, sanitation, broadband connectivity,

telephones, banking and post offices) and environmental

protection;

4. Support the government administrative machinery and

the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the performance

of their duties, particularly in implementation of the

Citizens Charter;

5. Facilitate social audits of government programmes;

6. Expedite redressal of grievances of the people and

assist in the functioning of helplines;

7. Improve quali ty of implementation of government

programmes by providing feedback on status of

programmes to responsible officials;

8. Provide opportunities to socially conscious citizens to

participate in nation building activities;

9. Develop leadership among the people;


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Spotlight

10.Develop a cadre of trained development volunteers

with a deep commitment to change and development;

and

11.Create appropriate conditions to maintain peace and

tranquility in rural areas.

Terms and Conditions of Engagement as aBharat Nirman Volunteer

Any individual committed to making a contribution toward

effective implementation of welfare and development

programmes of the government can apply to the Blockor Gram Panchayat for registration as a Bharat Nirman

Volunteer. He/she should be above 18 years of age. At

least one-third of the volunteers so engaged should be

women and preference should be given to SC/ST/OBC

and minorities.

Tenure of the volunteers

may be life-long provided

they fulfill the prescribed

conditions for proper

conduct and discipline.

The volunteers shall

be provided three day

t ra in ing on proper

implementation of various government programmes. They

shall be familiarized with the fundamental duties as laid

down under Article 51-A of the Constitution of India. Further

refresher training will continue to be provided according

to need. Training will be imparted to the volunteers by the

block with the help of SIRDs.

Every Bharat Nirman Volunteer shall be attached to a

maximum of 40 households residing in his/her close

neighbourhood. The volunteer will be responsible for

facilitating delivery of public services under various

government programmes to the eligible rural households.

They will also forward requests for services and grievance

applications from the rural households to the gram

panchayats and the blocks.

Bharat Nirman Volunteers will remain under the charge of a

suitable officer, working under the BDO, to be known as the

Counselor. He shall guide the volunteers in the performance

of their functions and maintain close liaison between the

volunteers and the BDO.

Volunteers shall maintain a work diary in a prescribed

form which will contain programme-wise details of the

work allotted to them and work

performed by them. The work diary

will be reviewed by the counselor,

the BDO or the gram panchayat

from time to time. Suitable grades

such as A, B, C and D will be

awarded to record the quality of

work against each item of work

done. All information relating

to Bharat Nirman Volunteers -

enrollment, training, work diary, grading and awards - shall

be entered in the MIS in the Diksha website.

The top 10% of the volunteers as per the calculation of the

sum of the grades may be given awards at the district and

block levels during annual functions such as Republic Day

or Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti Day.

Bharat Nirman Volunteers shall exhibit model conduct

and be an inspiration for others in the village. They

shall endeavour to provide all possible assistance for

effective implementation of the welfare and developmentprogrammes of the government. The service performed

shall be purely voluntary without any expectation of any

pecuniary or non-pecuniary return. Volunteers who show

doubtful character and conduct may be disengaged by the

gram panchayat or the block. The volunteers shall take a

proficiency test every year. This may be an online objective

test to assess the knowledge of the volunteers about all the

schemes operating in rural areas. The annual renewal of

engagement of the volunteer will be subject to the passing

of the volunteers with a minimum of 70% marks.


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Spotlight

Role

Bharat Nirman Volunteers will carry forward the messagesof rural development under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA,

National Rural Livelihood Mission, Rural Housing, National

Social Assistance Programme, Rural Roads, Drinking Water

and Sanitation, Watershed Development and Panchayati

Raj Programmes to the rural households with whom they

shall be attached. They will make sure that the members

of the rural households are fully acquainted with their

entitlements, roles and responsibilities under the various

programmes of rural development, agriculture, industries,banking, health, education, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

Peoples Participation:Awareness generation amongst the

rural households should be followed up by their constructive

engagement in planning, execution and monitoring of

various programmes of rural development. The volunteers

should help in organisation of the Gram Sabha, bringing out

the needs of the rural households, and facilitate fulfillment

of their needs in a consensual manner. They shall facilitate

the Gram Sabhas to draw up prospective and annual plans

under various programmes and provide the necessary

support for their proper execution.

Delivery of services: The volunteers should act as agents

for the Gram Panchayats, line departments, the BDOs and

the District Collectors and ensure proper facilitation in the

delivery of services to the rural households attached to

them.

Social Audit: This is a statutory requirement under

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. It is an important tool for

bringing in transparency and accountability in development

administration. The volunteers should take active part in

motivating the rural households in organising social audits

with the help of the Gram Panchayats, BDOs and the line

departments.

Citizens Charter: This is an important administrative toolfor informing the citizens about the services which are to be

delivered to the citizens along with the standards of delivery.

The volunteers shall help in the preparation of Citizens

Charter and its implementation by the Gram Panchayat,

Block and the District Administration by communicating

the expectations of the citizens and preparing a delivery

standard which is workable.

Grievance Redressal and Helplines: A large number

of grievances accumulate in the offices of the BDOs,

District Collectors and the line departments and responses

remain inadequate because of shortage of resources. The

volunteers shall facilitate settlement of these grievances

by coordinating with the Government offices and the rural

households.

Rural Reporters: Wall newspapers and community radio

can be used as powerful tools for communication of key

messages of government programmes. The volunteers

can act as rural reporters and help in the working of

the community radio and operationalisation of wall

newspapers.

Vigilance and Monitoring: The volunteers will act as eyes

and ears of the District Administration and maintain vigilance

over the working of the various programmes.

Census: The volunteers will assist in maintenance of a

proper data base of the rural households, SHGs, and the

works being taken up under various programmes including

conducting of the BPL census.

Data Entry: The volunteers can also collect informationon transactions taking place in the villages under various

programmes and submit this to the Computer Centre at

the Gram Panchayat and the Block Office to facilitate data

entry in the programme MIS.

Feedback: Regular feedback shall be sent to the Gram

Panchayat and the Block Office regarding the state of affairs

under the various rural development programmes and other

allied programmes pertaining to health, education, women

and child development, environment, electrification and

other rural infrastructural development programmes.


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Spotlight

Rural Development, Agriculture, Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprises: The volunteers will act as agents of

rural development in the wider sense including programmes

of development of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, micro,

small and medium enterprises, etc.

Banking Correspondents: Volunteers can also act as

Banking Correspondents of the local bank, subject to

conditions imposed by the bank. They may also assist

the banks in recovery of loans from willful defaulters and

facilitate credit access to the families.

Self Help Groups: The volunteers shall act as a catalyst

for mobilization of rural households into the Self Help

Group movement. They shall facilitate the transfer of

knowledge and skills to the members of Self Help Groups

so that they can raise bank loans, take up production and

trading operations and repay bank loans in a time bound

manner.

Health, Sanitation and Nirmal Gram: Government services

relating to combating diseases (HIV, TB, malaria, diarrhoea,etc.) can be effectively reached to the rural households by

the volunteers. The incidence of diseases may be reported

to the doctors and para health workers like ASHA and ANMs

to facilitate supply of drugs. Wherever necessary, affected

persons may also be hospitalized by the volunteers. They

may identify malnourished children and pregnant mothers in

the attached households and ensure the supply of a vitamin

fortified diet to them through Anganwadi centers. Volunteers

should motivate the families to avoid open defecation and

construct their private latrines so that the Gram Panchayat

may be declared as Nirmal Gram.

Literacy and Education: Illiterate members of the

households may be identified and provided support through

the literacy programmes and supplied learning materials.

Volunteers should endeavour to ensure that all members

of the household achieve literacy, school going children

attend school and no child is subjected to child labour. The

volunteers may also work with the District Legal Services

Authority to spread legal literacy among the people by

organising camps and organising public meetings.

Food Security: In order to ensure food security the

volunteers may identify eligible households who do not

have ration cards and report such cases to the Block or the

Gram Panchayat. Volunteers should also report cases of

non-delivery, short delivery or untimely delivery of rations by

the suppliers of essential commodities. They shall utilise the

resources under RKVY, NFSM, NHM, IWMP, MGNREGA,NRLM, etc. to maximize production of foodgrains, fruits

and vegetables, spices, sugarcane, cotton, milk, meat,

eggs and fish.

House Sites and Housing: Volunteers should identify

families without house sites and report the cases to the

Gram Panchayat or Block or Taluks or Tehsils. They should

also facilitate provision of houses to the homeless and

the poor under the rural housing programme of IAY and

facilitate easy flow of funds to the beneficiaries from the

block or GP.

Natural Resources Management and Eco-restoration:

Volunteers may be assigned work for proper management

of natural resources by the District Administration including

the Block and the Gram Panchayat. For example, the

volunteers may identify barren and uncultivated lands where

afforestation can be taken up. Similarly fallow and cultivable

wastelands may be developed under Mahatma GandhiNREGA or watershed development programmes to bring

them under cultivation. In irrigated areas Pani Panchayats

may be set up and water distribution may be rationed with

the help of irrigation authorities.

Volunteers may take up any other work that may be in the

public interest and which can promote safety, security, and

welfare of the rural population.


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Landmarks of the

Month

Afghan Delegation Calls on Rural Development Minister

Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh says India will extend all possible assistance to Afghanistan forRural Development

A ten member delegation from Afghanistan led by its Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD),

Mr. Jarullah Mansoori, called on Union Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Minister, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, at

Krishi Bhawan on 24 January 2011. The delegation sought the co-operation of the Ministry of Rural Development in

furthering Indo-Afghan cooperation in rural infrastructure development, capacity building of local institutions, technical

support, skill development and empowerment of rural masses.

Shri Deshmukh assured the visiting delegation of all possible assistance by the Government of India. He said that

Indias learning experience through its flagship programmes in rural development can be of great help to the people

of Afghanistan. The Afghan Minister highlighted the significance of age old ties between the two countries and hoped

they would learn a lot so that the models can be replicated in their country.

The visiting delegation was briefed about the progress under the new initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Rural

Development and Panchayati Raj in reaching out to people. The delegates evinced keen interest in the success under

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the initiative to alleviate poverty under National Rural

Livelihood Mission, rural road connectivity under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, providing shelter to the rural

poor under Indira Awaas Yojana, social security measures under National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) and

ensuring the accessibility of potable water in rural areas under National Rural Drinking Water Programme.

The delegation was led by the Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), Mr. Jarullah Mansoori, who was

accompanied by Mr. Said Habib, Parliamentary Affairs Coordinator, MRRD; Mr. Naseer Renory, Director National Rural

Access Programme; Mr. Ghulam Qader, Head of Water Sanitation, and Irrigation Programme among others. Ministers

of State for Rural Development Shri Pradeep Jain 'Aditya' and Ms. Agatha Sangma; Secretary Rural Development,Shri B.K.Sinha; Secretary Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, Shri A.K.Misra; and Secretary Land Resources,

Ms. Anita Chaudhary were present along with senior officials as a part of the Indian delegation.

Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ms. Agatha Sangma, Shri Pradeep Jain 'Aditya with members of the Afghan delegation


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Grameen Bharat

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Shishir Saras Mela Inaugurated

The Union Minister of State for Rural

Development, Shri Pradeep Jain 'Aditya,

inaugurated the Shishir Saras Mela on

19 January 2011 at Dilli Haat, near INA

Market. Speaking on the occasion he

said, "Events like Saras provide a proper

platform for the sale of products made

by rural artisans. These also provide

an opportunity to interact directly with

domestic and international customers, and

understand their taste and preferences."

He emphasised the need to strengthen

such infrastructures.

On this occasion Ms. Agatha

Sangma, Union Minister of State for Rural

Development, said that the exhibition-cum-sale mela will showcase a wide range of products by the rural artisans,

craftsmen and beneficiaries of Self Help Groups from all over the country. Secretary Rural Development, Shri

B.K. Sinha; DG CAPART, Shri Mohammad Halim Khan; and other officials from the Ministry of Rural Development

were also present on the occasion.

The Saras fair has been organised by the Council for

Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology

(CAPART) in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural

Development. The fair aims at facilitating the Swarna

Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) beneficiaries,

rural artisans, craftsmen, Self Help Groups and NGOs

to exhibit and sell their products and provide themwith opportunities for additional income, exposure

and interaction on a large scale.

The Shishir Saras Mela has played a major role in

providing a platform to develop linkages between

artisans and craftsmen with buyers and customers.

Around 162 stalls were set up at Dilli Haat by more than 320 swarojgaries (from BPL households) from 26 states.

The special attractions included metal work products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpuri saris from Orissa, wood

carving work from Andhra Pradesh, bamboo craft from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, terracotta from

Chhattisgarh, shawls and carpets from Jammu & Kashmir and handicrafts from Uttar Pradesh, etc. In addition cultural

programmes from different states were organised every evening throughout the fair.

Landmarks of the

Month

Shri Pradeep Jain 'Aditya inaugurating the Shishir Saras Mela

Ms. Agatha Sangma at the inaugural ceremony of the Shishir Saras Mela


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Landmarks of the

Month

NIRD Executive Council and General Council Reconstituted

The Government has reconstituted the Executive and General Council of the National Institute of Rural Development

(NIRD) Hyderabad with immediate effect for a period of three years. A notification to this effect was issued by the

Ministry of Rural Development on 13 January 2011.

The members of the Executive Council are: Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Scientist; Dr. Y.K. Alagh, Ex-Member Planning

Commission; Dr. B.A. Prakash; Shri S.S. Acharya and Dr. I.V.Trivedi, VC, MLS University, Udaipur and Padmashree

Shri Anil Joshi, HESCO Dehradun. They are also members of the General Council.

The other members of the General Council include: Shri Rajaiah Sircilla (MP Lok Sabha); Prof. M.S. Swaminathan(MP Rajya Sabha); Shri A.R. Khan, President PMSC Society, Rajasthan; Dr. P. Sekhar, Mumbai; Shri Rameshwar

Dudi, Zila Pramukh, Bikaner (Rajasthan); Shri Vijay Shankar Vyas, Rajasthan; Shri Anna Hazare, Ahmednagar,

(Maharashtra); Shri Ajit Grewal, Delhi; Shri V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi; and

Dr. C. Swaminathan, Vice Chancellor, Bharatiar University, Coimbatore. These eminent persons have made

noteworthy contribution in the field of rural development. In addition, the Secretaries of Rural Development from

the states of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar who are also in charge of Rural Development/

Reconstruction or Development Commissioners have been nominated as members of the General Council.

The National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Rural

Development, Government of India. Through its training and research activities, NIRD endeavours to upgrade

knowledge and skills and to bring in required attitudes among its clientele. NIRD sensitises the elected representatives

and rural development functionaries about the impact of various rural development initiatives of the Union Government

and the State Governments and also about the emerging challenges in the field of rural development.


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Know Your

Campaign Awards for 'Effective Initiatives under Mahatma GandhiNREGA'

The Government of India annual awards for 'Effective Initiatives under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA', for outstanding

contributions by Mahatma Gandhi NREGA District Teams were awarded by the Honble Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan

Singh and Honble Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, at a ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan on

2 February, 2011.

Ten District Programme Coordinators (DPCs) received awards for innovative initiatives for enhancing livelihood security

of households in their districts.

Innovative Application for Livelihood Security

District : Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

DPC : Ms. Vandana Yadav

The tea industry had gone through several changes and a severe crisis that peaked during the first decade of this

century, resulting in a large number of sick, locked out and closed tea gardens. In March 2009, the Government

of West Bengal gave a letter of intent to a tea management group, desirous of taking over closed gardens. Despite

all the benefits available under various schemes, the biggest hindrances were the high labour numbers and the run-

down condition of the gardens, resulting in a stalemate between the government and the tea management group.

During this stalemate, a scheme was devised by the district administration for utilising the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

scheme for re-opening the gardens. It was agreed that the new management would keep all the workers on the

company rolls and there would be zero retrenchment. They would give 180-240 days of regular work to the workers,

including benefits. A 100 days of work would be given to all workers under the Mahatma

Gandhi NREGA scheme concentrating on the lean season where no plucking and

plantation would be allowed and only work permissible under the scheme such as

land development, drainage and irrigation would be carried out. Planning for thework would be done by the Panchayat Samiti with the active involvement of the

workers, community members and the new management. The assistance would

continue for a limited period (three to seven years depending on the condition

of the garden), ideally till the garden becomes viable and can reabsorb the full

labour strength.

The initiative has used Mahatma Gandhi NREGA not just as a temporary job

creation scheme but as a means of securing a permanent livelihood for the

people, in their own habitat and social system.

Convergence with Human Development Programmes

District : Dharwad, Karnataka

DPC : Ms. C. Shikha

The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme is being used to improve the Human Development Index (HDI) of Dharwad

district. The parameters involved in calculating HDI are per capita income, literacy rate and longevity. With the

goal of improving the HDI of the district, literacy camps, health programmes and an insurance programme were

started at the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA work sites. An honorarium of`. 750 is given to mates who start literacy

programmes at work sites. With the help of ASHA, health information on health and sanitation, importance of nutrition

and clean drinking water, information about various health schemes like family planning, Jannini Suraksha Yojna,

immunization programmes, etc., is disseminated to workers. Folic acid tablets are also distributed to anaemic women


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Know Your

Campaign

Community-centric Development in a Challenging Physical Environment

District : North Sikkim, Sikkim

DPC : Mr. P.N. Bhuta

To make the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme popular and mass-based, the Chief Minister, Sri Pawan Chamling

gave the maxim, afno gaon, afai banaun (lets build our village ourselves). This policy of positioning MahatmaGandhi NREGA as a nation building activity resulted in dignity of labour and ensured large scale participation.

Consequently, not only BPL households but also APL households actively took part in this social movement.

Though the guidelines permit 50% of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA implementation to be taken up by line departments,

the state government devolved 100% implementation of the programme to the Gram Panchayats and this helped

in making the programme people-centric and took the form of a community led social movement.

The programme shifted from planning just a few macro-works to promoting several micro-works across the

mountainous terrain to encourage involvement especially of rural women.

Livelihood Generation and Improving Communal Relations

District : Kandhamal, Orrisa

DPC : Mr. Sri Krishan

Realising the importance of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme in a post-conflict society, the Kandhamal

district administration utilised this platform for not only improving relations between various sections of society

but also for improving the livelihood asset base of the rural poor.

A policy of reconciliation for providing guidance to peace committees at various

levels was formulated by the district level Peace Committee. In each of the

villages affected by communal violence, one labour intensive work under the

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme was started. In this Work for Peace

both communities participated in the creation of village assets of their

choice. To achieve this, every rural household was empowered to

participate in this scheme. Work sites were opened in most of the 2,500

villages of the district. A process of collaborative decision-making was

established with all stakeholders being involved. It was decided that

work supervisors or mates would be drawn from the SC and ST

communities thus breaching the barriers between communities.

An extensive campaign delivering the message workingtogether for development was taken up by involving civil

society organisations.

at the work site. LIC Aam Admi and Janahsree Bima Yojna scholarship schemes were framed to provide benefits

for the children of members of the schemes.The above experience has shown that the cost of delivery services can be reduced by synergising the efforts of

multiple agencies. This model of convergence in the long-term will lead to an improvement in the overall HDI in the

district.


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Know Your

Campaign

Wage Disbursement through Mobile Banking

District : Annupur, Madhya Pradesh

DPC : Mr Kavindra Kiyawat

The payment of wages to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA labourers was fraught by several inefficiencies

such as distance of bank from home, sometimes as far away as 30 kms, loss of a wage-day

on account of travel to bank, cost of transport and the unfriendly and unhelpful attitude of

bankers.

To resolve the above problems a mobile banking system Aapke Bank Aapke Dwaar

was launched by means of which labourers received their wages in their own

neighbourhoods. The system works by sending a mobile van with the

payment team to every Gram Panchayat on a specified date which

is communicated at least three days in advance through various

mediums. The District Central Cooperative Bank maintains a separate

ledger book for each Gram Panchayat. After the payment process

the payment team updates the account ledger book of the respective

Gram Panchayat.

The mobile banking system has been well received by the general

public, especially the tribal and poor beneficiaries.

Team Leadership

District :Barmer, RajasthanDPC :Mr. Gaurav Goyal

Barmer is a border desert district which faces acute scarcity of water. The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme was

launched here on 2 May 2007. There are 4.76 lakh households registered under the scheme, including more than

91,000 Scheduled Caste and 39,000 Scheduled Tribe households. Out of the 277 lakh man-days generated in the

preceding financial year, 66.67% were completed by female workers.

Intensive IEC activities are being done to educate and empower people about their

rights. Public representatives, voluntary organisations and community members

are actively involved in planning, execution, monitoring and auditing the scheme.

Awareness programmes are organised year round. Labour and material payments

are done through banks and post-offices.

The scheme has enhanced livelihood security and the living

standards of people living in this region. More than 50,000 water

harvesting structures have been constructed and renovated.

Forty-five thousand individual water tanks or taankas with

a storage capacity of 30,000 litres of rainwater have been

constructed. After the last monsoon, 1343.3 million litres of

rainwater was conserved and saved. In addition to harvesting

structures, flood protection and plantation works have been

successfully executed under the scheme.


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Know Your

Campaign

14

Mobilising a Marginalised Community and Empowering Women

District : Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadhoi, Uttar Pradesh

DPC : Ms. Surendra Singh

Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadhoi is the smallest district of Uttar Pradesh. Poverty and unemployment is rampant

in the district. Out of the total population, 51% of the population is below the poverty

line and 21% belong to the schedule caste community. Most of the people from the weaker

section are landless and are engaged as agricultural labourers, carpet weavers or as migrant

workers in the urban metros. Their daily earnings amount to about ` 60.

The launch of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme on 1 April, 2008 was a great boon for

the local people. Working in the scheme not only increased their earnings, allowed them tostay at home but also reduced expenditure on housing and travel to the cities, thus increasing

their net savings three fold.

Community Mobilisation and Participation for Livelihood Generation

District : Churachandpur, ManipurDPC : Ms. Jacintha Lazarus

Churachandpur town, which houses nearly two-thirds of the districts entire population, was

ravaged by the problem of water scarcity. The town draws its water supply form two water

sources, the catchment areas of which are now completely barren due to the felling of trees

for jhumming and timber. The district took an exemplary initiative in exploring new ground for

converging the Mahatama Gandhi NREGA scheme with afforestation exercises by involving

the masses in environmental conservation through planting saplings in the catchment areas.

This had the benefit of generating awareness through practical involvement and restoring

the catchment area while also generating employment for the masses.

Addressing Latent Work Demand

District : Rajkot, Gujrat

DPC : Mr. Jai Prakash Shivahare

Rajkot district is a highly urbanised district. Performance under the Mahatma Gandhi

NREGA scheme here was poor because of the general belief that this scheme was

not meant for an industrial and urbanised district. A deeper examination into the cause

for low demand for work, revealed that officials relied mainly on the sarpanchs and village

level functionaries ortalatis to start the works. Of all the stakeholders, the most important,

the wage seekers, were peripheral to the process and hardly ever asserted their right to

demand work and were poorly informed about the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme.

During 2009-2010 a strategy was devised to ensure that wage seekers be kept informed

about opportunities. This was done by interacting with them directly in their own localities

and addressing any issues or questions they might have. Through direct contact and interaction startling facts

were revealed and it was found that there was a lot of hidden unemployment in the villages. Other issues that

needed addressing included non-issuance of job cards, difficulty in opening accounts, delays in payments and the

absence of an effective grievance redressal mechanism. The main challenge thus was to break this vicious cycle

by educating and empowering the wage seekers about their right to work. The strategy that worked best was one-

to-one interpersonal communication.


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Quiz

1) When was the MahatmaGandhi NREGA passed bythe Indian Parliament?

a) 26th August 2004

b) 23rd August 2004

c) 23rd August 2005

d) 26th August 2005

5) Is there a limit on thenumber of days ofguaranteed employmentover the year?

a) 100 daysb) upto 100 days

c) 200 days

d) 150 days

4) Which state had passed an

Employment Guarantee

Act in 1976?

a) Rajasthan

b) Madhya Pradesh

c) Maharashtra

d) Gujarat

2) When was the MahatmaGandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee ActNotified?

a) 8th September 2005

b) 6th September 2005

c) 5th September 2005

d) 7th September 2005

3) Does the present MahatmaGandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee Acthave any precedence?

a) Yes

b) No

ANSWERS

1)C

2)D

3)A

4)C

5)B

Check your Knowledge about Mahatma Gandhi NREGA


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