Tour Report on the visit of Sirsa(Haryana) - National Rural ...
Tour Report on the visit of Sirsa(Haryana) - National Rural ...
Tour Report on the visit of Sirsa(Haryana) - National Rural ...
- TAGS
- tour
- national
- rural
- nrega.nic.in
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tour</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Report</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>visit</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sirsa</strong>(<strong>Haryana</strong>) by a Team <strong>of</strong> Officers headed by<br />
Shri B.K. Sinha, Secretary(RD) & Shri T. Vijay Kumar, JS(SGSY) and Shri<br />
N.K. Sinha, JD(NREGA)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tour</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Report</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Mahatma Gandhi NREGA<br />
Secretary(RD) undertook a field <strong>visit</strong> to Hisar District <strong>of</strong> <strong>Haryana</strong> <strong>on</strong> 21 st &<br />
22 nd May, 2010 to have first hand informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Mahatma<br />
Gandhi NREGA in <strong>the</strong> State. Shri T. Vijay Kumar, JS(SGSY) and Shri N.K. Sinha,<br />
Joint Director(NREGA) also accompanied Secretary(RD) to this <strong>visit</strong>. The Team<br />
<strong>visit</strong>ed Kaluana and Govindpura GPs <strong>of</strong> Dabwali and Rania Blocks respectively. The<br />
Team stayed that night in a Government Higher School at Kaluana Village. The<br />
Kaluana GP is <strong>the</strong> highest spender (Rs.133.92 lakh) during <strong>the</strong> last year with total<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>days generati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> 37747. The total households those were given<br />
employment were 687 out <strong>of</strong> which 281 were SC households. The o<strong>the</strong>r GP <strong>visit</strong>ed<br />
was Govindpura which utilized <strong>on</strong>ly Rs. 0.02 lakh being <strong>the</strong> lowest and provided<br />
employment <strong>on</strong>ly to <strong>on</strong>e household during <strong>the</strong> last year for ten days. The idea<br />
behind selecting <strong>the</strong> two GPs with extreme situati<strong>on</strong> was to study why it is so in two<br />
adjacent GPs and what could be d<strong>on</strong>e to overcome <strong>the</strong> impediment.<br />
2. The Team under SRD reached <strong>Sirsa</strong> at 6.00 P.M. <strong>on</strong> 21 st May 2010 where <strong>the</strong><br />
Deputy Commissi<strong>on</strong>er Shri Yuddhvir Singh ‘Khyaliya’ explained <strong>the</strong> present status<br />
and his understanding <strong>of</strong> Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. He also made a presentati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
how he has made blood d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> District <strong>the</strong> household slogan and has been<br />
doing it in a missi<strong>on</strong> mode. He has been able to collect 44000 units this year which<br />
he claimed is <strong>the</strong> highest by a district in <strong>the</strong> world and could find place in Limca<br />
Book <strong>of</strong> Records. The presentati<strong>on</strong> which he made <strong>on</strong> this subject is at Annexure.<br />
He also admitted that <strong>the</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Mahatma Gandhi NREGA would need<br />
improvement in his District with regard to systems and processes as envisaged in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Act. Thereafter, <strong>the</strong> Team reached <strong>the</strong> Govt. Higher Sec<strong>on</strong>dary School at<br />
Kaluana Village at around 9.00 P.M. in <strong>the</strong> evening where sizable number <strong>of</strong> rural<br />
elders and MGNREGA workers were present. The worksites <strong>visit</strong>ed in Kaluana are<br />
as under:-<br />
a) Nursery at Kaluana – The overall approved cost was Rs.9 lakh in which<br />
saplings <strong>of</strong> Neem, Arjun, Jamun, etc. were grown but it was noticed that <strong>the</strong>re was<br />
no proper care and <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>sible for taking care <strong>of</strong> nursery was also not<br />
trained enough. The Forest Department under whose guidance it has been taken<br />
up has not been providing adequate guidance and linkage. The Nursery also did<br />
not have green net cover to save <strong>the</strong> saplings from present day heat. The required<br />
net cover can be d<strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong>ly with <strong>the</strong> additi<strong>on</strong>al investment <strong>of</strong> about Rs.5000 which<br />
is available in <strong>the</strong> market @ Rs.45 per running meter.<br />
b) Individual<br />
activity : Shri Chet<br />
Ram S/O Shri Bhani<br />
Ram(SC) – The Kinu<br />
farming in 5 acre<br />
plot <strong>of</strong> land owned<br />
by Shri Chet Ram at<br />
<strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> Rs. 4 lakh<br />
with six m<strong>on</strong>th old<br />
Kinu plants was<br />
<strong>visit</strong>ed. The orchard<br />
also has a cement c<strong>on</strong>crete reservoir c<strong>on</strong>structed for irrigati<strong>on</strong>. As <strong>of</strong> now, a total
<strong>of</strong> Rs.2.08 lakh has been spent. This has a great potential in <strong>the</strong> area and it was<br />
suggested by SRD to <strong>the</strong> Sarpanch and <strong>the</strong> BDO to encourage people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area to<br />
come up for such activities as it could lead to growth in <strong>the</strong> overall income <strong>on</strong><br />
sustainable basis. It was also suggested to take up inter-cropping <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
compatible crops that could also increase <strong>the</strong> income level and at <strong>the</strong> same time<br />
help grow Kinu plantati<strong>on</strong> faster.<br />
c) Village P<strong>on</strong>d (<strong>on</strong>going work) – Around 70 workers found to be working <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> this p<strong>on</strong>d. Shri Raghuvir, <strong>the</strong> Gram Rojgar Sahayak was also found<br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> worksite but he was not able to produce <strong>the</strong> muster rolls <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> worksite and<br />
also no job card was seen with any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> workers at that time. The Sarpanch and<br />
GRS also could not inform <strong>the</strong> approved cost <strong>of</strong> this p<strong>on</strong>d. SRD also made<br />
Shrmdaan at this site for a while and interacted with women workers.<br />
3. During <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> interacti<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong> village people for two hours <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
day <strong>of</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> team at Kaluana Higher Sec<strong>on</strong>dary School <strong>on</strong> 21 st May 2010 at<br />
9.00 PM, interacti<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong> students <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local school and worksite <strong>visit</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
Kaluana and Govindpura GPs <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> next day, following facts were emerged:-<br />
A) Positive Aspect<br />
(a) MGNREGA has made substantial impact <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> prevalent wage rate in <strong>the</strong><br />
area around Kaluana GP which was ranging between Rs.50 to Rs.100 prior to<br />
MGNREGA depending up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> seas<strong>on</strong>al variati<strong>on</strong> in demand <strong>of</strong> labour which has<br />
now g<strong>on</strong>e up to Rs.200 to Rs.250 in <strong>the</strong> market.<br />
(b) There was differential wages for men and women prior to MGNREGA. The<br />
highest paid wages in <strong>the</strong> market is for cott<strong>on</strong> collecti<strong>on</strong> which was Rs.2 per Kg<br />
prior to NREGA and has reached to Rs.5-6 per Kg now. Average collecti<strong>on</strong> goes<br />
up to 50 Kg per day for cott<strong>on</strong>. We could also see a pers<strong>on</strong> collecting 70 kg a<br />
day. But this activity is available <strong>on</strong>ly for 10-15 days.<br />
(c) Notified wages under MG NREGA is Rs.141 but <strong>the</strong> State wage rate is Rs.151.<br />
The balance is paid from <strong>the</strong> State c<strong>of</strong>fer.<br />
(d) Sarpanch was found to be dedicated, efficient and sincere. There was no<br />
complaint or voice <strong>of</strong> descent that could be heard against <strong>the</strong> functi<strong>on</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
local Sarpanch and no complaint about <strong>the</strong> payment was made by any <strong>on</strong>e. The<br />
MGNRGA workers were satisfied and happy.
(e) The local Sarpanch commands respect and affecti<strong>on</strong> from <strong>the</strong> community and<br />
was implementing <strong>the</strong> main objective <strong>of</strong> NREGA for providing wage employment<br />
but without following any defined processes and systems as envisaged under <strong>the</strong><br />
Act and Guidelines.<br />
(f) Besides, <strong>the</strong> sarpanch has been actively involved in promoti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> educati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>ment in <strong>the</strong> GP and has taken villagers into c<strong>on</strong>fidence <strong>the</strong>reby forming<br />
Siksha Samiti in<br />
<strong>the</strong> village which<br />
look after <strong>the</strong><br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al affairs<br />
and with <strong>the</strong> local<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> has<br />
been raising funds<br />
<strong>on</strong> regular basis<br />
and based <strong>on</strong><br />
which have<br />
arranged three<br />
private science and<br />
ma<strong>the</strong>matics<br />
teachers to<br />
compensate bad<br />
teaching by <strong>the</strong><br />
government<br />
teachers in <strong>the</strong><br />
school. As a result,<br />
<strong>the</strong> school passout percentage has g<strong>on</strong>e up above 90% from negligible level<br />
three years back. The students especially <strong>the</strong> girls were very happy and felt<br />
obliged to <strong>the</strong> Sarpach for his outstanding efforts towards promoti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al envir<strong>on</strong>ment especially for <strong>the</strong>m. He has also hired <strong>the</strong> services <strong>of</strong><br />
an institute which trains in English speaking for <strong>the</strong> school children at <strong>the</strong> local<br />
school.<br />
(g) The three NREGA workers Shri Bhup Singh, Shri Atma Ram and Shri Lilu Ram<br />
reported that <strong>the</strong>y have worked for 100 days during 2009-10 and got <strong>the</strong> full<br />
amount <strong>of</strong> wages. All 20-25 workers present during this interacti<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> night<br />
<strong>of</strong> 21 st May 2010 seemed to be satisfied at Kaluana GP.<br />
(h) The most noticeable fact that emerged out from <strong>the</strong> worker Shri Lilu Ram<br />
who was Scheduled Caste revealed that for <strong>the</strong> last 40 years prior to NREGA, he<br />
was almost doing <strong>the</strong> b<strong>on</strong>ded labour(Sirkati) working from 4.00 AM in <strong>the</strong><br />
morning till 9.00 PM in <strong>the</strong> evening serving <strong>the</strong> local rural elite. His fa<strong>the</strong>r also<br />
passed his life under <strong>the</strong>se circumstances. He could <strong>on</strong>ly free himself for <strong>the</strong><br />
last three years when MGNREGA came into being and he is able to live a<br />
respectable life now. He could also repay his debt with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wages he<br />
earned from Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.<br />
(i) Since works are decided by <strong>the</strong> BDO and <strong>the</strong> Sarpanch, <strong>the</strong>y have ensured<br />
that MGNREGA works are taken up <strong>on</strong>ly during <strong>the</strong> lean agriculture seas<strong>on</strong> to<br />
provide employment when <strong>the</strong> workers need it most.<br />
(j) The women workers explained how <strong>the</strong>y are able to buy cloths now for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
children and pay school fees with <strong>the</strong> earnings from MGNREGA.
(k) Wage payments are made through Bank accounts.<br />
(l) Both <strong>the</strong> GPs <strong>visit</strong>ed were having Gram Rojgar Sahayaks<br />
B) Negative Aspects<br />
(a) There was no system <strong>of</strong> holding Gram Sabha where selecti<strong>on</strong> and approval <strong>of</strong><br />
works was followed. The BDO and Sarpanch decided <strong>the</strong> activities to be taken<br />
up.<br />
(b)Social tensi<strong>on</strong> was noticed at high level. There was clear divide between<br />
haves and have-nots. The Sarpanch has been <strong>the</strong> balancing factor between <strong>the</strong><br />
two who commands respect, and affecti<strong>on</strong> from both sides since his sincere<br />
efforts have been benefitting both <strong>the</strong> secti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
(c) All MGNREGA activities are Sarpanch centric. If <strong>the</strong> Sarpanch is good he is<br />
able to present a satisfactory picture like <strong>the</strong> Kaluana GP <strong>of</strong> Dabwali block where<br />
locals and <strong>the</strong> workers are satisfied and happy but if <strong>the</strong> Sarpanch is not good<br />
than nothing is taking shape like that is happening in Gobindpura GP <strong>of</strong> Rania<br />
block where Shri Jarnail Singh(Sarpanch) could not even issue <strong>the</strong> jobcards to<br />
<strong>the</strong> wage seeking households where entire worker community registered <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
dissatisfacti<strong>on</strong> over <strong>the</strong> manner in which Sarpanch and <strong>the</strong> BDO was negatively<br />
handling <strong>the</strong> issue. The four jobcards viz. Govind Ram(No.31067), Shimli<br />
Bai(No.31012), Meera Devi(No.31013) and Maya Devi(No. 31067) got<br />
employment ranging 24 days to 41 days in two years during 2006-07 and 2007-<br />
08. But no employment was provided during 2008-09 and 2009-10 as per<br />
entries made in <strong>the</strong>se jobcards despite raising demand by workers which is a<br />
serious matter. It was also informed by some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> jobseekers in Govindpura<br />
GP that <strong>the</strong> Sarpanch is reluctant to discharge his legal commitment that <strong>on</strong>ce<br />
<strong>the</strong> workers starts getting wage employment and exercise <strong>the</strong>ir rights under<br />
MGNREGA, <strong>the</strong>re would be dearth <strong>of</strong> workers in <strong>the</strong> fields <strong>of</strong> local elites. Such<br />
apprehensi<strong>on</strong>s would <strong>on</strong>ly increase social tensi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>e hand if left<br />
unattended for l<strong>on</strong>g and defeats <strong>the</strong> very objectives <strong>of</strong> MGNREGA <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
(d)Lack <strong>of</strong> motivati<strong>on</strong> for MGNREGA am<strong>on</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficials was noticed. They are<br />
not even aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> basic provisi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Act which is rendering poor<br />
jobseekers at <strong>the</strong>ir mercy.<br />
(e) No records like job cards, muster rolls could be seen at <strong>the</strong> worksite nor <strong>the</strong><br />
Citizen Informati<strong>on</strong> Boards were found at any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> four worksites <strong>visit</strong>ed in<br />
Kaluana. The o<strong>the</strong>r records prescribed to be kept at <strong>the</strong> GP level especially <strong>the</strong><br />
prescribed registers and <strong>the</strong> muster rolls were also not shown whereby <strong>the</strong><br />
payment or o<strong>the</strong>r details could be cross-verified.<br />
(f) Nowhere worksite facilities were noticed.<br />
4. Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(a) There is immediate need to review GP-wise <strong>the</strong> status <strong>of</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> at<br />
<strong>the</strong> DPC and State level and ensure that all households who want to work under<br />
NREGA are issued job cards immediately and it should be d<strong>on</strong>e in a campaign<br />
mode.
(b) All GPs where no work is going <strong>on</strong>, a new work especially <strong>the</strong> water<br />
harvesting structure after a proper survey <strong>of</strong> topography should be opened to<br />
provide immediate employment to <strong>the</strong> poor households.<br />
(c) Thereafter, thorough survey may be carried out to explore <strong>the</strong> possibilities <strong>of</strong><br />
individual activities which has great potential in this area that may be taken up<br />
in <strong>the</strong> lands <strong>of</strong> SCs/STs <strong>on</strong> priority basis <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> lines that has been taken up <strong>on</strong><br />
Chetram’s field in Kaluana Village. Only such activities will provide poor families<br />
with sustainable income that would pull <strong>the</strong>m out <strong>of</strong> poverty trap without<br />
injecting subsidy every year.<br />
(d) While promoting individual activities in particular and comm<strong>on</strong> agricultural<br />
practice in general, <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> organic farming as promoted by Shri Subhash<br />
Palekar which has established high yield as compared to traditi<strong>on</strong>al practices,<br />
should be taken care <strong>of</strong>. The DPC and <strong>the</strong> State Government should<br />
immediately motivate and identify interested farmers to be associated with this<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cept who may practice this c<strong>on</strong>cept in <strong>the</strong> farming <strong>on</strong> a pilot basis. A<br />
workshop <strong>of</strong> such farmers may be organized in which <strong>the</strong> promoter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cept Shri Subhash Palekar may be invited that would bring in paradigm shift<br />
in agricultural c<strong>on</strong>cepts and practices. SRD also presented a set <strong>of</strong> four books<br />
authored by Shri Palekar to <strong>the</strong> DPC for developing his insight <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject.<br />
(e) Since <strong>the</strong> DPC has d<strong>on</strong>e commendable job in motivati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community for<br />
d<strong>on</strong>ating blood <strong>on</strong> regular intervals and already has a team <strong>of</strong> dedicated<br />
motivators and Camp organizers which has effected blood d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> as a mass<br />
movement in <strong>the</strong> district <strong>the</strong>reby setting a world record and so has a ready-built<br />
infrastructure and <strong>the</strong> human capital which <strong>on</strong>ly requires a small igniti<strong>on</strong> to be<br />
associated with Mahatma Gandhi NREGA as well. The motivators and <strong>the</strong> camp<br />
organizers may be given basic motivati<strong>on</strong>al training at <strong>the</strong> local level itself with<br />
regard to basics <strong>of</strong> MGNREGA. The faculty members <strong>of</strong> <strong>Haryana</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Rural</strong> Development may be asked to <strong>visit</strong> <strong>Sirsa</strong> and impart such trainings for<br />
which <strong>the</strong>y already have training modules.<br />
(f) The training has to be provided at <strong>the</strong> door steps and would include basics as<br />
how to hold <strong>the</strong> Gram Sabha that must discuss <strong>the</strong> potential demand for<br />
employment and <strong>the</strong> number & types <strong>of</strong> works that would need to be taken up<br />
which are <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social interest through which demand for<br />
employment could be satisfied during <strong>the</strong> year(planning process), how <strong>the</strong> Gram<br />
Sabha would periodically m<strong>on</strong>itor <strong>the</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> and progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Scheme(M&VC), basic yardsticks <strong>of</strong> measurement, how to hold social audit,<br />
what are <strong>the</strong> basic documents to be maintained at <strong>the</strong> GP level, role <strong>of</strong> GRS in<br />
this, periodicity <strong>of</strong> wage payment etc.<br />
(g)It should also be ensured that <strong>the</strong> workers are able to get <strong>the</strong>ir wages not<br />
over a cycle <strong>of</strong> 15 days. A facilitator who would assist <strong>the</strong> workers in filling up<br />
<strong>the</strong> withdrawal forms should be explored. The DPC was suggested to make <strong>the</strong><br />
cycle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> muster rolls <strong>of</strong> seven days in order to ensure completi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
wage payment formalities within 15 days.<br />
*************