In this article, types of works implemented in Assam under MGNREGA/MGNREGS are discussed and for this, reference period is 2019-20. The objective is that readers can get an idea about the types of works implemented in the State. Recently the state is in the news for peaceful completion of elections whereas in neighbouring State in West Bengal large scale violence took place.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), while implementation in the field known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is Indian legislation passed on August 25, 2005.
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The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage. And for this they have to register and obtain a job-card.
MGNREGA is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India. The categories of works under MGNREGA include the following
Category A: Public Works Related to Natural Resources Management inter alia include – i) Water conservation and water harvesting structures, ii) Watershed management, iii) Micro and minor irrigation works, iv) Renovation of traditional water bodies, iv) Afforestation, tree plantation and horticulture etc.
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Category B: Individual assets In this category few examples are : i) Improving productivity of lands of households specified in Paragraph 5 through land development and by providing suitable infrastructure for irrigation including dug wells, farm ponds and other water harvesting structures, ii) Improving livelihoods through horticulture, sericulture, plantation, and farm forestry etc.
Category, C: Common Infrastructure Including for DAY-NRLM Compliant Self Help Groups: Works for promoting agricultural productivity by creating durable infrastructure required for bio-fertilizers and post-harvest facilities including pucca storage facilities for agricultural produce.
Category D: Rural Infrastructure- rural connectivity etc.
The MGNREGA is implemented in 32 districts of the state. As reference 2019-20 year has been accepted and the major projects implemented in all three levels, that is, Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samities and Zilla Parishds have been presented here in total.
The objective here is to give an idea to the readers about the major projects implemented in the state. Angwanwadi or rural infrastructures were created in all the 32 districts and altogether 42 such projects were completed. As drought proofing activities 1131 projects were completed across the state. The state always suffers from floods, so flood protection is an important activity.
The data reveal that 1918 such activities were completed in 2019-20 and 2911 number of water conservation and harvesting structures were completed. Lastly, altogether 2863 rural connectivity were constructed under MGNREGA.
Regarding fisheries, the total number of projects completed were 1419, 2776 micro irrigation projects were completed and land level projects completed were 4261. Under works in the individual category altogether 58,852 works were completed. These are the major activities carried out in the state in 2019-20 under MGNREGA.
Before conclusion, it is pertinent to mention that the average wage rate per day per person (Rs.) in 2019-20 was Rs 192.97 in Assam. Total expenditure during that period was Rs 1,47,629.25 (Lakhs) and total wages Rs 1,22,674.23 (Lakhs).
Based on this article, those who are interested can take up further research study.
Dr Shankar Chatterjee
Former Professor & Head (CPME),NIRD & PR ( Govt. of India), Hyderabad