As Jharkhand’s farmers concern about how to make ends meet after a prolonged dry spell this monsoon grows, the State Government is gearing up to expedite works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) so that drought-hit farmers do not have to head to other States in search of employment.
Issuing instructions in this regard during a meeting with Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners last Wednesday, Chief Minister Raghubar Das ordered works under the rural employment scheme to be carried out expeditiously with emphasis on districts worst hit by the dry period.
In accordance to these directions, State Rural Development is working to weed out inefficiencies in implementation of the scheme.
"Instructions have been forwarded to districts to better MGNREGA functioning in their respective areas. There is sufficient sanctioned work under the project, all we have to do is give them a kick-start," said Rural Development Special Secretary Paritosh Upadhyay.
He further added, "As of now, it is seen that the promised work period of 100 days cannot be fulfilled often, but we are trying to ensure that this entitlement period is completed. Even succeeding in achieving this target will be a great help in ensuring that no one goes unemployed during times of drought. To ensure compliance, regular follow-ups of progress in MGNREGA will be conducted."
Among these works, emphasis will be put on those related to land development and water conservation so as to aid in keeping drought at bay in future. Upadhyay mentioned that sixty percent of the MGNREGA works sanctioned after the upcoming local body elections will be devoted solely to these sectors.
The chronic issue of delay in wage payments might play spoilsport in the entire scheme of things. People tend to shy away from MGNREGA despite a desperate need of a job due to late payments, but the Department is trying to turn things around.
"There are basically two kinds of delays - delay at the level of MGNREGA functionaries; and process-related delay with banks. Regarding the former form of delay, we will be introducing a penalty system for officials holding-up the payments. As for the latter one, we are conversing with Union Government and bank authorities to speed up the process," Upadhyay said.
Officials have been instructed to go weekly visit panchayats and attend to demands of work. They are to give a return acknowledgement to those demanding work, with a job offer to follow within 15 days.
But all this is still not inclusive enough to some. "Physically-handicapped, pregnant women should be while using MGNREGA to fight drought-caused unemployment as they are unable to migrate in search of work. Provisions to this end in the Act ought to be followed in letter and spirit," stated MGNREGA activist Balram.