Wary of decline in per rural household employment generation in the MGNREGA programme, the Rural Development Ministry has asked the States to expand the channels of registration for the workers to register their demand for work.
The move aims to make a desperate bid to bring as many workers as possible in the fold of the rural job scheme ahead of the lok Sabha polls in 2014. As per a recent CAG report, per rural household employment has declined from 54 days in 2009-10 to 43 days in 2011-12 in the UPA’s flagship scheme launched in 2006. Aimed to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, the scheme was extended to cover all the rural districts by April 1, 2008.
A senior RD official said that soon workers will be allowed to register their job demand with anganwadi workers, schoolteachers and Self Help Groups (SHGs). Telephones including cellular could be used for the purpose besides at dedicated kiosks to be set up by the States across the country.
“As most of the workers are illiterate, the system must be made convenient to them and should include such as interactive voice response system (IVRS) and voice-enabled interactions. This option must automatically register the demand for work and keep date and time stamp of such demand,” he said.
The official added that all such applications for work should be reported back by MGNREGA soft, the software, to the relevant Gram Panchayat (GP) without loss of time.
The fourth edition of the MGNREGA Operational Guidelines 2013, also directs the States to ensure that workers can register for works at the GP office or at the worksite besides with the village level revenue functionaries, Common Service Centers (CSCs) and MGNREGA labour group.
“This will be recorded by Gram Rojgar Sewaks in the prescribed application form and employment register,” said the official. Presently, workers register their demand during ‘Rojgar Diwas’, which is organised at least once every month in the States.
“Refusal to accept work applications and provide dated receipts will be treated as a contravention under Section 25 of MGNREGA,” said the official.