MNREGA-NEW THRUST IN INCLUSIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

* Dr.S.UPENDRA SASTRY ** Dr.M.YADAGIRA CHARYULU * ** G.K. KUMAR

ABSTRACT Since the beginning of the economic planning in India the development perspective has centered on the betterment of rural areas. From community development programmes of 1950s to present MNREGA many area specific, group specific and activity specific activities have been designed and implemented to uplift the rural communities from their major socio economic problems. The work fare programmes with an intention to assure minimum wage to the rural labour have been on since 1950s and have had their impact on rural living conditions. Till the economy has embraced the economic reforms, the rural development programmes were implemented with more precision. The post-globalisation scenario aptly speaks that the prioritization of policy frame work has distanced from rural economy and agriculture and concentrated on urban and service sector oriented programmes. The large scale unrest and crisis in rural economy and devastating farmers suicides once again have driven the attention of policy makers towards rural oriented specific schemes.

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Dr.S.Upendra Sastry, Reader in Commerce, C.K.M Arts & Science College, Desaipet, Waranga-506006,Andrapradesh, (India) Dr.M.Yadagira Charyulu,Reader in Economics, Government Pingle Womens College,Waddepally, Hanamkonda,-506002,Andrapradesh, (India) G.K. Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Management, CKM Arts & Science College, Desaipet,Warangal-506006,Andrapradesh, (India.)

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Many studies including that of Suresh Tendulkar have opened up a serious debate on poverty and its root of unemployment in rural areas. Obviously, the rural unemployment and poverty are at alarming rate due to 2evitalizatio lead market orientation. The controversy of statistics on extent of poverty has warranted the UPA government to evolve a policy paradigm into rural economic structure i.e., NREGP. The programme is basically intended to provide 100 days guaranteed employment to at least one member of the BPL family in rural area. On September, 2005 it has been promulgated into an act through legislative measure. It has been designed in such a way to address the basic causes behind the chronic poverty in rural India. The areas plagued with severe drought, deforestation and soil erosion were given top priority in selection of the house holds under the scheme. In the beginning it has been notified in 200 districts and later extended to 593 districts. . It has renamed as MNREGA on October 2 nd 2009. Factually rural economy is virtually relying (52 per cent of work force) on agriculture for its employment and lively hood. Through the generations, the agriculture is under the influence of vagaries of monsoon. The employment opportunities in rural areas are season oriented. In between, the seasonal unemployment is resulting in large scale out migration from villages and creating many urbanization related socio-economic problems. On the other the village economy has been facing the resource crunch and way behind in the pace of development. In view of this precarious situation the basic concept behind the NREGP is to provide viable employment during the seasonal fluctuations and transfer many incomes to the poor households. For the last six years and on it has created remarkable imprint on rural employment generation and reduction of poverty. The World Bank has estimated that by 2015 the percentage of population below the poverty line will reduce by 10 percentage points. The NREGP provided gainful employment beyond the agricultural activities and enabled to create sustainable productive assets in rural India. It guaranteed a minimum wage

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of Rs. 120 per person day and the government has allocated Rs. 40,000 crores in 201011towards implementation of this programme. At present it has covered around 4.49 crore house holds. It created more than 180.45 lakh person days and nearly one crore rupees worth of assets.50 percent of person days were created by women labourers, further, 30 percent of person days were by labour from SC community and 22.0 percent STs. Obviously, it strengthens the argument of social inclusion put forth in this programme. Between 2008-09 and 2009-10, the women participation in MNERGA has increased from 47to 51 percent and it added to the cherished cause of women empowerment in line with inclusive growth approach of Eleventh Five Year Plan. The critical evaluation of MNERGA aptly shows regional disparities in participation of women and socially excluded groups. Inspite of scrupulous measures such as Job Card System, Social Auditing and decision making in the hands of Gram Panchayats in true spirit of democracy, there are many instances of financial indiscipline and diversion from the main frame work of the act by application of machinery in place of labour force and misuse of man power in private works that benefit certain individuals. Another major criticism on MNREGA that agricultural operations were not included in to its fold. This has been causing shortage of labour force during the peak seasons and thus greater hardship to the farmers to complete the agricultural operations in time. Thus there is every need to further 3evitalization of the programme with participation of the rural poor communities in letter spirit. It is the inclusion of these deprived sections in every sphere of activity including decision making of MNREGA can only give a real shape to the cherished dream of Mahatma. ***

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