SHILLONG: The prestigious Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has provided wage employment to over one crore person days across Meghalaya for the financial year 2015-16 (April 1, 2015 till January 31, 2016) and the rural employment generation programme has witnessed the involvement of 42 per cent women.
The MGNREGS was initiated with an aim to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed rural employment to adult members of the village who volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
On the occasion of completion of ten years of implementation of one of the most ambitious schemes ever launched in the country, The Shillong Times spoke to a State official who expressed satisfaction that participation of women in the State is higher at 42 per cent than the mandated percentage of 33 as more women are coming forward seeking to earn their livelihoods.
The State Rural Employment Society, the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme, informed that participation of women is high as the MGNREGA, notified in September, 2005, envisages participation of at least 33 per cent of women workers.
The State official said MGNREGA was ideal for women as the work is done within the village itself and women folks can take up activities according to their skills and physical strength.
As many as 6218 villages in the State are currently covered by the MGNREGA scheme, the official informed, while adding that over 84-97 per cent of the works have been completed for the ongoing financial year.
Commenting on the fund allotment and wages for the labourers, the official lamented that there are problems in the field since for unskilled wage the scheme is 100 per cent dependent on central funding. “Since July 2015 we have not been getting funds but we will wait till February so that the Centre can direct more funds to allow us to pay the wages on time,” the official stated.
Asked how the basic needs of the villagers are fulfilled if the wage is prolonged, the official stated that there are corpus funds available at the village level so as to meet the immediate and urgent needs of the labourers.
The official further informed that payment for unskilled labourers is fixed at Rs 163 per day while market wage rates apply for various categories of skilled labourers.
The official also asserted that there is no scam in implementation of the scheme and only minor complaints are lodged. “Immediate enquiries are done in case of allegations but over the years complaints have come down. Last year there were zero complaints and since the beginning of 2016 we have received only one complaint,” the official stated.
Asked whether the scheme has empowered the people financially, the official was optimistic and said the scheme inculcates the spirit of responsibility and awareness among the beneficiaries and functionaries where the labourers are occupied in earning their livelihood which is for the well being of the entire State.
The official also stated that in its 10 years of existence the assets and programmes created through the scheme has been one of the best and citizens of the State can witness the construction of footpaths, drinking wells, etc.
The official, meanwhile, informed that there are plans to do away with cash payments and all future payments are scheduled to be made through banking facilities in the villages.
