Clearly, the restructuring of the rural employment guarantee scheme is a step in the right direction. The introduction of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005 was a visionary decision to help the rural poor escape situations of joblessness and poverty. At the same time, it also helped in money circulation in villages to a significant level. Mostly poor women are engaged in this scheme, which helps them and their families survive financial odds. India still remains a largely poor nation though sections of the population are well-off. Subsidized ration keeps the poor in some shape. That some 20 years have passed since the introduction of the rural work facility makes it imperative that a relook is done through a proper and extensive review of the existing system.
The government justifies the overhaul of the scheme on the ground that the original law no longer reflected the current rural realities. As it notes, aspects like misuse of funds through inflated worker participation, weak monitoring and creation of low-quality assets or temporary improvements, required a revamp. The good side of the changes need to be appreciated and flaws, if any, rectified through discussions. The new system proposes a technology driven rural employment system wherein monitoring will be easier. Digitised payment system would improve accountability and transparency. Digital wage payments would ensure those who oversee the scheme in each village would not take a cut on one pretext or the other. An AI-based fraud detection system is to be introduced into the system. The revamped scheme prioritises water-related works, erection or maintenance of rural roads, setting up of markets, climate-resilient assets etc. This might raise agricultural productivity and reduce job-related distress migrations. Mandatory unemployment allowance in situations when work could not be provided, as in a rainy season, is appreciable.
The number of work-days has been increased from a standard 100 days to 125 days – but, the new system removes the provision for more work days that had been made for certain tribal areas and drought-hit regions. The funds for the scheme would be mobilized on a 60-40 basis for states, other than those in the North-East where this ratio would be 90-10 for the Centre and states respectively. A provision has been made to avoid labour shortage during seasons of agricultural operations, by exempting such phases from the scheme’s implementation period. Such changes will be well-appreciated. The name change, however, causes a lot of heartburns; and rightly so. The Mahatma Gandhi name has disappeared, and the scheme would now be known as G RAM G, with its elaboration being The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin). The Mahatma holds a unique place in public minds. His care for the ordinary masses and his clean public life were unique. It’s common knowledge that the Sangh Parivar sought to undercut his importance in the post-Independence era. Gandhiji’s death itself was at the hands of a Hindu fundamentalist. The Congress mostly upheld his legacy. Times, however, are changing. Yet, this name-change should have been avoided. It serves no purpose.
