Ranchi, Jharkhand 13 May 2014 :: Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme and NREGA Watch hosed a State Consultation on Effective Implementation of MGNREGA – Strategies & Way Forward in Social Development Centre, Ranchi Jharkhand. The objective was to facilitate mutual sharing of issues and bottlenecks in the implementation of MGNREGA in the state and devise appropriate mechanisms and strategies to address those. Honorable Rural Development Minister, Dr. K. N Tripathi was the Chief Guest for the event. The workshop was addressed by Balram [ State Advisor, Commissioners of Supreme Court], Gurjeet Singh [ Secretary NREGA Watch ], Prof. Jean Drez, Economist and Johnson Topno [ State Manager, PACS].
The half a day’s consultation was attended by 55 representatives of civil society organizations, media who shared their experiences on MGNREGA implementation across various districts of Jharkhand. They actively participated in the discussion sessions by sharing the grass root challenges in implementation of MGNREGS in the State.
Dr. K. N Tripathi, Rural Development Minister, GoJ expressed his concern on the low utilization of allocated resources for Jharkhand under MGNREGA. He shared about the recent initiatives that are focused on preparation of labor budget and filling up of vacant positions (human resource allocation). He informed about the formation of committee’s comprising civil society representatives at the state level. He assured that the suggestions from the committee would be taken into account. Concluding his speech, Honorable minister appreciated the role of PACS for providing such platform to discuss on pertinent issues for redressal.
Balam [ State Advisor, Commissioners of Supreme Court ] emphasized on the pending works under MGNREGA, especially how the state is suffering the pending work of well construction and installed a thought of thinking ahead for facilitating the panchayats in the planning process and to avail employment to labours under MGNREGA for at least 25 days before the monsoon arrives this year. Major barriers were shared by him, is seen in MGNREGA implementation regarding delay payment, names varying in job card and identity card, less capability and competency among the electronic muster roll operators.
Prof. Jyan Drez, Economist suggested the following
* To extend the man days for 150 days from 100.
* There should be norms for opening works under MGNREGA.
* Benefits of EFMS should be well known and assessed by the CSO’s (Where, through MIS, payment status and pending payment can be seen.)
* Compensation is cases of delayed payments should be initiated.
Gurujeet Singh [ Secretary, NREGA Watch ] emphasized on the establishment of:
* Grievance redressal unit at local/panchayat level.
* Monitoring Committees at the village level.
* MGNREGA resource centre at block level.
