MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME
Introduction:
MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Act) was passed by the Government of India in the year 2005 in order to empower the rural labourers with right to get employment of 100days per year per family during off-season. It was launched in Anantapur District on February 2nd, 2006 by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, came into effect from 1-4-2006 in 200 drought prone and backward districts in India. Accordingly the Government of Andhra Pradesh formulated the scheme called MGNREGS.
During implementation of MGNREGS last year, there were many shortfalls like low and delayed employment for job seekers, delay in payments, absence of basic amenities at work spots, incidences of corruption and non-payment of compensation etc. These shortfalls were partly due to improper functioning of Government machinery and partly due to lack of awareness amongst labour community.
MGNREGS has been implemented in all 230 villages of Accion Fraterna’s Project Area covering 8 Mandals in the District. AF staff have been collaborating with Government staff and playing a key role in proper implementation of the scheme
Moreover a pilot project is being implemented with a special drive for total and effective implementation of MGNREGS with all the promised provisions, in 2 mandals of AF’s project area viz. Kalyandurg and Rapthadu.
The purpose of this special drive is to ensure that all wage seeking families access:
- 100 days of employment per year.
- All place facilities like drinking water, shade, crèche etc.
A District level UPHHC (District Upadhi Hami Hakkula Committee) is formed with the representative of 4 NGOs i.e., AF, APPS, REDS,CEC. The work plan was prepared by the Committee.
Activities taken up: The activities taken up under MGNREGS in AF’s area are as follows:
| Sl. No. | Activity | Unit | Extent Nos. | No. of Farmers benefited |
| 1 | Soil & Moisture conservation works (Bunding) | Ha | 29,609 | 9,904 |
| 2 | Farm Ponds | Nos. | 528 | 528 |
| 3 | De-silting of wells | Nos. | 260 | 260 |
| 4 | Tank de-silting | Cum | 26,813 | 900 |
| 5 | Horticulture | Ha | 354 | 354 |
| 6 | Feeder channel | Run.Mts | 60836 | 404 |
| 7 | Jungle clearance | Sq.Mts. | 8,440 | 29 |
Employment generation: There are 60,120 families in 230 Project villages out of which 52,043 families got job cards under MGNREGS. Among the Job Card families 67,796 persons from 46,838 families worked during the reporting period. Out of the total persons worked, 23,180 men availed 50 days of work and 8,935 women availed 40 days of work during the year 2007-08 A total of 18,98,288 person days were generated by which the families could earn wages of Rs.16,70,49,344. Each person worked for 28 days on an average during the year and earned Rs.2,464 at the rate of Rs.88/day. Among the families worked in MGNREGS 3,747 (8%) families availed 100 days of employment.
