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MGREGA 2.0
In the 12th five year plan, planning commission has launched MGREGS 2.0. MGNREGS 2.0 introduces some new approaches for the implmentation of this scheme based on the drabacks reported from various stakeholders.

Following are the 12th five plan approach:

1. Expanded List of Works : The 12th Five year plan proposes to expand the list of works that can be taken up through this scheme. This will give more location-specific flexibility and improve ecological balance in rural areas. Usually Works to be taken up in a particular financial year is decided in the gram sabha meeting. Since the government guideline of the scheme has already listed the type of works to be taken, the options available to the people were restricted. In some places works affecting the ecological balance of that particular place were taken up. This expanded list is expected to to satisfy the needs of different terrains and will help in better generation of durable assets. The unit cost and labour:material cost of each work is also specified. The unit cost may vary in different location but the ratio of labour:material cost should be 60:40. This is to prevent more funds being used for labour displacing machinery.

2. Strengthening the demand-driven character of MGNREGA : The most important feature of MGNREGS scheme is that the work will be initiated only when the wage-seeker demands for work. The old practice of jab kaam khulega, tab kaam milega has to be changed to jab kaam maangege, tab kaam khulega. So in 12th five year plan more importance will be given to record registration of work, job card issuance and application of work. If an officer refuse to accept application of work or failed to give dated receipts for the application it will be considered as a contravention under section 25 of MGNREGA. Under MGNREGS scheme it is mandatory to provide job within 15 days from the date of submission of the job application. Otherwise from the 16th day unemployment allowance has to be given to the worker. Most of the workers were not aware of this provision and so very few workers applied for the job and even if they do so they were not given any receipts for the same.

3. Labour budget : MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme. So in order to satisfy workers job demand it is necessary to identify what will be the quantum of work that will be in demand and the time of demand. Based on these 2 factors a shelf of project is prepared. In order to identify the demand of work and its timing a labour budget is done. Thus a labour budget should provide 3 main information : 1) The quantum of work that will be in demand. 2) The exact time of demand for work. 3) A plan that shows the quantum and schedule of work that will be provided to the workers. If a prior plan is given to the workers, migration can be stopped. Previously such plans were not created and so workers were unaware of the works available and thus migrate to cities just after the agricultural season. Therefore it is important for Gram Panchayat to inform the workers about the available job and its timing well in advance of the kharif harvest. In the 12th plan period it is mandatory to present the annual plan by the Gram Panchayat at the Gram Sabha on 15th August.

4. Adequate Shelf of Projects : The main implementing agent of MGNREGA work is Gram Panchayats. But due to lack of functionaries the projects face difficulties in its implementation. So in the 12th five year plan each block will appoint a full time Programme Officer for MGNREGA. In areas were the population of SC plus ST is more than or equal to 30 per cent of the total population or the annual MGNREGA expenditure is more than Rs. 12 crores in any year since the programme started have to mandatorily have at least three Cluster Facilitation Teams (CFT), each of which will service a Cluster of Gram Panchayats (CGP). These CGPs will be accountable to each Gram Panchayat within their Cluster. Each CGP will cover 15000 job cards or an area of 15000 ha. Each CFT will have three member full time professional support team. This will be a multidisciplinary team led by Assistant Programme Officer (APO) and will give technical support for planning and implementation of the projects.

5. Reducing Delays in Wage Payments : According to MGNREGA it is mandatory to pay the wages after seven days or maximum within 15 days otherwise the workers are entitled to compensation. But a lot of payment delay has been reported. One reason for this is the delay in closing the Muster roll and starting of the transaction process. MGNREGS 2.0 specifies payment schedule that should be followed and tracked using transaction-based MIS system. Tracking through MIS system will help in identifying delay and for taking appropriate action. In Andhra Pradesh the website will give alert message when there is a delay in payment. Another reason for the delay in wage payment is non-availability of sufficient funds at district/block/GP level. Some places will be having surplus of funds and others will be facing shortage of funds. To manage the fund allocation properly, MGNREGS 2.0 proposes an integrated fund management system called e-FMS (Electronic Fund Management System). Under e-FMS the funds are centrally pooled but managed at state level. This will allow funds to be utilised by GP/ Block/District level officers from centralised fund through electronic transaction and the transaction will be completed within 24 hours.

6. Strengthening Banks and Post Offices : In order to prevent leakages it was made mandatory in the original act to pay the wage through banks or post office. But due to low bank/post office density and lack of adequate personnel led to delay in wage payment or difficulty for workers to use this facility. In order to deal with this problem Banking Correspondent Model will be introduced. In order to make the Banking Correspondent (BC) Model viable, state governments are asked to appoint BC's through a transparent process of selection with Rs. 80 per active account per year to be included under 6 per cent administrative expense head of MGNREGA. This is only a temporary provision still the Bank correspondent's business becomes self-sustaining. In order to avoid delay in transfer of cheques and wage lists from Gram Panchayat to the banks 12th five year plan has proposed electronic transfer of data files to banks.

7. Social Audits, Vigilance and Grievance Redressal : Another important feature of MGNREGA is its provision for monitoring and evaluating the projects under it. This is done through Social Audit and Grievance Redressal Cell. But only Andhra Pradesh has institutionalized social audit through setting up Social Audit Cell. So in MGNREGA 2.0 it is mandatory to set up Social Audit Unit(SAU) to facilitate Gram Sabhas to conduct social audit. The SAU will be responsible for building capacities of Gram Sabhas for conducting social audit by identifying, training and deploying suitable resource persons at village, block, district and state level from primary stakeholders and other civil society organisations. The SAU will create awareness regarding the rights of the labours and their entitlements and also help them to verify MGNREGA work related documents. Under MGNREGA 2.0 it is mandatory for states to upload the photographs of works at different stages of execution using NREGASoft software. States are also asked to link Aadhaar number of each worker in the MIS system. So that fake job cards can easily identified and removed. All states have to make provision for a three-tier vigilance mechanism to detect and follow up irregularities in the work including those identified during social audits. At the State level there will be a Vigilance Cell consisting of a Chief Vigilance Officer. Under MGNREGA 2.0, only 6 per cent of the total MGNREGA fund should be used for administrative expense.