Report - Mgnrega Training

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Two Days Training cum Exchange Programme on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes Programme

Conducted by – Karma Consultants

Supported by – DKA & KFB, Austria Date & Venue – 13-14 December 2010 at Sewa Kendra, Patna

Participants – Project Team Members of partner organization of DKA & KFB, Austria in the state of Bihar.

Key Resource Person – Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants

Guest Resource Person – Mr. Mihir Sahana, Basix, Patna and Mr Shailesh Signh, UNDP, Patna

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The training started with introduction of the participants followed by brief presentation about the perspectives of the supporting agency DKA / KFB as well as roles of Karma Consultants. Invitation Letter to Partner Organization and Training Schedule has been presented in Annexure 1 & Annexure 2 respectively.

Further Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants has clearly explained about the purpose of the training cum exchange programme on MGNREGS.

Purpose of the training programme

• To create momentum among partner organization working in the state of Bihar

• STOCK taking of progress of the partner Organization • Exploitation of the current political progressive environment by working as

cross cutting agenda of entitlement realization of government schemes • To provide details inputs about the key provisions, norms and processes

of ensuring wage work under MGNREGS • Encourage assertion exercise in the interest of the target community

groups about MGNREGS Mr. Ashok has also shared about training schedule & content in details to the participants. He informed about the guest resource person and their roles in the training programme. He also justified the presence of representatives of NIDAN for their experiences sharing on MGNREGA intervention in the Vaishali district of Bihar. The presence of Panchayat Rojgar Sewak was also clarified to the participants.

He has clearly shared about the concept of partnership that in what ways this two ways process will be effective for intensification of the partnership. He further requested with the representatives of partner organization for making presentation of the project progress. Representatives of each partner organization have made presentation1 about the project – issues, progress & challenges. Participants have also clarified their inquisitiveness related to presentation of the peer partner groups. The organization representative has done the presentation electronically as well as through chart paper. Update on partnership was experienced and all the participants were exposed about the diversified range of work of the different NGOs in the support of DKA & KFB, Austria.

1 In this report we are not presenting details presentation of the partner organization but we have recorded the presentation in our institutional recording purpose and hope this will guide us during our field visit interaction.

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After presentation Mr Ashok has also requested with the participants for sending the progress / tracking document of the NFE and SHGs as MIS will be base for assessing the progress of the work of the respective organization. This particular first session was very valuable in term of setting contextual in the training programme as all of the participants realize the needs of intervention on MGNREGS issues as cross cutting agenda. Mr ashok has also briefly presented about the key provisions of the MGNREGS2.

The guest Resource Person, Mr. Mihir, has facilitated the next session and informed about the key features of the MGNREGA. Further, he shared about the initiatives of the state of Bihar regarding grounding and effective implementation of the MGNREGS. Mr. Mihir has shared the key findings of the “Scoping Study on Designing Alternative Implementation Model (AIM) for NREGS” (Basix did the study.)

Mr. Mihir presentation3 was centered on following issues…

• Range of opportunities and type of Shelf of work is available at the village level under MGNREGS – general perception about non-scope of shelf of work was clarified

• How to Identify activities and list of works that could be undertaken under NREGS (and potentially through convergence) in consultation with gram sabha and gram panchayat

• How to do the planning process through the Panchyati Raj Institutions for ensuring implementation of the plan under MGNREGS

• How to do Labour Budget - estimation of Employment generation or human days in different works

• Suggestions for effective implementation of MGNREGS • Way forward for the state government of Bihar He concluded his session by stating that there are range of scope and opportunities are available under MGNREGS for the community members – as civil society organization one should make efforts towards providing handholding supportive roles for the MGNREGS functionaries as well as for the representative of PRIs bodies. And it requires mobilization and support of the potential beneficiaries.

2 REFER ANNEXURE 3 FOR BRIEF PROVISIONS ABOUT MGNREGS 3 REFER ANNEXURE 4 FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION FACILITATED BY MR. MIHIR, BASIX, PATNA

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Next session was carry forward by the Panchayat Rojgar Sewak of Masauri, Jehanabad, who has first shared about the roles of Panchayat Rojgar Sewak under the MGNREGS. He has lots of complaints about his own roles & responsibility. He also shared that how this dissatisfaction of Panchayat Rojgar Sewak has been affecting the implementation of the MGNRES plan at the grass root level.

• Due to complication in approval of the plan generally all gram panchayat are just making plan of the project costing less than Rs 1,00,000 as its get approval by the leaders of the gram panchayat only. He suggested the ways of making job card, demanding wage work opportunities and contributing in the planning processes at the gram sabha level.

• Signature authority of Mukhiya create problem in developing coordination among MGNREGA functionaries and implementing agency as well

• Technical support under MGNREGS is also complicated – this also invites corruption in implementation as well as planning processes

• Fund flow is also irregular due to absence of organic linkages among different tier level of panchayati raj as well as MGNREGS functionaries

This session was concluded by understanding that CSO / CBOs should come forward and make efforts for proper coordination with the Panchayat Rojgar Sewak as PRS is responsible for direct coordination with the direct eligible and potential beneficiaries at the village level and MGNREGS functionaries at block and district level.

On the second day, representative of Bihar Water development Society did recap of the first day session in brief.

First Session of the second day was taken by Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh, UNDP, Patna. He has articulated the roles of the CSOs in ensuring effective interest of the implementation of the MGNREGS.He has provided space to participants to come out with their ideas and experiences and further following set of intervention agenda has been emerge during the session…

• Awareness Generation and mobilizing the poorest groups towards MGNREGS agenda

• Intervention as Campaign mode

• Organizing MELA – Job card Preparation and handing over to the potential beneficieries

• Support in opening of bank account and ensuring payment by building pressure on the implementing agency & payment authority – Bank / Post Office

• Organizing the job cardholders in groups of 35 for demanding putting application for wage wwrk demand collectively and ensuring receicing the acknowledgement receipt of the same

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• Facilitating AAM SABHA / GRAM SABHA on MGNREGS agenda

• Taking stock of concerns / grievances and providing platform for its redressal

• Capacity Building of MGNREGS functionaries

• Facilitating & Supporting in planning of the MGNREGS with focus on diversified shelf of work such as creating durable assets, water conservation & protection, land development, etc

• Quality of work assessment and monitoring

• Facilitating the processes of Convergence and inter departmental coordination for mobilization resources under MGNREGS

• Support in planning – creation of more number of wage work

• Encouraging community leaders / SHGs leader for working as MATE

• District Level Advocacy

Session was concluded with note that there are opportunities at the village level as CSOs are engaged in community mobilization and organizing them into peoplesʼ organization so

Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha facilitated next session on highlighting the tracking processes of MGNREGS. Mr. Ashok has explained in details about processes, steps and approaches of tracking of Mahatma Gandhi NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE Scheme (MNREGS) for ensuring transpacrecy in the effective implementation of the programme

Planning of MNREGS Annual Shelf of Projects - Gram Panchayat Level Planning: In every Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha is held on or before the 2nd October each year to prepare the shelf of works for the upcoming financial year. All the villagers must participate in this Gram Sabha.

Demand for Work: At least 35 job cardholders from a village or Gram Panchayat should jointly apply in writing demanding work in a block of dates for minimum 14-day continuously when they wish to work up to the maximum number of 100 days. This application must be signed or the thumb prints of all the job card holders must be provided against their names as the applicants,

Tracking of MGNREGS

• Planning of MNREGS Annual Shelf of Projects - Gram Panchayat Level Planning

• Demand for Work

• Using RTI in case of Delay in Providing Work under MNREGS

• Inspection of MNREGS Worksites

• Complaint Redressal

Verification of Muster Rolls

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application be addressed to the Mukhiya/ Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat or to the Programme Officer, MNREGS of the concerned block, be deposited in the Panchayat/block office and a receipt taken from the concerned office. The wage work will be provided to the job card holders within 15 days or unemployment allowance starts.

Using RTI in case of Delay in Providing Work under MNREGS: If the work under MNREGS is not provided within 15 days of the receipt of the written, joint work application of more than 35 job card holders, an RTI application may be written addressing the Public Information Officer of the same block office. The RTI application must mention the date of receipt of the written application demanding work under MNREGS and must claim the unemployment allowance after 15 days of work application.

Inspection of MNREGS Worksites: The villagers should check the following items on an ongoing MNREGS worksite and ensure that :

• A Citizenʼs Information Board is put up at every worksite and updated regularly

• Numbered Muster Rolls are maintained on the worksite. No kuchcha muster rolls are used.

• All work is executed by the workers who are residents of the Gram Panchayat or are from within a range of 5 kms, who have job cards and who have demanded work. This is necessary to avoid contractors.

• No machines are used to complete work during day or night.

• No person below the age of 18 is working on MNREGS site.

• Measurement Books is maintained by qualified technical personnel in charge of the worksite.

• A copy of the sanction/work order is available at the worksite.

• On completion of every work, the Village and Monitoring Committee should submit a report certifying that the work has been completed satisfactorily and details of the work be recorded in the MNREGS Works Register and proactively displayed

Verification of Muster Rolls: In case of inspection and verification of muster rolls by the villagers, the following items must be ensured:

• Every week, five workers must verify and certify all the bills/vouchers of their worksite.

• The vigilance committee should check all works and their evaluation report will be submitted to the Gram Sabha during Social Audit in the manner prescribed by the Government of India.

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• Entries of wage payment with signature of concerned official should be entered in the Muster Rolls.

• The workers should counter-sign their attendance and wage payment on the Muster Roll at the worksite

Complaint Redressal : Villagers can lodge MNREGS related complaints in the complaint book kept in the Panchayat Bhavan, block and district NREGS departments. The Programme Officer, MNREGS must conduct an enquiry through spot verification, inspection and dispose the complaint within 7 working days. To register complaints at the national level, dial toll free MTNL number 1800110707.

After explaining about the tracking of the MGNREGS and its assertion processes Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha has also explained in details about the social audit processes, which is also mandatory under MGNREGS.

Social Audit of NREGS

All the adult members of the Gram sabha must attend the Social Audit held for their Gram Panchayat twice a year. They must monitor the following items during the month-long process of Social Audits:

• The information about the Social Audit Gram Sabha is given at least one month before the date of the event.

• The Social Audit committee consists of neutral representatives from community like eminent, retired citizens, NGO representatives, etc, not any PRI or political representative and serving government officials

• All concerned government officials from MNREGS, block and district departments are present in the Gram Sabha that is presided by a neutral person notified by the Gram Sabha other than the PRI representatives, government officials or part of any Implementation Agency

Need Attention

• Social Audit Exercise always conducts under the ownership of the community leadership and peoplesʼ organization

• Mobilization of gram sabha members, panchayat representatives and implementation agency

• Secondary Information need to be collected from relevant sources

• Look as ensuring transparency & accountability perspectives

• Jury Selection needs to be finalize properly

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• All files related to MNREGS are brought to the social audit venue and read out one by one by a neutral person other than the Pachayat or Rojgar Secretary or any government official.

• The action taken report of the previous social audit is read out first, followed by the mandatory agenda

• Information is read out publicly from the mandatory agenda and people are given an opportunity to seek and obtain information from officials, verify financial expenditure, examine the provision of entitlements, discuss the priorities reflected in choices made, and critically evaluate the quality of works as well as the services of the programme staff.

• All the villagersʼ replies, comments and complaints about each record are noted down by a neutral person other than the Pachayat or Rojgar Secretary or any government official

Next Session was handed to representatives of NIDAN the purpose of the session was to share the practical learning experiences of working on the agenda of MGNREGS. NIDAN Representatives has presented4 their experiences of the project title Leveraging MNREGA through Labor Co-operative in Vaishali District. He has explained in details about Project Objective, Project Background, Project Areas, Project Strategies followed, awareness Campaign, Labour Cooperative, ICT Centre, Mass Mahaadhikar Rally, Achievements, Key Challenges & constraint, survey & findings, Good practices, Recommendation, Responses of PRIs representatives and government Service Providers and Success Story.

After presentation interaction was held during the session and participants has clarified about their doubt. It was observed during this session that the representatives of NIDAN have presented a complete set of intervention. Though NIDAN has implemented the project at district level but it realized during the session and open discussion that state level advocacy is also needed for grounding of the MGNREGS programme. The approach of forming Labour Cooperatives was quite effective in terms of linking it with promotion of other livelihood issues also. It was emerged very clearly that community mobilization and collective processes supporting in getting wage work under MGNREGS.

Session was concluded with a positive note that NIDAN has done progressive work in spite of odd working environment and normal support from the MGNREGS service providers & government functionaries. The presentation could be useful in framing out strategies or possible action plan of intervention for any CSOs. Collective pressure building and policy advocacy initiatives can be work out.

4 Refer Annexure 5 for details presentation of NIDAN experiences of implementing MGNREGS

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The next session facilitated again by Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha and he clarified very progressively that as CSOs we have to clearly assessed our own situation and accordingly we have to clearly defined that what we are aiming for in the larger interest of the community groups and this clarification will be emerged at the CSOs level only. He sighted following aim for intervention on MGNREGS agenda, which are

• Promote the tools of good governance and social accountability and mobilize people on the agenda of MGNREGA

• To advocate for effective implementation of MGNREGA and mobilize the relevant stakeholders to commit for the same

• To facilitate making of citizenʼs charter / complains applications for

He emphasis on working out clear cut aim at the organizational level in close consultation with the community members, community leaders and organization team members / authority. Project mode of intervention will not be only effective it require campaign mode, policy advocacy mode and demand driven mode of intervention with rights perspectives.

Mr. Ashok has also clarified about the scaling up and grounding of MGNREGS

• Bridging the planning gaps through convergence with the Village Development Plans and line department plans

• Setting up a development ladder to take the poor out of the poverty cycle leveraging their strengths as Common Interest Groups

Further Mr. Sinha gas guided about Possible Areas of Intervention for Partner Organization in the coming days…

• FORMATION OF COMMON INTEREST GROUP

• Setting up of essential social supports

• Development Planning at GP, block and district levels

• Setting up a “Workersʼ Employment Committee” as a bridge between workers and NREGS administration

It is expected from the participants that they will share their learning inputs in their own team members and come out with future course of action on MGNREGS as cross cutting agenda.

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Outcomes of the training…

• 30 Participants were exposed about the work in progress of each partner organization of the DKA & KFB, Austria

• Clarity has been developed about tracking mechanism and social audit exercise on MGNREGS under the leadership of communities members / community leaders and banner of peoplesʼ organization

• State perspective and possible Alternative Implementation Model on MGNREGS has been clarified

• Clarity developed about the diversified range of shelf of work among the participants under MGNREGS as well as favouring to dalits / SCs / Mahadalits groups

• Momentum has been building up for taking MGNREGS as cross cutting agenda in the region

• Increased level of understanding about Set of CSOs intervention possibilities on MGNREGS agenda

• Need of Pressure Building Exercises and Policy Advocacy Intervention need has been emerged out

• MGNREGS could be important bargaining points in the coming Panchayat Election so need has been also emerged out that MGNREGS could be added in the manifesto of the contesting candidates

• Joint action of all the partner organization of the DKA & KFB, Austria can be worked out in the near future in case of difficulties in grounding / implementation of the MGNREGS programme

• Increased level of understanding among participants about the Planning exercise with the support of gram sabha members and panchayat representatives

• Understanding has been increased about roles clarity of the Panchayat Rojgar Sewak

• Gaps & Limitations in MGNREGS implementation has been understood by the participants

• Possible set of CSOs interventionʼs understanding has been developed among the participants

• Convergence approach & interdepartmental coordination can be worked out or CSOs can provide hand holding support to MGNREGS functionaries, panchayat representatives and Implementing agency

• Possibilities of increased pace of entitlement realization under MGNREGS has been worked out

•

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Annexure 1. Invitation Letter

Dear partners of KFB and DKA Austria,

Very best wishes from Vienna!

Together with Karma Consultants I am very happy that we can offer you a 2 days training programme on MGNREGA in Patna. All partners of DKA and KFB Austria are invited to participate in this learning exercise and sharing process. Please send not more than two team members on 13-14th December 2010 to Sewa Kendra, Patna.

Kindly provide following information about your project

• Project Issues and brief progress of the project till November 2010 – each partner organization has to make presentation on this

• Status of MGNREGA in the project operational areas – any intervention on MGNREGA and related problems / challenges

For details of the training kindly consult Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants

Mob no – 9431810206 / email id – [email protected]

As DKA and KFB Austria is in a process of change, these trainings also serve the purpose of a better cooperation of partners, donor agency and accompanier. I stress that we will work in a programme setting and the participation in the trainings arranged by Karma Consultants are of utmost importance.

We do hope that the communication of our partners with Karma Consultants will improve. I this training will be a good chance for improving the cooperation and partnership.

I am wishing you a successful and interesting training.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Eva Wallensteiner Project Dept. ---------------------------------------------------------- DKA Austria / kfb Austria Wilhelminenstraße 91/II f 1160 Vienna Austria Phone: +43-1-4810991-73 Fax: +43-1-4810991-30 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.dka.at, www.teilen.at DVR: 0574031

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Annexure 2. Training schedule & contents of the Training Programme Contents Time Schedule Remarks Facilitators Registration & Introduction

9.00 am – 9.15 am

Informal interaction & exchange of experiences among participants

PARTICIPANTS -

Brief Presentation about DKA / KFB & Purpose of the Training Programme

9.15 am – 9.30 am

PARTNERSHIP Status in the state of Bihar

Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants

Presentation by the representatives of Participating Partner Organization

9.30 am – 11.00 am

Project operational areas, project Issues and brief progress of the project till November 2010 (Each partner organization has to make presentation)

Representatives of Partner Organization

11.00 am – 11.15 am Tea-break

Presentation by the representatives of Participating Partner Organization

11.15 am – 12.00 pm

Project operational areas, project Issues and brief progress of the project till November 2010 (Each partner organization has to make presentation)

Representatives of Partner Organization

Brief Overview about MGNREGS in the state of Bihar & present efforts towards implementation of MGNREGS

Consolidation of Partnership Agenda with priorities issues of DKA / KFB

12.00 pm – 12.15

Conclusion with reflection regarding communication response (MIS – SHGs & NFE Progress)

Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants

Experiences of other agency working on MGNREGA

12.15 pm – 12.45 pm

Introduction of MGNREGA Training Agenda followed by presentation on Strategies towards mobilization of community members & other stakeholders helped in positive outcomes in favour of potential beneficiaries

MR. MIHIR, BASIX, Patna, Bihar

Open discussion & Reflection

12.45 pm – 1.00 pm

Mr. Mihir, Basix, Patna

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1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Lunch Break

Salient features of the MGNREGA

2.00 pm – 2.30 pm

State Provisions in details with gender & inclusion perspectives

Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants

Scope of work under MGNREGA at the village level

2.30 pm – 3.15 pm

Sharing of status, problems, challenges by participants followed by reflection and Open interaction by Panchayat Rojgar Sewak

Panchayat Rojgar Sewak, Masauri, Patna

Status of the MGNREGA in the project operational areas

2.30 pm – 3.15 pm

Status, Problems, Challenges (Group Exercise – Group will be formed based on operational areas / district)

GROUPS Discussion

3.15 pm – 3.30 pm Tea Break

MGNREGA Overview

3.30 pm – 4.00 pm

Presentation of Partner Organization

Consolidation by Ashok Kumar Sinha

Open discussion followed by conclusion

4.30 pm – 5.00 pm

Summing up of first day Ashok kumar Sinha

Day 2 – 14th December Recap of the first day

9.30 am – 9.45 pm

Participants

Possible areas of intervention under MGNREGA by CSOs / NGOs / CBOs

9.45 am – 10.15 am

• Scope of Work under MGNREGA

• Coordination with District administration & MGNREGS functionaries

• Challenges in interventions by the CSOs / NGOs / CBOs

Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh, UNDP, Patna

Clarity about roles of NGOs / SHGs / CBOs

10.15 am – 10.30 am

Presentation by groups leaders

MGNREGA as rights perspective and demand driven programme

10.30 am – 11.00 am

• Planning of MNREGS Annual Shelf of Projects - Gram Panchayat Level Planning

• Demand for Work • Using RTI in case of

Delay in Providing Work under MNREGS


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11.00 am – 11.15 am Tea Break

WORK EXPERIENCES in MGNREGA

11.15 am – 12.15 am

Detail presentation about the project implemented specifically – objective, strategies, Progress & Challenges, case study, Way forward

NIDAN, Patna followed by open discussion and exchange of learning / experiences

Tracking tools of MGNREGS

12.15 pm – 12.45 pm

• Steps of tracking and complaint processes

• Inspection of MNREGS Worksites

• Verification of Muster Rolls

• Complaint Redressal


Open discussion 12.45 pm – 1.00 pm

• Clarity about Tracking tools & processes

Open discussion & Reflection

1.00 pm - 2.00 pm Lunch Break

Gram Sabha & Social Audit of NREGS

2.00 pm – 2.30 pm

• Gram Sabha exclusively on MGNREGS

• Steps of Social Audit


Possible steps by Partner Organization of DKA / KFB

2.30 pm – 3.00 pm

• What we are aiming for… • Scaling up and grounding

of • Possible areas of

intervention


3.00 pm - 3.15 pm Tea Break

3.00 pm – 3.40 pm

Open discussion & Reflection and conclusion


MGNREGA – present political environment / panchayat election

3.15 pm – 3.30 pm

MGNREGA as agenda in the coming PRIs election in the state of Bihar


Way forwards in MGNREGS in the operational areas followed by concluding remarks

3.30 pm – 4.00 pm

Summing up Clarity & request for doing follow up of the training


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Annexure 3. Key Provisions of MGNREGA

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Annexure 4. Highlights of the session facilitated by Mr. Mihir, Basix, Patna

Explained about purpose of the Scoping Study on Designing AIM for NREGS and its findings

Identification of relevant works for dry land & flood affected areas of Bihar under NREGS

Identify activities and works that could be undertaken under NREGS (and potentially through convergence) and thus, inform the planning process through the Panchyati Raj Institutions

Possible shelf of work in flood prone areas - Homestead raising, Flood shelter, Plantation, Draining and sewage, Raised platform, Raised toilets as demanded by the women SHG, Saving the village from erosion from floodwater, Safe drinking water with raised hand-pump base,

Shelf of Work for Increased productivity - Renovation of traditional water bodies, Land development, Drought proofing, Develop irrigation facilities, Horticulture development

Shelf of work for promotion of livelihood - Dig and repair of small farm ponds to hold water, irrigate vegetable gardens and rear fish and ducks, Grow vegetable gardens and/or plants like banana, papaya, gourds on the raised banks (using excavated mud) of small farm ponds and other water bodies that are deepened, or with bucket irrigation facilities, Provide outlets from ponds to water logged paddy fields so that fish can grow faster, Develop systems of community irrigation such as lift irrigation by harvesting of excess water, Link technical support from agriculture experts to introduce improved techniques, and change cropping patterns, Grow alternative crops such as alternate hardy variety of rice or short term rice, Promote alternate cropping, mainly of vegetables, Develop aquatic crops, Plant fuel trees that can sustain prolonged water logging, Promote demonstration work in agriculture even in homestead like vegetable farming /agro-horticulture/agro forestry, Raise the elevation of some areas for growing fruit bearing trees, Repair irrigation canals and other minor irrigation works, Provide agriculture insurance to farmers, Provide facilities for storage at elevated ground level, Create field ponds to promote fishery as was done in Uttar Pradesh

Specific Estimate and recommendation of one-gram panchayat as examples

• Recommended self of works for Gyandov Panchyat would generate adequate wages about 5,19,966 person days of work, which is about 3.70years for 1405 households

• Maintenance of the shelf of works has potential for 1,03,993 person days of work – 74 mandays of work every year

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• Can generate adequate income for people, labour and panchyat on an ongoing basis

• But it warrants for transparent systems in place

• Adequate capacity building of the community, village and Panchayat level PRI workers and block level workers

Suggestions for effective implementation of MGNREGS

• Awareness on NREGS at all level.

• Awareness for registration, demand for job, receipt be promoted.

• Capacity building of Gram Panchayat and above.

• Strengthening of the institutions like Bank, Post office, Panchayati Raj system.

• Adequate HR recruitment and positioning.

• As per study there is latent demand of Job, but it should be propagated to wage seekers.

• Payments to wage seekers on daily basis.(Partial payment in advance based on recommendation of Mate appointed by VDC ).

Way forward for the state government of Bihar

• Strengthen and focus on grassroots institution building for poor

• Separate entity for NREGS

• Separate agency for Participatory planning

• Formation of labour banks, REX model for Matching of labour demand and supply

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Annexure 5. Details about NGOs programme on MGREGS Agenda – NIDAN , Presentation

Project Objectives

• To mobilize and organize Job card holders into self supporting Labour Cooperatives at Block level

• Co-cooperatives to promote rights and entitlements under NREGA, sectoral linkage, skill development and sustainable employment

• To facilitate pro poor communication and advocacy strategy for leveraging NREGA by creating mass scale awareness generation and information

• To identify and conduct skill training in key area specific skill generation activities (e.g – hatchery, handicraft, horticulture, handloom and floriculture)

• Income generation & sustainable livelihood through other non farm activities liked with Labour cooperatives

Project Background

• NREGA programme initiated in Bidupur Block, Vashali district, Bihar, 2 years back in 24 Panchayats.

• As per Government Data Available, in 2009, there were 40095-registered labor in the Bidupur block, with about 31886 accounts holder. All the Registered Labor was shown as Job card Holders.

The ground situation of NREGA status in 2009 was contrary to the official assertion:

• Most of the villagers were not aware of the features of the MNREGA act and its provisions related to Job card, application for work, and the minimum wages guaranteed under the Act.

• The PRI Institutions and Rozgar Sevaks were discouraging the people to be involved in the program.

• There were various irregularities like non issuance of Job cards and receipts, Accounts book, Forged payments from accounts, exploitation by middlemen and fraudulent withdrawal of wages from Accounts

• The record, lists and the muster rolls were not maintained properly and there was little transparency in NREGA works and payments

Project Based Intervention by NIDAN - Nidan initiated the UNDP supported NREGA Leveraging Programme in Bidupur Block, Vaishali District from Oct , 2009.

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Project Areas - District:-Vaishali, Block:-Bidupur, Revenue villages :-115, Total Households:-30823, Total population :-207421, Male:-109099, Female:-98322, Sex Ratio:-901, Schedule caste:-39162, Schedule tribe:-154,

• Total registered labour under MNREGA - 40095 ( 2009)

• Total Job-card holder labour Under MNREGA:-40095 ( 2009)

• Total Account-holder labor:-31886

• Total SC labour:-18620 ( 2009)

Strategies Followed

• Mobilization of the 115 villagers were carried Panchayat wise in a phased and planned manner through various community meetings, Awareness campaigns, Rath Yatra, Nukkad natak, Wall writings and distribution of IEC materials.

• Pro-field and people-centered strategy for advocacy and communication was built around the awareness campaigns, which developed into a type of movement.

• Regular community meetings, follow-up visit of all the Panchayats and continuous interactions and relation building with community stakeholders, PRI functionaries and local govt. officials on continuous basis

• Strategically for a decentralized implementation and monitoring of the activities, Panchayat level activities are initiated at the lowest level to monitor progress, ensure regularity of meetings and generate demand within the community participation.

• 2 Rojgar Evum Suchana Kendra (ICT) operational in Bidupur Block acted as a hub of all programme activities like NREGA information, dissemination, RTI and Cooperatives and livelihood activities

• Labor co-operative acted as facilitator of entitlements, skill development, sectoral linkage and sustainable employment

• Community meeting, cluster meetings and door to door drive were aimed at registration, issuing of Job card, Ensuring 100 Days of work with right payment and initiation of work for all the villagers.

• One of the strategies was to undertake Follow-up the awareness programme Panchayat-wise, complete it and then move to new Panchayat. This is still being practised and assists the personnel to consolidate MNREGA learning Panchayat wise

• Leadership Training is part of the ongoing capacity building Program of the Cluster and pocket leader on leadership quality. These SITs is to focus upon specific and local issues affecting the community and demand generated at the community level. 192 community members were trained

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on Leadership Training. In turn, these selective volunteers after training are expected to capacitate their peers first and the community next.

• Skill development trainings suited to the local need assessment and market survey.

• Preparation of Village and Panchayat Level Sustainable Structures like cluster, Cooperative member.

Awareness Campaign – NREGA CHETNA RATH

• The Rath was flagged off by Block Development Officer of Bidupur Block, Mr. Neeraj Kumar and Block Pramukh Mr. Tarkeswar Prasad on 5th Feb 2010

• The Yatra campaign covered all the 24 gram panchayats. The Rath yatra disseminated all the information related to NREGS schemes, Right to Information Act and Co operative.

• A Nukkar Natak Mandli with 15 Volunteers (Total members : 15) moved along with the Rath and performed in all the 24 Panchayats.

Labour Cooperative – an Initiatives for Assertion by the Job Card Holders by organizing themselves into Labour Cooperative

• The impact of this campaign was visible tremendously in all the villages. Due to the public gathering, meetings and Interactions at the Nukkad natak, People were made aware of the rights and entitlement under NREGA.

• Meeting organised in the route led to galvanizing people for demanding job cards & works and raising voices against various irregularities in NREGA implementation.

Details of labor cooperative

• Cooperative Name - Majdoor Kalyan Sarmil Swawlambi sahkari limited.

• Registration Under - Bihar cooperative Act 1996.

• Registration No - BER/07/ 03/01/LA/018/2010

• Working Area - All Vaishali District

• Total Cooperative members enrolled - 397

• Total Male member - 21

• Total female member - 376 (95.4 %)

• SC Member - 229 (57.7 %)

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Aims at promoting sustainable livelihoods to rural poor through Skill development and income generation activities so that they can earn at least minimum wages through out the year

• 90 % rural poorʼs from SC,ST and backward classes as our beneficiaries in the mass awareness and advocacy campaign on NREGA , RTI and cooperatives

• 397 members enrolled in labour cooperative. The cooperative is being registered with the Registrar of Cooperatives.

• The members of the labor cooperatives were linked up with the Nidan micro finance Programmes

• The members of the labour cooperative were given various types of skill development trainings for their income enhancement and alternate livelihood options. More than 300 members of the labour cooperatives have received various skill development trainings in File making, tailoring, Hatchery, Animal husbandry, handlooms.

• After Training they have been offered technical support of financial linkage & market linkage of their products.

ICT centre – means for maximizing

• Innovative community resources center to promote dissemination of information to the Job cardholders regarding NREGA and its implementation process.

• 2 Rozgar Evum Suchna kendras (ICT) has emerged as center & hub for all activities related to cooperatives, RTI awareness, skill development training and convergences with development activities

• Facilitating MIS systems regarding datas and all forms and documents of NREGA in user friendly way

• Creating Awareness about Right to Information act and its entitlement among the people.

• Formation of Labour cooperatives as “permanent source of Livelihood” and link them with skill development and other non- farm related activities

Mass Mahadhikar Rally – efforts of pressure building

• A State level mass policy advocacy meeting was 0rganized on 30th July 2010 Nidan in Vaishali District on the theme, Engagement with MNREGA Policy Issues , in context of the righ& entitlement of informal women workers.

• MNREGA Mahadhikar and witnessed the participation of more than 15000 informal workers and stakeholders from local government. PRIs, DRDA and community leaders

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• Rally was preceded by mass mobilization & awareness of the villagers from the villages and Panchayats of the Vaishali and nearby dhe istricts.

• Objective of the Mass meeting was to strengthen advocacy Strategy for leveraging NREGA in an innovative and sectoral convergences way, by creating mass scale awareness generation and information dissemination on MNREGA Act, its right & entitlement and alternate livelihood issues.

Achievements

• About 7543 application Of Registration and work-demand received from the concerned person.

• 190 bank accounts were opened and 665 passbooks were distributed among the villagers.

• After intensive mobilization and series of community meeting, at our initiatives, 1985 New Job Cards were issued and distributed.

• Due to the built up awareness and pressure generated by the project staff on PRI & block officials, 3529 old Rozgar cards kept with Rozgar sewak/ Mukhia were distributed among the stakeholders.

• 2 Panchayats cases of fraudulent withdrawal from accounts, malpractices checked 45 SHGs formed by field level staff.

• Due to efforts of Nidan, an official Letter issued by Programme officer, Bidupur giving warning to Post office officials to check urged withdrawal of MNREGA

• 12 members got Loan for housing from Indira Awas Yojana

• Skill development training of more than 360 Labor cooperatives members organized in Bag making, tailoring, Hatchery, Animal Husbandary, Handlooms & Handicrafts, leading to their income enhancement through skill up gradation and marketing linkages

• RTI Act awareness and dissemination of employment related information at Rozgar Evum Suchna kendra (ICT) has led to more authenticity, accountability and transparency of NREGA program.

• 354 People registered for NREGA schemes got job works within 15 days after issuance of Job cards.

• Increased level of awareness about the NREGA among diversified groups and civil society players & Increased number of Job Card application, registration and distribution under NREGA

• We have promoted and registered a district level labour cooperative. Labour Cooperative name is MAJDUR KALYAN Shramik Swawlambi Sahkari samiti ltd. And registration no is BR/07/03/01/LA/018/2010. 397 members enrolled in labour cooperative. Cooperatives promoting

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sustainable livelihood and income enhancement through skill development activities

• An amount of Rs, 885000 were distributed to 87 members of the cooperatives for promoting their livelihood activities.

• 220 members of the labour cooperatives were also covered under the various social security schemes promoted by the Nidan.

• Under the project, 2 ICT centers were operational in the Bidupur Block. During the project period, total number of 1137 beneficiaries visited the ICT centers and was given information about RTI, SHGs, Labour Cooperatives and other skill development activities. Among the total beneficiaries there were 209 males and 928 females, who were benefitted by our interventions in the Block. Among the beneficiaries, there were 692 from the SC sections and 391 were from the OBc sections

Key Challenges & Constraints

• Irregular involvement of Rozagar sevaks in shady dealings is the biggest problem. They are hand in Glove with the Middlemen, who are involved irregularly in the MNREGA Programmes Implementation. They even keep with them illegally the Job Cards & Passbooks. Our interventions led to recovery of many passbook.

• Our Field Mobilisers received threatening from the Middlemen & some community leaders, since we were trying to get the workers aware about their rights & entitlements.

• Participation & involvement of NREGA Project officers is still a major concern. They publicly support the MNREGA Programme but are hesitant in taking strong actions against the complaints of the dubious role of the Panchayat Rozgar sewaks & middlemen.

• The provisions of providing Unemployment Allowance are not being implemented for those not getting work even after Job application receipts.

• Most of the wages to MNREGA workers are paid in cash, which gives much scope to financial irregularities leading to less than actual payments to labors.

• Less participation of Panchayat representatives MNREGA related program.

• Centralized information about MNREGA is available only at block program officer & not at Grass root level at Villages

• Lack of clarity about the roles/ responsibility assigned to Rozgar sevak

• Lack of transparency in job cards distribution, issuing of Application receipts, and Muster rolls preparation is deliberate due to the official apathy & irregularities at all level.

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• In some Panchayats, even after Job applications, no job cards & works was being provided by PRIs instituitions.

• Post Office apathy leading to slow pace of opening accounts of job card holders and distributing. Even after official letters from Programme Officers their work was slow.

• There is lack of Transparency at every level og programme implementation. Only some people have access to right information.

• As per finding of our Survey report, the labours are not aware about the calling of the AAm Sabha & Social audit meetings conveyed by PRIs.

• PRIs members and Rozgar Sewaks are discouraging people for involving in NREGA. They are even false issuing of job cards for money making and commiting many irregularities. Rozgar Sewaks are acting more like PRIs functionaries and less like MNREGA facilitator and are not visiting the area regularly.

• As per norms NAREGA is implemented through community and PRIs involvement but now its implemented only through mukhias level. Community and the labours are not being involved in the programme.

Survey & Findings

• Total Number of workers who were surveyed: - 2196 Person

• Total persons who received Job cards: -1868 (85.63%)

• Total persons who did not receive Job cards: --328 (14.37%)

• Total Members who have knowledge of their passbook issued: -1513 (71.6%)

• Total Members who do not have passbooks: -683 (28.4%)

• Total members who have received passbook: -1206 (54.92%)

• Total member who have not received passbook: 989(45.08%)

• Total member who have made Application for Work: -1845

• Total members who received work Under 15 days of application: -1470 (79.67%)

• Total member who did not receive work Under 15 days of application: -375 (20.33%)

• Total member having got Payment within 15 days: -288(15.61%)

• Total members not receiving Unemployment allowance: -375 out of 375 (100%)

• Facilities Received Under MNREGA on worksite: -228(12.36%)

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• Entry on JOB card and Passbook after Work and Payment: -650(35.23%)

• Knowledge Of date and time of Aam sabha and social audit:- 0 (0%)

Good Practices

• We have involved & trained local MNREGA workers in the enacting of the Nukkad Natak (Street Play), which were organized in all Panchayats during MNREGA Awareness Rath Yatra. All the labors were given six days of training & rehearsal for the play, whose script was written in local dialect. The local labors involvement in Nukkad nataks were appreciated by all.

• The organisations of the skill trainings at the Panchayat level at the place being provided by the local community itself, lead to much convenience for the cooperative members.

• The Leadership Development Training was conducted for 180 community representatives. This leadership training leads to much increase in the awareness of them regarding the MNREGA process & its implementation. For their selection, much care was taken- first all the 24 Panchayats were divided into 90 pockets on basis of their outreach & 2 representatives from each pocket were selected.

• Skill development training of more than 360 Labor cooperatives members organized in Bag making, tailoring, Hatchery, Animal Husbandary, Handlooms & Handicrafts, leading to their income enhancement through skill up gradation and marketing linkages. NREGA only assure job to the registered villagers for 100 days but there is a need to provide sustainable livelihoods through skill development on long-term basis.

• Labour cooperative members were also being provided information about other government programmes like Indira Awaas Yojana, Antodya & Annapurna etc

• Women Community members were also involved activities like SHGs, Micro Finance and Micro insurance linkages with its convergence with other programmes being run by Nidan in Bidupur Block

• Due to rise in the awareness level, more women members were encouraged by our mobilizers to open Bank Accounts and Apply for loans in Banks & Financial Instituitions.

Recommendations

• •Establishment of information resource centers: Information resource centers and help lines in collaboration with civil society organizations for smoothing the processes at the grassroots beings carried out under the scheme should be done. Early creation of Panchayat Resource centers at Intermediate Panchayat level as envisaged by national capability building framework under BREGS works in BRGF districts covered under NREGA.

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• Build large-scale citizen awareness campaigns for generating demand side of NREGA: The awareness campaigns should not only provide basic information about the Act as well as cardholders rights. For 100days employment, but also provide guidance in exercising their rights The success of the Programme will largely depended on the effectiveness of the demand raised by the citizens.

• Strengthening of the village level Nigrani Samiti: Strengthening of monitoring and vigilance committees will be help ful in the implementation of sanctioned works. Also NREGA endows Panchayat to Gram Sabha . Indication of low participation in Gram Sabha Panchayat shows that a lot more has to be done to strengthen gram Sabha.

• Improve institutional capacities of Gram Panchayat: The a pnchayats have been identified as the key implementation organization for NREGA. In order to build panchayats as an effective executing agency for NREGA, it is an essential pre-requisite to invest heavily on strengthening their perspective, knowledge and skills. More financial resources have the be set aside for creating awareness and local networks, radio advertisements, cultural troupes should all be used for official dissemination.

• Conducive work environment: Conditions of works site facilities were not satisfactory.

• Definition of a house hold: The operational guidelines of the NREGA detail a household as nuclear family comprising mother, father and their children. In addition, a household refers to a lot of confusion about the definition of this critical term. Our country has historically followed the system of joint families: such practices will put joint families in the disadvantageous position.

• Distribution of a job cards: According to data provided on by block administration of job card issued to registered households varies across Panchayat.

• Delay in distribution of job cards: The point of concern, however, is not just the percentage of issue of cards but the percentage of distribution pf job cards. Through job cards have been prepared across most panchayat in many panchayat they have not reached to the benificiaries , there by restricting their right to demand work . Probable causes for this is the unskilled of the panchayat seretaries who undertakes the task of distribution.

• There is no information given to the MNREGA workrs by the PRIs functionaries regarding the holding of the AAM Sabha meeting & Social Audit regarding MNREGA. The District administration should develop appropriate mechanism to redress this issue and facilitate organizing Aam Sabha & Social Audit.

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• As per our Survey finding, there are many villagers who have applied for the Job under MNREGA but they have not neither received work nor Unemployment Allowance. They should be provided allowance under the Act.

Responses of PRIs & Government Service Providers

• The Block development Officers appreciated our efforts to link up the MNREGA Awareness Programme with the concept of Skill development Training & Formation of Labor Cooperatives. He assured full help in Rath Yatra Awareness Campaign

• When our Project personnel brought to notice the Block Programme Officer, MNREGA, the various irregularities being practiced by local Post Offices & Rozgar Sewaks, He immediately issued an official letters to all warning stong actions for irregularities. It lead to a positive impact in the distribution of the job Cards & Pass books among labors.

• Block Level officials including BDO & MNREGA PO cooperated with Nidan in the implementation of the Programme. It leads to some improvement in many implementation parts

• Some of the Panchayat Rozgar Sewak & Middlemen were openly hostile to our intervention and even threatened our mobilisers & Project Coordinators not to take up follow up actions on the irregularities. We have to move very cautiously in many Panchayats/

• The District Collector of Vaishali & DRDA Secretary appreciated our efforts during meetings and suggested us to undertake a Survey for finding out the problem areas of informal jobless Workers vis-i-vis MNREGA. We conducted the survey and have analysed it to assess the situations

Success Story - Dalit Community battles against the MNREGA irregularities - It is a classic case of fighting for their rights and entitlement by the villagers of Khanpur pakdi village panchayat, who collectively uprooted irregularities & corruption prevalent in MNREGA at village panchayat level. Khanpur pakdi is predominantly inhabited by Dalits who are dependent on daily labor work for managing their households. They are extremely poor people who were exploited by middlemen and other village level officials. The middlemen seized their job cards and passbook and the payments were completely mismanaged and sometime fraudentely withdrawn with forged signatures. There was high level of embezzlement in all the sections and the middlemen and other persons vandalized the due payments of MNREGA. Nidan catalyzed the Dalit community and collectively fought for their rights as by organising them. A collective meeting (Gram Sabha) was organized where concrete decisions on eradication of the irregularities were taken in the presence of Sarpanch, Post Master and Rojgar Sevak. The present scenario of village has completely changed and MNREGA is being implemented in a transparent manner which has helped the depressed community and they are getting proper & full payments on their work.

Report - Mgnrega Training

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