People’s EmpowermentThrough

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

(MGNREGA)

Gaurav VohraVenkata Paruchuri

Varuna MohanRajasekhar Jammalamadaka

AID Boston MIT CSH25Dec201107Jan2012

Rural Development Service Society (RDSS)

MGNREGA2011-2013

Work Report and Proposal

Rural Development Service Society (RDSS) facilitates NREGA implementation in several mandals in Visakha and Srikakulam districts and brought the landmark ruling public interest litigation restoring the minimum wage in the sate.

NREGA• Unique act which recognizes the legimate role of panchayats in adressing their fundamental duty of providing “economic development and social justice” in their area (as expressed in the 73rd constitutional amendment)• Provides 100 days of employment for people in the rural areas who registered themselves• If Govt., fails to provide employment with in 15 days of applying, it pays unemployment benefits• Wages to be paid every week and not later than a fortnight• No gender bias• Provisions made for compensation and treatment incase of injury. On-site safe drinking water, care of small children, periods of rest, first-aid box etc• Act and not a scheme (entitlement!!)

What?

Need

Rural people, mainly the poor people belonging to SC/ST/BC groups

- Lack of Knowledge- Illiteracy- Don’t know they need to file the application- Don’t know how to apply or how to write, don’t know where/when/how/to whom to file application-Even then, they face problems submitting applications and taking a receipt. - For most laborers, application is not accessible. - People are hesitant/afraid to demand receipts/work/unemployment benefits- Knowledge on how to go about claiming un-employment benefits

Where?

Vishakhapatnam - Anakapally, Kasimkota, Makavarapalem, Buchiyyapeta, Ravikamatham, Chodavaram Mandals

Where?Visakhapatnam District

Population 4,288,113

Males 2,140,872

Females 2,147,241

Growth(1991–2001) 15.36%

Rural 1,301,437

Urban 3,530,899

Scheduled Caste Population 291,219 (7.6%)

Scheduled Tribe Population 557,572 (14.55%)

New Project Proposal

• Project: NREGA improvement to strengthen the mates and working groups

• Time Line: October 2011 – March 2013

• Area Covered: Visakha district Rural / Adivasi areas

• Financial Assistance: Rs. 10, 89,750

Srama Sakthi Sangham (SSS)• Job card holder in an SSS must work in that group• Each job has code number• Code numbers are recorded to avoid false names / taking

payment unlawfully• Will be provided both Work orders/muster rolls for each

group • De-centralising the power of field assistants

• To strengthen SSS:– Coordinate and learn among different SSS at village, district and state

levels– Network is formed out of like minded mandals to collaborate between

mates and SSS groups– Example: State level meeting was conducted on 15 Aug. 2011 in

Hyderabad

Mates• Mates are selected by each SSS group• Work typically involves:

- Take the group members to the site of the work- Mark and measure the work on site- Fill up the muster roll and submit to the Field Assistant

- Act as point of contact for the SSS members• More power to mates through empowerment and

involve as many people in the NREGA implementation

Hierarchy of PeoplePanchayat

Field assistant 1

Field assistant 2

….……Mate 1 Mate 2 Mate N

20-30 villagers select a mate

20-30 villagers select a mate

20-30 villagers select a mate

Srama Sakti Sangam (SSS 1) SSS 2 SSS N N = 50 to 60

Andhra Pradesh = 4,82, 571 SSSVisakha district = 25, 962 SSS = 4,85, 988 workers[50-60 in a panchayat and in each mandal around 600 - 800 SSS]

Obstacles Expected• Mates not literate and if at all, only up to elementary level

• Overwhelming data collection and forms, each for different kind of work so understanding becomes more difficult for mates. Ex: Understand interactions and learn about NREGA , RIT, policies, acts, marking and measurement, data records etc

• Need well trained mates for effective implementation

• Idea is to teach one mate from each group to spread awareness and proper implementation of this act

Overall plan of action• Timely guidance and regular bulletin updates of Govt. Provisions/GO’s

- 4 page news bulletin- One bulletin per month up to 18 months- 13 mandals ->500 per mandal -> 6500

• Training programs- 3 day programs in 10 mandals (Visakha district) & 3 mandals of Srikakulam.- 30 mates per training ->390 mates overall- Each mate will train 50 people -> ~19,500 villagers possibly will be benefitted

• Help centers at regional level- To solve doubts of mates and SSS members- Visit to villages as and when required- Meetings for regular updates and guidance to/from mates

AID Boston Vote today?

• This project is an ongoing effort– Timeline Oct 2011 – March 2013

• We request AID-Boston consider funding the project upto $8000 (~Rs. 4,00,000) – or more? (18 months)

• Other chapters:– Amherst: Approved Rs. 1,25,000.– College Park and Tempe to discuss

• Total Budget: Rs. 10,89,750

Financial Proposal

Questions on NREGA work allocation/work etc

• What is the official status of Panchayati Raj Institutions in AP?– How much is the local village level government involved in the decision of the work that

needs to be doneAns: As per rule every year the Gram sabha discusses works to be proposed under NREGA. Gramsabha at the minimum needs to discuss and endorse the plans presented. In some places it works. In some places the Panchayat/sarpanch simply writes stating the gramsabha endorsed while it may not have been convened.

• How far do people typically travel for workAns: In adivasi villages like in visakha district where it is hilly – within 1-2 km. In plain adivasi villages typically its within 1 km. If work site is above 5 km transport charges given by govt.

• What defines a family/household in/for according to NREGA?Ans: Married couple treated as one family along-with their major unmarried children of the family (only major children are allowed to do work). People not wanting to marry – say above 30 yrs so unlikely they will marry --can be treated as separate single person (man/woman) family. Divorced couples treated as two separate families. Widowed people are separate families. Unmarried physically challenged people are treated as separate family.

Questions on NREGA work allocation/work etc

• Are there as many job opportunities in the mandal/village as many people are being targeted through the project?

Ans: Job opportunity should be created as its a demand driven program....legally once they apply they have to be given work in 15 days.

Better question to ask is – Are there cases where people file for work but they were not given work?

Since in many villages in AP and India requests for jobs are still being made orally and not as per procedure on paper and taking receipts if work is not given there is no way of proving without a paper record that it was asked.

In areas where RDSS (also where APVVU) works, we take receipts on filing job applications. Say 8/10 cases work is given. In the 2 cases that it is not we follow up with the mandal office, magistrate and filing cases with ombudsman and also demand compensation for not providing work. Though we have not really succeeded in getting compensation as there is a political decision in AP on this, however on doing such a follow up at least they will later get the work.

We have recently filed complaints for 698 workers in 42 groups that were not given work.

Questions on NREGA work allocation/work etc

• Is there provision in the law to consider two/more families living in the same house as separate in order for each family to be eligible for benefits?

Ans: Yes two/more married couples living in same house are considered different families -- living in same house doesnt matter. Pls see answer to one of the previous questions as well.

• The employee(s) is caught entering false names into the muster, he/she is relieved of the duties. What happens to the money? Is he/she fined? Are the workers paid their dues?

Ans: Depends on nature of issue and circumstances. Recovery happens to Govt. treasury if someone who was not in the village for example didn’t work and was paid. At the same time someone who works and was not paid will get paid when complaints are filed. Several examples of these in panchayats where we work are with us.

Questions/Profiles of RDSS Coordinators

• Office rent- where is the office locatedAns: Anakapalli

• Where does the program co-ordinator work out of?? which city??

Ans: based in Anakapalli

Work model/SSS etc• SSS? Did RDSS come up with this? Ans:Ministry of rural devpt. Came up with this. During concept stages and initial discussions on this Ajay kumar of RDSS was participating in the meetings organized by the ministry where he was invited.

• What are there responsibilites of the mates?Ans:-- Take work order copy, find work site and take grp to work site. -- Make work marking.-- Take work order copy, find work site and take grp to work site.-- Make work marking.-- Fill muster-- do work along with others as they are also laborers.-- Read aloud weekly muster to group before closing it.-- take measurements.-- Give these to field assistants.-- If given tarpaulin provide shade, take first aid box.40% mates are SC/ST, 45% are from BC. Many mates are not literate. Need to develop their skills as their role

is crucial. That's why training component of mates in this proposal is crucial. Strengthening them is a good idea.

If we don't train and organize mates they can collude with corrupt higher ups.

• Are they actually called mates in telugu?– YES

Work model/SSS etc• How are mates selected? what basis? 15-25 members of a group select the mate. Rs 1 per person per day is paid to the mates for the job they do.

– women in mates?Ans :Yes there are. Quantitative estimate Ajay will provide later.

– Language skills? (If they can not read/write how can they fill the forms, etc).

Ans: See answer to a previous question where this is addressed.

– will the leader of the self help group be provided any training and how?Ans: Note that these are not self-help groups (which are separate women's groups). These are the SSS. Govt gave training in feb-mar through jatha. As per proposal and answers to some previous questions RDSS will laso be providing more intense training.

Work model/SSS etc• Self help group model---Is training only mates going to work? Does it centralize

knowledge?– Pitfalls in SHG model, leader of the group takes off

Ans: Not SHG – this is SSS model.If leader takes off s/he is replaced. Just as in AID when people leaves others are there to fill up. Sometimes as Ajay joked giving the AID example, it may even get better! Leaders of all groups will not all take off at the same time.

• 390 mates will train the other mates? What is the procedure for that? How will they contact each other? Logistics?

Ans: There are 40-50 mates/panchayat. We train 4-5 mates/panchayat. We expect that they extend their knowledge to colleagues and it will be part of training. They are suggested to do this. Practically the mate who doesn't know how to do the work is very likely to seek the help of the mates that know how to do it.

Alternate School

• More details about the alternative school/ What is a pratyamnaya patashala?

Ans: Pratamanaya patashala is an alternate arrangement for school where there is no school. Govt runs these single teacher ITDA schools. We had filed RTI for verification of about 33 such schools -- 10 schools didnt work at all. 17 stopped in august. We sent our report to nat'l child rights commission.

Feedback from Ravi/Aravinda

• Input from Ravi and Aravinda on this project

Hi all I just talked with Ajay and responded to the questions Raju sent. As I was talking to Ajay it became so clear to me why we should be supporting the work – as you can see from some of the answers he has so much ground level experience on this as they are doing so much work and we will come to know this kind of detail from very few activists. NREGA is also a very important area for AID to be involved in as several billions are spent by the govt on this and as AID we have rightly given impetus to the RTI/NREGA issues from 2006 onwards when they started off. So we have been involved right from the start on the NREGA issues and we need to see it through the various improvements (like mate system) and challenges that come in the way. And Ajays/RDSS work in collaboration with APVVU is one of the best in the area and crucial for AID to support.

Last years budget also had amounts for several other workers. Now Ajay and co have succeeded in getting govt support for them.

Tatha recently saw their training and has sent a note. Hope you saw that. Ajay Kumar regularly forwards us (almost on a weekly/monthly basis) press clippings, padyatra announcements, progress in cases they filed, newsletters etc on his work – however all these are in telugu and difficult to get them translated. However Aravinda and I regularly get these and we can also forward them to some of you who may know telugu and maybe you can share the synopsis with the group/chapter. Let us know if you want these.

To some of your questions we couldnt send a reply as Ajay was in a bus when I called. SO I removed those questions in the above and will send that separately in a few days. However most of the questions are answered above and shd suffice for you all to make a decision. If you need more info dont hesitate to ask.

Very strongly recommend supporting this work.

--Ravi

Feedback from Tatha• Tatha visited and attended a training program

of the mates– He highly recommended the work– Immediately contrasted and credited NREGA

achievements of AP to groups like RDSS and their work (contrasted it with how difficult it is to get NREGA work in WB)

– Couldn’t get more from him since he was in AID India conference in Chennai

Financial Proposal

RDSS involvement in NREGA• How many adivasis benefits through RDSS's work?

– Cost effective benefit ratio?– How many villages do they cover?– How much money has been disbursed to the adivasis so far/per year?

• is it being ensured that the water provided in the field site is clean?

• How is RDSS convincing/making people aware that working under the NREG scheme is better than working outside the village even though the money paid through NREGA is less?

• How does decision making process happen in RDSS supported NREGA works?

Gram Sabhas

During the months of April-June (when MGNREGA is most active) RDSS conducted gram-sabhas in the villages, as far as possible in the evenings (when village people are available) and decided to address the following issues:1) Progress of work2) Payments of wages.3) Detailing rights as per the act.4) File application for people who want jobs.Examples –Ravikamatam block (April 2010-March 2011) Conducted 34 gramasabhas. In every gramasabha there were at least 20 people.

Bucchiyyapeta block Conducted 26 gramasabhas. Since many young people took part in the grama sabha, RDSS told them how to obtain NREGS information on the internet.

IChodavaram block 14 grama sabhas.

We conducted gramasabhas in Chodavaram Mandal [Ramajogipalem village (April 2, 2010), Janavaram village (April 2011) and in Gauripatnam village