Study for Quick Appraisal of NREGA In A.P.

Study Sponsored by MORD, GOI and UNDP

08-04-2009Administrative Staff College of India

Bella Vista, Hyderabad-500 082

Study Objective

• To quickly appraise the progress and problems in the implementation of NREGA in A.P.

• The focus of the study has been on understanding the impact of NREGA on beneficiary families and communities at large.

• Further, the study has been oriented towards identifying opportunities for strengthening the programme management rather than pin-pointing weaknesses.

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Approach & Methodology

• Three districts, Guntur (phase-II); Anantapur and Adilabad (both phase-I) were selected for their diversity and distinctiveness.

• Each of the districts is also representative of its geographical region within the state.

• The methodology was qualitative combining interviews with semi structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and development of case lets. 10 beneficiaries and 5 non-beneficiaries were sampled by judgment in each village.

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District Mandal/ Block Gram Panchayat- Village

Adilabad (Phase-I) Narnoor Babjhari, H. Kothapalli, Gunjal and Mahagam

Bela Chaprala, Dhoptala, Telengaraoguda and Manyarpur

Guntur (Phase-II) Bellamkonda Chandrajupalem,Venkatayapa-lem, Nandirajupalem and Papayapalem 

Krosur Gadavaripalem,Gudipadu, Peesapadu and Garikapadu  

Anantapur (Phase-I) Atmakur P. Yaleru, Goridindla, P. KothapalliAnd Pampanur Singanamalla Peravali, Lolur, Akuledu andBandameedapalli 

Sample Plan for the Study

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Study Team

• A team of ten Field Investigators and four Research Associates with post graduate academic background in social sciences participated.

• Their deployment in the field was preceded by self study as well as contact based orientation sessions to update their knowledge of NREGA, interviewing and group discussion techniques.

• Each field investigator was a non-participant observer of NREGA works in the selected village for a minimum of three days and nights. ASCI

Data Analysis and Findings

• Balanced participation of all social groups with members of SC and STs making up nearly 55% of the beneficiaries across the three districts.

• Most beneficiaries were illiterate

• Except Guntur district where the women wage seekers preferred farm work, in the other two districts, they accounted for more than 30% of the active wage seekers.

• The level of awareness about NREGA was high among 70% of the beneficiaries.

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Data Analysis and Findings (contd.)

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Distribution of NREGA Benificiaries by Social Grouping

SC27%

ST27%

BC18%

OBC14%

OC14%

Data Analysis and Findings (contd.)

• More than 50% of the families had two members-wife and husband, opting for work.

• The average waiting time for employment was less than 15 days for 90% of the beneficiaries.

• 50% of the beneficiaries had to wait more than 15 days for receipt of wage payment.

• Nearly 90% of the beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the NREGA work environment and two thirds were willing to be reemployed.

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Data Analysis and Findings (contd.)

• Anantapur district reported improvement in ground water as the greatest community benefit.

• Guntur district valued assets that were created under NREGA – roads, field channels etc.

• In Adilabad district, NREGA has helped improve the functioning of Gram Panchayats.

• Across all the three districts, improved agricultural productivity was reported as the greatest community benefit besides economic and social empowerment of women.

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Data Analysis and Findings (contd.)

• At the level of beneficiary families, access to more and better quality of food has been evident.

• Within and across the districts, migration has been contained with concomitant benefits like stronger family bonds and children’s education.

• SHGs have benefited with better recoveries.

• Most beneficiaries believe that the financial discipline, frequency and quality of meetings and vertical linkages within the PRIs have improved.

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Programme Shortcomings• A strong target orientation towards NREGA.

• The participation of Gram Panchayats and intermediate PRIs remains marginal.

• Within the official machinery, there is lack of ownership of the programme at district level.

• Unemployment allowance is out of reckoning.

• A sense of skepticism about the sustainability of the shelf of projects in the longer term.

• Field Assistant remains the weakest link.ASCI

Innovations

• Unprecedented financial inclusion of the rural poor as wage payments are routed through I.P.

• Schematic convergence with NHM, MIP, Housing, ITDAs and DRDAs.

• A state of the art MIS with a suite of options to access and obtain data from state to village level.

• Media publicity leading to more transparency.

• Development of assigned lands has contributed to increased cultivable farm land.ASCI

Recommendations – The 7 ‘S’ Way

• Strategy – Need to tone down the target orientation among project personnel. A PIN like mechanism at the state level needed urgently to enrich the role of PRIs in identifying projects.

• Structure – The dual roles for DPCO (DC-PD) and PO at block level be dispensed with. Terms of engagement of project personnel need review.

• Systems – The postal system at the branch level is not geared to deliver at present. While strengthening it, step up the smart card scheme.

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Recommendations (contd.)

• Style – Need for a project focused leadership style that is more participatory.

• Skills – Capacity building of APOs, TAs and FAs with focus on HRM and people processes.

• Staff – The staffing pattern at the level of FAs and TAs leaves scope for rationalisation.

• Shared Values – A set of core values should guide a programme like NREGA which is viewed as the ‘Mother of all rural development projects’. ASCI