The workshop was the last activity organised under the NREGS campaign that was run between June and December 2008, in the interim phase between closure of the first phase of the PACS Programme, in March 2008, and the launch of the programme's next phase, expected to take place early-2009.

Addressing representatives of Maharashtra CSOs at the Mumbai workshop Sharma noted that despite the many limitations, CSOs had achieved a lot during the campaign.

Apart from reinforcing interactions between PACS Programme CSOs and CSOs associated with networks like the Dushkal Hatawu Manus Jagawu (DHMJ) drought forum formed under the programme, the campaign had many direct impacts at the local and state levels, Sharma said. Directly or indirectly, the campaign, conducted in six PACS Programme states, covered over 200,000 households.

The efforts made by CSOs and the communities they worked with showed that the NREGS was the "best opportunity" available to bring in accountability at the gram panchayat level, she added.

While most panchayat officials were found to be poorly informed, NREGS Campaign 2008 emphasised how one could "work within the system" to make panchayats more responsive to the needs of the poor, Sharma said.

At higher levels too, NREGS Campaign 2008 has had a significant impact. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, PACS Programme CSO heads and consultants have been inducted into state NREGS councils, Sharma pointed out. She added that in both states, the campaign helped bring the state government closer to CSOs, and vice-versa. In Uttar Pradesh, there is talk of using the services of PACS Programme CSOs to verify BPL survey work.

Positive outcomes require follow-up, and communication between CSOs and government officials should be an ongoing process, she urged.

Maharashtra workshop

The purpose of the Mumbai workshop was to bring to the attention of higher authorities the status of the Maharashtra Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MREGS), as observed during various stages of the NREGS campaign in the state.

However, as the minister and officials concerned could not attend the workshop, the matter will be followed up later. Specific issues will also be highlighted in the winter session of the state assembly. Senior opposition leader Neelam Gorhe, who attended the workshop, assured her full support in this regard.

The following were identified as key issues:

Official apathy

Official apathy towards the MREGS was apparent in many districts, especially districts recently brought under the scheme.

Officials have made little or no effort to raise awareness about the scheme. Campaign reports from nine villages in Beed district show that no information on the MREGS was made available to people and no publicity material on the scheme was provided to any of the panchayats.

As a result, gram panchayats and local government officials are poorly informed about MREGS processes like registering households, preparing village plans, and forming vigilance committees.

Although the 2008 monsoon was delayed in the state and there was great demand for work, no MREGS work was started in any of the four districts recently brought under the scheme.

Village development officers, or gram sevaks, have 'boycotted' the MREGS; this non-cooperative attitude has been a major roadblock in the scheme. Significantly, even RTI applications for information on implementation of the MREGS have not managed to galvanise officials into action.

Micro plans are either not developed or not properly implemented. Taluka-level revenue authorities like tehsildars and block development officials (BDOs) play the blame-game to shirk responsibility. Even the basic process of registering households and issuing job cards has not been properly carried out.

No work, and no worksite facilities

MREGS work had not started in many villages covered by the campaign. In some places where work was initiated, it was not explicitly done under the MREGS and workers were not paid wages according to the provisions of the scheme.

Absence of worksite facilities like shelter, drinking water, crche and medical aid was evident in most villages covered by the campaign. Accident relief is not granted automatically, and unemployment benefits have not been given.

No technical expertise for village micro plans

Preparation of village micro plans requires technical support. Initially, this was done by engineers of the agriculture department, but due to increased workload under the MREGS and non-availability of engineers, the authorities in some districts appointed external agencies. Only 2% of available funds were allocated for publicity, training, and providing technical support. In comparison, for schemes like the Jawahar Gram Samrudhi Yojana and Bharat Nirman, 8-9% of available funds are allocated for these purposes.

Technical experts are unwilling to work with such low budgets and this has impeded finalisation of village micro plans.

Misreporting

In most villages covered by the campaign, a form of systematic misreporting was evident. On paper, all MREGS processes are complete, but the people concerned are clueless. Typically, people shown as being members of village vigilance committees are not aware of this fact, and gram rozgar sevaks are ignorant about their role and responsibilities. As already stated, works are being undertaken without people being aware under which scheme it is being done.

Some positive trends

Though the picture is somewhat dismal, a few positive trends have emerged from Nanded, Gadchiroli and Hingoli districts where proactive senior government officials, with help from PACS Programme CSOs, have made concerted and sincere efforts to implement the MREGS. Read a related story from Nanded here and a related story from Hingoli here.

Next steps

At the end of the state advocacy workshop it was resolved that the DHMJ drought forum would take these issues up with the higher authorities, with the help of supportive legislators, to ensure the following action:

• Specific cases of denial of entitlements, presented at district workshops and the state workshop, will be presented to senior government officials and the state MREGS minister.
• Awareness about the MREGS will be increased through efforts of DHMJ forum members working with related networks like Jamin Adhikar Andolan and Dalit Rights Sanghatana.
• MREGS issues will be put before the central government and Planning Commission and highlighted in the state-level media.

It was also decided that CSOs involved in the PACS Programme campaign would participate in a two-day workshop for NGOs to be organised by Stree Adhar Kendra, in Nagpur, where they will be briefed about discussions in the state assembly on issues related to the MREGS, land rights, PDS, supply of nutritious food to schoolchildren, etc.

(Recent events in Mumbai and political changes in the state could affect some of these plans)