MGNREGA_SAMEEKSHA

108 Bibliography
studies indicate that five factors make or mar successful MUS implementation via MGNREGS: (i) Contextual fit; (ii) Village
preparedness and attitude towards MGNREGS; (iii) Proactive and well-equipped MGNREGS administration; (iv) Empowered
and enlightened village communities; and (v) Incentives and inventive flexibility.
Verma, S., ‘MGNREGA Assets and Rural Water Security: Synthesis of Field Studies in Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala and Rajasthan’,
Anand: International Water Management Institute (IWMI), 2011.
Abstract: One of the biggest strengths of MGNREGS is that it is self-targeting. This means that unless there is widespread
systemic corruption, the programme benefits will reach its desired beneficiaries as the rich elite are unlikely to be willing to do
unskilled manual labour for minimum wages. However, this strength might also turn against the programme for two reasons.
One, such a targeted programme might get branded as ‘raahat kaam’ or ‘relief work’ in the minds of its intended beneficiaries.
Worse, they might begin to think of it as a precursor to or an excuse for a future unconditional entitlement. Two, the programme
will completely bypass and is likely to be overlooked by the better-off farmers and the rich elite who, either officially via the GP
or unofficially via strong social networks, tend to be the opinion makers in the village. It is, therefore, important to distinguish
between the scheme’s wage and non-wage benefits. While the poor may benefit from both, the better-off in the village would be
interested primarily in the latter. The challenge is to enhance the stake of both groups in maximising the net positive impacts
of the scheme (Shah 2009).
The author, therefore, studied water assets of 140+ best-performing MGNREGS in the four states of Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala
and Rajasthan with the objective of understanding the quality and potential of their impact and mechanisms for sharing and
maintenance of their benefits within village communities. He also interviewed both poor as well as well-off farmers in every
village to gather their experiences, concerns and opinions regarding MGNREGS.
Vijayanand, S. M., NREGA and Panchayati Raj: Learning from Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram: Government of Kerala, 2009.
Abstract: NREGA is the first development legislation which assigns a definite and important role to Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs) which was ushered in more than 15 years ago and largely ignored. NREGA breaks new grounds in this respect. It assigns
PRIs the most critical role in its implementation. The State Government prepares approaches starting from the panchayat level
to districts and uses Kudumbashree, Community Development Societies and Network Development Groups to implement the
Scheme in a demand-driven mode. The process of planning is with people’s participation and transparency is maintained at
every level.
Challenges for the Scheme include, inadequate awareness about the provisions of the Scheme and hesitation of Panchayats
to start big works.
World Bank, Social Protection for a Changing India, vol. 2, chapter 4, Wasington DC: World Bank, 2011.
Abstract: India’s surge in growth and rapid expansion in public spending in the past decade has created new possibilities for
its social protection system. The growing importance of social protection (SP) is reflected in the Government of India’s (GoI)
common minimum programme and eleventh Five-Year Plan which commit to institutionalisation of programmes as legal
rights (as in the case of public works, through the NREGA), continued up-scaling of interventions (e.g., social pensions and
midday meals), and proposals to expand new types of SP interventions to the large unorganised sector (e.g., social security).
The report draws on existing and new data sources, including analysis of: (i) administrative data; (ii) several rounds of the
National Sample Survey (NSS) data; (iii) a social protection survey (SPS) undertaken for this report in 2006 in the rural areas
of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka; (iv) dedicated surveys on social pensions in Karnataka (KSPS) and Rajasthan
(RSPS) in 2005 and 2006 respectively; and (v) a living standards survey conducted in Jharkhand in 2005 (JLSS). In addition,
the report incorporates a rich body of secondary sources on SP programme performance and impact by national researchers
and government agencies.
World Bank, ‘Reshaping Economic Geography’, Washington, DC: World Bank, 2009.
Abstract: The report argues that the most effective policies for promoting long-term growth are those that advocate
transformations along the dimensions of economic geography and economic integration. The report concludes that promoting
transformations along the three dimensions of economic geography are crucial to development and should be encouraged.
These three dimensions are: Density—Higher densities as cities grow; Distance—Shorter distances as workers and business
migrate closer to density; Division—Fewer divisions as countries lower their economic borders and enter world markets to take
advantage of scale and specialisation.