MGNREGA_SAMEEKSHA

Governance and Process Challenges 55
findings from a preparatory phase audit conducted
by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India,
of the 200 Phase I MGNREGA in 26 states in 2006
(hereafter referred to as CAG Audit). 4
It is important to note that several states took action
on the findings of the CAG and introduced systems
to prevent procedural deviations and promote
transparency in implementation of the Scheme. In
fact 24 GPs from six states—West Bengal, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and
Bihar—were selected for a limited scrutiny of record
maintenance for one month (November 2007). The
audit found improvements in record maintenance. 5
Over the last few years, based on these reports
from the field, MGNREGA has instituted several
reforms and policy changes in its implementation, for
instance, bringing all documents and data in public
domain through Management Information System
(MIS). Some of the Government of India (GoI)
initiatives to address these challenges are mentioned
under each issue.
A summary of the GoI’s most recent initiatives,
progressing towards the next level of the Scheme,
popularly known as MGNREGA 2.0 is provided in
the Chapter 7.
Awareness and Planning
There is low awareness among potential
beneficiaries about certain provisions of the
MGNREGA. This limits their ability to fully
benefit under the Act. Infrequent meetings
and low participation at the Gram Sabhas 6
(GS) convened for planning MGNREGA works
further limit the implementation of the Scheme
at the village level in many places.
Awareness about the Act
Awareness about the provisions of the Act is vital to
exercising the demand to work and other entitlements
under MGNREGA. Studies indicate that awareness
levels among the potential beneficiaries of provisions
of the Act, such as demanding work, unemployment
allowance etc. are still low.
A National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO)
panel survey on MGNREGA 7 conducted in Andhra
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in one of
its Rounds in 2010–11 found:
• Low awareness about unemployment allowance:
In Madhya Pradesh 18 per cent households and in
Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, less than 10 per
cent households were aware of the legal provisions
of the unemployment allowance.
• Low awareness about work on demand: In
Rajasthan, 72 per cent of households were aware
that MGNREGA work can be demanded at any time
during the year. But only 47 per cent households
in Madhya Pradesh and 29 per cent households in
Andhra Pradesh were aware of this.
• Low awareness about grievance redressal mechanisms:
About 35 per cent households in Andhra
Pradesh, 28 per cent in Madhya Pradesh and 16 per
cent households in Rajasthan were not aware of any
grievance redressal mechanism in the MGNREGA.
But there are also positive findings on this account.
For instance, in a study undertaken in two districts
of Maharashtra, out of 200 respondents, more than
75 per cent said they were aware of MGNREGA
and more than 75 per cent had also received the
information about MGNREGA from GPs. Other
sources of information were the GS, panchayat
functionaries and other villagers. 8 Noticeably, states
like Maharashtra with more mature and active
4
At the request of the Ministry of Rural Development, the Government of India (GoI), undertook an audit in 2006
to evaluate how effective were the states in making a transition from the earlier wage employment programmes to the
MGNREGA. The sample for the audit included 25 per cent of the MGNREGA districts in each state. The audit was conducted
in the introductory phase of the Act and a majority of the findings of the audit were regarding process deviations from the
National Guidelines.
5
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Performance Audit Report No. 11, CAG, 2008.
6
A Gram Sabha is a body of all persons entered as electors in the electoral roll for a Gram Panchayat. All the meetings of the
Gram Sabha are convened by the Gram Panchayat to disseminate information to the people as well as to ensure that development
of the village is done through participation or consent of all households.
7
National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), Survey of MGNREGA, NSSO, 2010–11.
8
Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), ‘A Study Report on Appraisal of MGNREGA Programme in Thane and
Akola Districts of Maharashtra’, Report submitted to the Ministry of Rural Development/UNDP, CIFE, 2009.