Two Days Training cum Exchange

Programme on Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment
Guarantee Schemes Programme
Conducted by – Karma Consultants

Supported by – DKA & KFB, Austria

Date & Venue – 13-14 December 2010 at Sewa Kendra, Patna

Participants – Project Team Members of

partner organization of DKA & KFB, Austria in
the state of Bihar.

Key Resource Person – Ashok Kumar Sinha,

Karma Consultants

Guest Resource Person – Mr. Mihir Sahana,

Basix, Patna and Mr Shailesh Signh, UNDP, Patna

  1 
The training started with introduction of the participants followed by brief
presentation about the perspectives of the supporting agency DKA / KFB as
well as roles of Karma Consultants. Invitation Letter to Partner Organization
and Training Schedule has been presented in Annexure 1 & Annexure 2
respectively.

Further Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma Consultants has clearly explained
about the purpose of the training cum exchange programme on MGNREGS.

Purpose of the training programme

• To create momentum among partner organization working in the state of

Bihar
• STOCK taking of progress of the partner Organization
• Exploitation of the current political progressive environment by working as
cross cutting agenda of entitlement realization of government schemes
• To provide details inputs about the key provisions, norms and processes
of ensuring wage work under MGNREGS
• Encourage assertion exercise in the interest of the target community
groups about MGNREGS
Mr. Ashok has also shared about training schedule & content in details to the
participants. He informed about the guest resource person and their roles in
the training programme. He also justified the presence of representatives of
NIDAN for their experiences sharing on MGNREGA intervention in the
Vaishali district of Bihar. The presence of Panchayat Rojgar Sewak was also
clarified to the participants.

He has clearly shared about the concept of partnership that in what ways this
two ways process will be effective for
intensification of the partnership. He
further requested with the representatives
of partner organization for making
presentation of the project progress.
Representatives of each partner
organization have made presentation1
about the project – issues, progress &
challenges. Participants have also clarified their inquisitiveness related to
presentation of the peer partner groups. The organization representative has
done the presentation electronically as well as through chart paper. Update on
partnership was experienced and all the participants were exposed about the
diversified range of work of the different NGOs in the support of DKA & KFB,
Austria.

                                                        
1 In this report we are not presenting details presentation of the partner organization but we
have recorded the presentation in our institutional recording purpose and hope this will guide
us during our field visit interaction.

  2 
After presentation Mr Ashok has also requested with the participants for
sending the progress / tracking document of the NFE and SHGs as MIS will
be base for assessing the progress of the work of the respective organization.
This particular first session was very valuable in term of setting contextual in
the training programme as all of the participants realize the needs of
intervention on MGNREGS issues as cross cutting agenda. Mr ashok has also
briefly presented about the key provisions of the MGNREGS2.

The guest Resource Person, Mr. Mihir, has facilitated the next session and
informed about the key features of the MGNREGA. Further, he shared about
the initiatives of the state of Bihar regarding grounding and effective
implementation of the MGNREGS. Mr. Mihir has shared the key findings of
the “Scoping Study on Designing Alternative Implementation Model (AIM) for
NREGS” (Basix did the study.)

Mr. Mihir presentation3 was centered on following issues…

• Range of opportunities and type of Shelf of work is available at the village

level under MGNREGS – general perception about non-scope of shelf of
work was clarified
• How to Identify activities
and list of works that could
be undertaken under
NREGS (and potentially
through convergence) in
consultation with gram
sabha and gram panchayat

• How to do the planning

process through the
Panchyati Raj Institutions
for ensuring
implementation of the plan
under MGNREGS

• How to do Labour Budget - estimation of Employment generation or

human days in different works
• Suggestions for effective implementation of MGNREGS
• Way forward for the state government of Bihar
He concluded his session by stating that there are range of scope and
opportunities are available under MGNREGS for the community members –
as civil society organization one should make efforts towards providing
handholding supportive roles for the MGNREGS functionaries as well as for
the representative of PRIs bodies. And it requires mobilization and support of
the potential beneficiaries.

                                                        
2 REFER ANNEXURE 3 FOR BRIEF PROVISIONS ABOUT MGNREGS 
3
REFER ANNEXURE 4 FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION FACILITATED BY MR. MIHIR, BASIX, PATNA

  3 
Next session was carry forward by the Panchayat Rojgar Sewak of Masauri,
Jehanabad, who has first shared about the roles of Panchayat Rojgar Sewak
under the MGNREGS. He has lots of complaints about his own roles &
responsibility. He also shared that how this dissatisfaction of Panchayat
Rojgar Sewak has been affecting the implementation of the MGNRES plan at
the grass root level.

• Due to complication in approval of the plan generally all gram panchayat

are just making plan of the project costing less than Rs 1,00,000 as its get
approval by the leaders of the gram panchayat only. He suggested the
ways of making job card, demanding wage work opportunities and
contributing in the planning processes at the gram sabha level.

• Signature authority of Mukhiya create problem in developing coordination

among MGNREGA functionaries and implementing agency as well

• Technical support under MGNREGS is also complicated – this also invites

corruption in implementation as well as planning processes

• Fund flow is also irregular due to absence of organic linkages among

different tier level of panchayati raj as well as MGNREGS functionaries

This session was concluded by understanding that CSO / CBOs should come
forward and make efforts for proper coordination with the Panchayat Rojgar
Sewak as PRS is responsible for direct coordination with the direct eligible
and potential beneficiaries at the village level and MGNREGS functionaries at
block and district level.

On the second day, representative of Bihar Water development Society

did recap of the first day session in brief.

First Session of the second day was taken by Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh,
UNDP, Patna. He has articulated the roles of the CSOs in ensuring effective
interest of the implementation of the MGNREGS.He has provided space to
participants to come out with their ideas and experiences and further following
set of intervention agenda has been emerge during the session…

• Awareness Generation and mobilizing the poorest groups towards

MGNREGS agenda

• Intervention as Campaign mode

• Organizing MELA – Job card Preparation and handing over to the potential
beneficieries

• Support in opening of bank account and ensuring payment by building

pressure on the implementing agency & payment authority – Bank / Post
Office

• Organizing the job cardholders in groups of 35 for demanding putting

application for wage wwrk demand collectively and ensuring receicing the
acknowledgement receipt of the same

  4 
• Facilitating AAM SABHA / GRAM SABHA on MGNREGS agenda

• Taking stock of concerns / grievances and providing platform for its

redressal

• Capacity Building of MGNREGS functionaries

• Facilitating & Supporting in planning of the MGNREGS with focus on

diversified shelf of work such as creating durable assets, water
conservation & protection, land development, etc

• Quality of work assessment and monitoring

• Facilitating the processes of Convergence and inter departmental

coordination for mobilization resources under MGNREGS

• Support in planning – creation of more number of wage work

• Encouraging community leaders / SHGs leader for working as MATE

• District Level Advocacy

Session was concluded with note that there are opportunities at the village
level as CSOs are engaged in community mobilization and organizing them
into peoplesʼ organization so

Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha

facilitated next session
Tracking of MGNREGS
on highlighting the
tracking processes of • Planning of MNREGS Annual Shelf of
MGNREGS. Mr. Ashok Projects - Gram Panchayat Level Planning
has explained in details
about processes, steps • Demand for Work
and approaches of
tracking of Mahatma • Using RTI in case of Delay in Providing
Gandhi NATIONAL Work under MNREGS
RURAL EMPLOYMENT • Inspection of MNREGS Worksites
GUARANTEE Scheme
(MNREGS) for ensuring • Complaint Redressal
transpacrecy in the
Verification
effective implementation of the programme of Muster Rolls

Planning of MNREGS Annual   Shelf of Projects - Gram Panchayat Level

Planning: In every Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha is held on or before the
2nd October each year to prepare the shelf of works for the upcoming
financial year. All the villagers must participate in this Gram Sabha.

Demand for Work: At least 35 job cardholders from a village or Gram

Panchayat should jointly apply in writing demanding work in a block of dates
for minimum 14-day continuously when they wish to work up to the maximum
number of 100 days. This application must be signed or the thumb prints of all
the job card holders must be provided against their names as the applicants,

  5 
application be addressed to the Mukhiya/ Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat or
to the Programme Officer, MNREGS of the concerned block, be deposited in
the Panchayat/block office and a receipt taken from the concerned office. The
wage work will be provided to the job card holders within 15 days or
unemployment allowance starts.

Using RTI in case of Delay in Providing Work under MNREGS: If the work
under MNREGS is not provided within 15 days of the receipt of the written,
joint work application of more than 35 job card holders, an RTI application
may be written addressing the Public Information Officer of the same block
office. The RTI application must mention the date of receipt of the written
application demanding work under MNREGS and must claim the
unemployment allowance after 15 days of work application.

Inspection of MNREGS Worksites: The villagers should check the following

items on an ongoing MNREGS worksite and ensure that :

• A Citizenʼs Information Board is put up at every worksite and updated

regularly

• Numbered Muster Rolls are maintained on the worksite. No kuchcha

muster rolls are used.

• All work is executed by the workers who are residents of the Gram
Panchayat or are from within a range of 5 kms, who have job cards and
who have demanded work. This is necessary to avoid contractors.

• No machines are used to complete work during day or night.

• No person below the age of 18 is working on MNREGS site.

• Measurement Books is maintained by qualified technical personnel in

charge of the worksite.

• A copy of the sanction/work order is available at the worksite.

• On completion of every work, the Village and Monitoring Committee should

submit a report certifying that the work has been completed satisfactorily
and details of the work be recorded in the MNREGS Works Register and
proactively displayed

Verification of Muster Rolls: In case of inspection and verification of muster

rolls by the villagers, the following items must be ensured:

• Every week, five workers must verify and certify all the bills/vouchers of
their worksite.

• The vigilance committee should check all works and their evaluation report
will be submitted to the Gram Sabha during Social Audit in the manner
prescribed by the Government of India.

  6 
• Entries of wage payment with signature of concerned official should be
entered in the Muster Rolls.

• The workers should counter-sign their attendance and wage payment on

the Muster Roll at the worksite

Complaint Redressal : Villagers can lodge MNREGS related complaints in

the complaint book kept in the Panchayat Bhavan, block and district NREGS
departments. The Programme Officer, MNREGS must conduct an enquiry
through spot verification, inspection and dispose the complaint within 7
working days. To register complaints at the national level, dial toll free MTNL
number 1800110707.

After explaining about the tracking of the MGNREGS and its assertion
processes Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha has also explained in details about the
social audit processes, which is also mandatory under MGNREGS.

Social Audit of NREGS

All the adult members of the Gram sabha must attend the Social Audit held for
their Gram Panchayat twice a year. They must monitor the following items
during the month-long process of Social Audits:

• The information about the Social Audit Gram Sabha is given at least one
month before the date of the event.

• The Social Audit committee consists of neutral representatives from

community like eminent,
Need Attention retired citizens, NGO
representatives, etc, not
• Social Audit Exercise always any PRI or political
conducts under the ownership of the representative and
community leadership and peoplesʼ
serving government
organization
officials
• Mobilization of gram sabha • All concerned
members, panchayat government officials from
representatives and implementation MNREGS, block and
agency
district departments are
• Secondary Information need to be present in the Gram
collected from relevant sources Sabha that is presided
by a neutral person
• Look as ensuring transparency & notified by the Gram
accountability perspectives Sabha other than the
PRI representatives,
• Jury Selection needs to be finalize government officials or
properly part of any
  Implementation Agency

  7 
• All files related to MNREGS are brought to the social audit venue and read
out one by one by a neutral person other than the Pachayat or Rojgar
Secretary or any government official.

• The action taken report of the previous social audit is read out first,
followed by the mandatory agenda

• Information is read out publicly from the mandatory agenda and people are
given an opportunity to seek and obtain information from officials, verify
financial expenditure, examine the provision of entitlements, discuss the
priorities reflected in choices made, and critically evaluate the quality of
works as well as the services of the programme staff.

• All the villagersʼ replies, comments and complaints about each record are
noted down by a neutral person other than the Pachayat or Rojgar
Secretary or any government official

Next Session was handed to representatives of NIDAN the purpose of the

session was to share the practical learning experiences of working on the
agenda of MGNREGS. NIDAN Representatives has presented4 their
experiences of the project title Leveraging MNREGA through Labor Co-
operative in Vaishali District. He has explained in details about Project
Objective, Project Background, Project Areas, Project Strategies followed,
awareness Campaign, Labour Cooperative, ICT Centre, Mass Mahaadhikar
Rally, Achievements, Key Challenges & constraint, survey & findings, Good
practices, Recommendation, Responses of PRIs representatives and
government Service Providers and Success Story.

After presentation interaction was held during the session and participants
has clarified about their doubt. It was observed during this session that the
representatives of NIDAN have presented a complete set of intervention.
Though NIDAN has implemented the project at district level but it realized
during the session and open discussion that state level advocacy is also
needed for grounding of the MGNREGS programme. The approach of forming
Labour Cooperatives was quite effective in terms of linking it with promotion of
other livelihood issues also. It was emerged very clearly that community
mobilization and collective processes supporting in getting wage work under
MGNREGS.

Session was concluded with a positive note that NIDAN has done progressive
work in spite of odd working environment and normal support from the
MGNREGS service providers & government functionaries. The presentation
could be useful in framing out strategies or possible action plan of intervention
for any CSOs. Collective pressure building and policy advocacy initiatives can
be work out.

                                                        
4 Refer
Annexure 5 for details presentation of NIDAN experiences of implementing
MGNREGS  

  8 
The next session facilitated again by Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha and he clarified
very progressively that as CSOs we have to clearly assessed our own
situation and accordingly we have to clearly defined that what we are aiming
for in the larger interest of the community groups and this clarification will be
emerged at the CSOs level only. He sighted following aim for intervention on
MGNREGS agenda, which are

• Promote the tools of good governance and social accountability and

mobilize people on the agenda of MGNREGA

• To advocate for effective implementation of MGNREGA and mobilize the

relevant stakeholders to commit for the same

• To facilitate making of citizenʼs charter / complains applications for

He emphasis on working out clear cut aim at the organizational level in close
consultation with the community members, community leaders and
organization team members / authority. Project mode of intervention will not
be only effective it require campaign mode, policy advocacy mode and
demand driven mode of intervention with rights perspectives.

Mr. Ashok has also clarified about the scaling up and grounding of
MGNREGS

• Bridging the planning gaps through convergence with the Village

Development Plans and line department plans

• Setting up a development ladder to take the poor out of the poverty cycle
leveraging their strengths as Common Interest Groups

Further Mr. Sinha gas guided about Possible Areas of Intervention for
Partner Organization in the coming days…

• FORMATION OF COMMON INTEREST GROUP

• Setting up of essential social supports

• Development Planning at GP, block and district levels

• Setting up a “Workersʼ Employment Committee” as a bridge between

workers and NREGS administration

It is expected from the participants that they will share their learning inputs in
their own team members and come out with future course of action on
MGNREGS as cross cutting agenda.

  9 
Outcomes of the training…
• 30 Participants were exposed about the work in progress of each partner
organization of the DKA & KFB, Austria
• Clarity has been developed about tracking mechanism and social audit
exercise on MGNREGS under the leadership of communities members /
community leaders and banner of peoplesʼ organization
• State perspective and possible Alternative Implementation Model on
MGNREGS has been clarified
• Clarity developed about the diversified range of shelf of work among the
participants under MGNREGS as well as favouring to dalits / SCs /
Mahadalits groups
• Momentum has been building up for taking MGNREGS as cross cutting
agenda in the region
• Increased level of understanding about Set of CSOs intervention
possibilities on MGNREGS agenda
• Need of Pressure Building Exercises and Policy Advocacy Intervention
need has been emerged out
• MGNREGS could be important bargaining points in the coming Panchayat
Election so need has been also emerged out that MGNREGS could be
added in the manifesto of the contesting candidates
• Joint action of all the partner organization of the DKA & KFB, Austria can
be worked out in the near future in case of difficulties in grounding /
implementation of the MGNREGS programme
• Increased level of understanding among participants about the Planning
exercise with the support of gram sabha members and panchayat
representatives
• Understanding has been increased about roles clarity of the Panchayat
Rojgar Sewak
• Gaps & Limitations in MGNREGS implementation has been understood by
the participants
• Possible set of CSOs interventionʼs understanding has been developed
among the participants
• Convergence approach & interdepartmental coordination can be worked
out or CSOs can provide hand holding support to MGNREGS
functionaries, panchayat representatives and Implementing agency
• Possibilities of increased pace of entitlement realization under MGNREGS
has been worked out
•

  10 
Annexure 1. Invitation Letter
Dear partners of KFB and DKA Austria,
Very best wishes from Vienna!
Together with Karma Consultants I am very happy that we can offer you a 2
days training programme on MGNREGA in Patna. All partners of DKA and
KFB Austria are invited to participate in this learning exercise and sharing
process. Please send not more than two team members on 13-14th December
2010 to Sewa Kendra, Patna.
Kindly provide following information about your project
• Project Issues and brief progress of the project till November 2010 –
each partner organization has to make presentation on this
• Status of MGNREGA in the project operational areas – any intervention
on MGNREGA and related problems / challenges
For details of the training kindly consult Ashok Kumar Sinha, Karma
Consultants
Mob no – 9431810206 / email id – [email protected]
As DKA and KFB Austria is in a process of change, these trainings also serve
the purpose of a better cooperation of partners, donor agency and
accompanier. I stress that we will work in a programme setting and the
participation in the trainings arranged by Karma Consultants are of utmost
importance.
We do hope that the communication of our partners with Karma Consultants
will improve. I this training will be a good chance for improving the cooperation
and partnership.
I am wishing you a successful and interesting training.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Eva Wallensteiner

Project Dept.
----------------------------------------------------------
DKA Austria / kfb Austria
Wilhelminenstraße 91/II f
1160 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43-1-4810991-73
Fax: +43-1-4810991-30
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.dka.at, www.teilen.at
DVR: 0574031

  11 
Annexure 2. Training schedule & contents of the Training Programme
Contents Time Schedule Remarks Facilitators
Registration & 9.00 am – 9.15 Informal interaction & PARTICIPANTS -
Introduction am exchange of experiences
among participants
Brief Presentation 9.15 am – 9.30 PARTNERSHIP Status in the Ashok Kumar
about DKA / KFB & am state of Bihar Sinha, Karma
Purpose of the Consultants
Training
Programme
Presentation by the 9.30 am – 11.00 Project operational areas, Representatives of
representatives of am project Issues and brief Partner
Participating progress of the project till Organization
Partner November 2010 (Each
Organization partner organization has to
make presentation)
11.00 am – 11.15 am
Tea-break
Presentation by the 11.15 am – Project operational areas, Representatives of
representatives of 12.00 pm project Issues and brief Partner
Participating progress of the project till Organization
Partner November 2010 (Each
Organization partner organization has to
make presentation)
Brief Overview
about MGNREGS
in the state of Bihar
& present efforts
towards
implementation of
MGNREGS
Consolidation of 12.00 pm – Conclusion with reflection Mr. Ashok Kumar
Partnership 12.15 regarding communication Sinha, Karma
Agenda with response (MIS – SHGs & Consultants
priorities issues of NFE Progress)
DKA / KFB
Experiences of 12.15 pm – Introduction of MGNREGA MR. MIHIR,
other agency 12.45 pm Training Agenda followed by BASIX, Patna,
working on presentation on Strategies Bihar
MGNREGA towards mobilization of
community members & other
stakeholders helped in
positive outcomes in favour of
potential beneficiaries
Open discussion & 12.45 pm – 1.00 Mr. Mihir, Basix,
Reflection pm Patna

  12 
 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
Lunch Break
Salient features of 2.00 pm – 2.30 State Provisions in details Mr. Ashok Kumar
the MGNREGA pm with gender & inclusion Sinha, Karma
perspectives Consultants
Scope of work 2.30 pm – 3.15 Sharing of status, problems, Panchayat Rojgar
under MGNREGA pm challenges by participants Sewak, Masauri,
at the village level followed by reflection and Patna
Open interaction by
Panchayat Rojgar Sewak
Status of the 2.30 pm – 3.15 Status, Problems, Challenges GROUPS
MGNREGA in the pm (Group Exercise – Group will Discussion
project operational be formed based on
areas operational areas / district)
3.15 pm – 3.30 pm
Tea Break
MGNREGA 3.30 pm – 4.00 Presentation of Partner Consolidation by
Overview pm Organization Ashok Kumar
Sinha
Open discussion 4.30 pm – 5.00 Summing up of first day Ashok kumar
followed by pm Sinha
conclusion
Day 2 – 14th December
Recap of the first 9.30 am – 9.45 Participants
day pm
Possible areas of 9.45 am – 10.15 • Scope of Work under Mr. Shailesh
intervention under am MGNREGA Kumar Singh,
MGNREGA by • Coordination with District UNDP, Patna
CSOs / NGOs / administration &
CBOs MGNREGS functionaries
• Challenges in
interventions by the CSOs
/ NGOs / CBOs
Clarity about roles 10.15 am – Presentation by groups
of NGOs / SHGs / 10.30 am leaders
CBOs
MGNREGA as 10.30 am – • Planning of MNREGS Ashok Kumar
rights perspective 11.00 am Annual Shelf of Projects - Sinha, Karma
and demand driven Gram Panchayat Level Consultants
programme Planning
• Demand for Work
• Using RTI in case of
Delay in Providing Work
under MNREGS

  13 
 11.00 am – 11.15 am
Tea Break
WORK 11.15 am – Detail presentation about the NIDAN, Patna
EXPERIENCES in 12.15 am project implemented followed by open
MGNREGA specifically – objective, discussion and
strategies, Progress & exchange of
Challenges, case study, Way learning /
forward experiences
Tracking tools of 12.15 pm – • Steps of tracking and Ashok Kumar
MGNREGS 12.45 pm complaint processes Sinha, Karma
• Inspection of MNREGS Consultants
Worksites
• Verification of Muster
Rolls
• Complaint Redressal
Open discussion 12.45 pm – 1.00 • Clarity about Tracking Open discussion &
pm tools & processes Reflection
1.00 pm - 2.00 pm
Lunch Break
Gram Sabha & 2.00 pm – 2.30 • Gram Sabha exclusively Ashok Kumar
Social Audit of pm on MGNREGS Sinha, Karma
NREGS • Steps of Social Audit Consultants
Possible steps by 2.30 pm – 3.00 • What we are aiming for… Ashok Kumar
Partner pm • Scaling up and grounding Sinha,
Organization of of
Karma
DKA / KFB • Possible areas of
Consultants
intervention

3.00 pm - 3.15 pm
Tea Break
3.00 pm – 3.40 Open discussion & Reflection Ashok Kumar
pm and conclusion Sinha, Karma
Consultants
MGNREGA – 3.15 pm – 3.30 MGNREGA as agenda in the Ashok Kumar
present political pm coming PRIs election in the Sinha, Karma
environment / state of Bihar Consultants
panchayat election
Way forwards in 3.30 pm – 4.00 Summing up Ashok Kumar
MGNREGS in the pm Sinha, Karma
Clarity & request for doing
operational areas Consultants
follow up of the training
followed by
concluding remarks

  14 
Annexure 3. Key Provisions of MGNREGA

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  15 
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  16 
Annexure 4. Highlights of the session facilitated by Mr. Mihir, Basix,
Patna

Explained about purpose of the Scoping Study on Designing AIM for NREGS
and its findings

Identification of relevant works for dry land & flood affected areas of Bihar
under NREGS

Identify activities and works that could be undertaken under NREGS (and
potentially through convergence) and thus, inform the planning process
through the Panchyati Raj Institutions

Possible shelf of work in flood prone areas - Homestead raising, Flood

shelter, Plantation, Draining and sewage, Raised platform, Raised toilets as
demanded by the women SHG, Saving the village from erosion from
floodwater, Safe drinking water with raised hand-pump base,

Shelf of Work for Increased productivity - Renovation of traditional water

bodies, Land development, Drought proofing, Develop irrigation facilities,
Horticulture development

Shelf of work for promotion of livelihood - Dig and repair of small farm
ponds to hold water, irrigate vegetable gardens and rear fish and ducks, Grow
vegetable gardens and/or plants like banana, papaya, gourds on the raised
banks (using excavated mud) of small farm ponds and other water bodies that
are deepened, or with bucket irrigation facilities, Provide outlets from ponds to
water logged paddy fields so that fish can grow faster, Develop systems of
community irrigation such as lift irrigation by harvesting of excess water, Link
technical support from agriculture experts to introduce improved techniques,
and change cropping patterns, Grow alternative crops such as alternate hardy
variety of rice or short term rice, Promote alternate cropping, mainly of
vegetables, Develop aquatic crops, Plant fuel trees that can sustain prolonged
water logging, Promote demonstration work in agriculture even in homestead
like vegetable farming /agro-horticulture/agro forestry, Raise the elevation of
some areas for growing fruit bearing trees, Repair irrigation canals and other
minor irrigation works, Provide agriculture insurance to farmers, Provide
facilities for storage at elevated ground level, Create field ponds to promote
fishery as was done in Uttar Pradesh

Specific Estimate and recommendation of one-gram panchayat as

examples

• Recommended self of works for Gyandov Panchyat would generate

adequate wages about 5,19,966 person days of work, which is about
3.70years for 1405 households

• Maintenance of the shelf of works has potential for 1,03,993 person days
of work – 74 mandays of work every year

  17 
• Can generate adequate income for people, labour and panchyat on an
ongoing basis

• But it warrants for transparent systems in place

• Adequate capacity building of the community, village and Panchayat level

PRI workers and block level workers

Suggestions for effective implementation of MGNREGS

• Awareness on NREGS at all level.

• Awareness for registration, demand for job, receipt be promoted.

• Capacity building of Gram Panchayat and above.

• Strengthening of the institutions like Bank, Post office, Panchayati Raj

system.

• Adequate HR recruitment and positioning.

• As per study there is latent demand of Job, but it should be propagated to

wage seekers.

• Payments to wage seekers on daily basis.(Partial payment in advance

based on recommendation of Mate appointed by VDC ).

Way forward for the state government of Bihar

• Strengthen and focus on grassroots institution building for poor

• Separate entity for NREGS

• Separate agency for Participatory planning

• Formation of labour banks, REX model for Matching of labour demand and
supply

  18 
Annexure 5. Details about NGOs programme on MGREGS Agenda –
NIDAN , Presentation
Project Objectives

• To mobilize and organize Job card holders into self supporting Labour
Cooperatives at Block level

• Co-cooperatives to promote rights and entitlements under NREGA,

sectoral linkage, skill development and sustainable employment

• To facilitate pro poor communication and advocacy strategy for leveraging

NREGA by creating mass scale awareness generation and information

• To identify and conduct skill training in key area specific skill generation
activities (e.g – hatchery, handicraft, horticulture, handloom and
floriculture)

• Income generation & sustainable livelihood through other non farm

activities liked with Labour cooperatives

Project Background

• NREGA programme initiated in Bidupur Block, Vashali district, Bihar, 2

years back in 24 Panchayats.

• As per Government Data Available, in 2009, there were 40095-registered

labor in the Bidupur block, with about 31886 accounts holder. All the
Registered Labor was shown as Job card Holders.

The ground situation of NREGA status in 2009 was contrary to the official
assertion:

• Most of the villagers were not aware of the features of the MNREGA act
and its provisions related to Job card, application for work, and the
minimum wages guaranteed under the Act.

• The PRI Institutions and Rozgar Sevaks were discouraging the people to
be involved in the program.

• There were various irregularities like non issuance of Job cards and
receipts, Accounts book, Forged payments from accounts, exploitation by
middlemen and fraudulent withdrawal of wages from Accounts

• The record, lists and the muster rolls were not maintained properly and
there was little transparency in NREGA works and payments

Project Based Intervention by NIDAN - Nidan initiated the UNDP supported

NREGA Leveraging Programme in Bidupur Block, Vaishali District from Oct ,
2009.

  19 
Project Areas - District:-Vaishali, Block:-Bidupur, Revenue villages :-115,
Total Households:-30823, Total population :-207421, Male:-109099, Female:-
98322, Sex Ratio:-901, Schedule caste:-39162, Schedule tribe:-154,

• Total registered labour under MNREGA - 40095 ( 2009)

• Total Job-card holder labour Under MNREGA:-40095 ( 2009)

• Total Account-holder labor:-31886

• Total SC labour:-18620 ( 2009)

Strategies Followed

• Mobilization of the 115 villagers were carried Panchayat wise in a phased

and planned manner through various community meetings, Awareness
campaigns, Rath Yatra, Nukkad natak, Wall writings and distribution of
IEC materials.

• Pro-field and people-centered strategy for advocacy and communication

was built around the awareness campaigns, which developed into a type
of movement.

• Regular community meetings, follow-up visit of all the Panchayats and

continuous interactions and relation building with community stakeholders,
PRI functionaries and local govt. officials on continuous basis

• Strategically for a decentralized implementation and monitoring of the

activities, Panchayat level activities are initiated at the lowest level to
monitor progress, ensure regularity of meetings and generate demand
within the community participation.

• 2 Rojgar Evum Suchana Kendra (ICT) operational in Bidupur Block acted

as a hub of all programme activities like NREGA information,
dissemination, RTI and Cooperatives and livelihood activities

• Labor co-operative acted as facilitator of entitlements, skill development,

sectoral linkage and sustainable employment

• Community meeting, cluster meetings and door to door drive were aimed
at registration, issuing of Job card, Ensuring 100 Days of work with right
payment and initiation of work for all the villagers.

• One of the strategies was to undertake Follow-up the awareness

programme Panchayat-wise, complete it and then move to new
Panchayat. This is still being practised and assists the personnel to
consolidate MNREGA learning Panchayat wise

• Leadership Training is part of the ongoing capacity building Program of the

Cluster and pocket leader on leadership quality. These SITs is to focus
upon specific and local issues affecting the community and demand
generated at the community level. 192 community members were trained

  20 
 on Leadership Training. In turn, these selective volunteers after training
are expected to capacitate their peers first and the community next.

• Skill development trainings suited to the local need assessment and

market survey.

• Preparation of Village and Panchayat Level Sustainable Structures like

cluster, Cooperative member.

Awareness Campaign – NREGA CHETNA RATH

• The Rath was flagged off by Block Development Officer of Bidupur Block,
Mr. Neeraj Kumar and Block Pramukh Mr. Tarkeswar Prasad on 5th Feb
2010

• The Yatra campaign covered all the 24 gram panchayats. The Rath yatra
disseminated all the information related to NREGS schemes, Right to
Information Act and Co operative.

• A Nukkar Natak Mandli with 15 Volunteers (Total members : 15) moved

along with the Rath and performed in all the 24 Panchayats.

Labour Cooperative – an Initiatives for Assertion by the Job Card

Holders by organizing themselves into Labour Cooperative

• The impact of this campaign was visible tremendously in all the villages.
Due to the public gathering, meetings and Interactions at the Nukkad
natak, People were made aware of the rights and entitlement under
NREGA.

• Meeting organised in the route led to galvanizing people for demanding

job cards & works and raising voices against various irregularities in
NREGA implementation.

Details of labor cooperative

• Cooperative Name - Majdoor Kalyan Sarmil Swawlambi sahkari limited.

• Registration Under - Bihar cooperative Act 1996.

• Registration No - BER/07/ 03/01/LA/018/2010

• Working Area - All Vaishali District

• Total Cooperative members enrolled - 397

• Total Male member - 21

• Total female member - 376 (95.4 %)

• SC Member - 229 (57.7 %)

  21 
Aims at promoting sustainable livelihoods to rural poor through Skill
development and income generation activities so that they can earn at least
minimum wages through out the year

• 90 % rural poorʼs from SC,ST and backward classes as our beneficiaries

in the mass awareness and advocacy campaign on NREGA , RTI and
cooperatives

• 397 members enrolled in labour cooperative. The cooperative is being

registered with the Registrar of Cooperatives.

• The members of the labor cooperatives were linked up with the Nidan
micro finance Programmes

• The members of the labour cooperative were given various types of skill
development trainings for their income enhancement and alternate
livelihood options. More than 300 members of the labour cooperatives
have received various skill development trainings in File making, tailoring,
Hatchery, Animal husbandry, handlooms.

• After Training they have been offered technical support of financial linkage
& market linkage of their products.

ICT centre – means for maximizing

• Innovative community resources center to promote dissemination of

information to the Job cardholders regarding NREGA and its
implementation process.

• 2 Rozgar Evum Suchna kendras (ICT) has emerged as center & hub for all
activities related to cooperatives, RTI awareness, skill development
training and convergences with development activities

• Facilitating MIS systems regarding datas and all forms and documents of
NREGA in user friendly way

• Creating Awareness about Right to Information act and its entitlement

among the people.

• Formation of Labour cooperatives as “permanent source of Livelihood” and

link them with skill development and other non- farm related activities

Mass Mahadhikar Rally – efforts of pressure building

• A State level mass policy advocacy meeting was 0rganized on 30th July
2010 Nidan in Vaishali District on the theme, Engagement with MNREGA
Policy Issues , in context of the righ& entitlement of informal women
workers.

• MNREGA Mahadhikar and witnessed the participation of more than 15000

informal workers and stakeholders from local government. PRIs, DRDA
and community leaders

  22 
• Rally was preceded by mass mobilization & awareness of the villagers
from the villages and Panchayats of the Vaishali and nearby dhe istricts.

• Objective of the Mass meeting was to strengthen advocacy Strategy for

leveraging NREGA in an innovative and sectoral convergences way, by
creating mass scale awareness generation and information dissemination
on MNREGA Act, its right & entitlement and alternate livelihood issues.

Achievements

• About 7543 application Of Registration and work-demand received from

the concerned person.

• 190 bank accounts were opened and 665 passbooks were distributed
among the villagers.

• After intensive mobilization and series of community meeting, at our

initiatives, 1985 New Job Cards were issued and distributed.

• Due to the built up awareness and pressure generated by the project staff
on PRI & block officials, 3529 old Rozgar cards kept with Rozgar sewak/
Mukhia were distributed among the stakeholders.

• 2 Panchayats cases of fraudulent withdrawal from accounts, malpractices

checked 45 SHGs formed by field level staff.

• Due to efforts of Nidan, an official Letter issued by Programme officer,

Bidupur giving warning to Post office officials to check urged withdrawal of
MNREGA

• 12 members got Loan for housing from Indira Awas Yojana

• Skill development training of more than 360 Labor cooperatives members

organized in Bag making, tailoring, Hatchery, Animal Husbandary,
Handlooms & Handicrafts, leading to their income enhancement through
skill up gradation and marketing linkages

• RTI Act awareness and dissemination of employment related information

at Rozgar Evum Suchna kendra (ICT) has led to more authenticity,
accountability and transparency of NREGA program.

• 354 People registered for NREGA schemes got job works within 15 days
after issuance of Job cards.

• Increased level of awareness about the NREGA among diversified groups

and civil society players & Increased number of Job Card application,
registration and distribution under NREGA

• We have promoted and registered a district level labour cooperative.

Labour Cooperative name is MAJDUR KALYAN Shramik Swawlambi
Sahkari samiti ltd. And registration no is BR/07/03/01/LA/018/2010. 397
members enrolled in labour cooperative. Cooperatives promoting

  23 
 sustainable livelihood and income enhancement through skill development
activities

• An amount of Rs, 885000 were distributed to 87 members of the

cooperatives for promoting their livelihood activities.

• 220 members of the labour cooperatives were also covered under the
various social security schemes promoted by the Nidan.

• Under the project, 2 ICT centers were operational in the Bidupur Block.
During the project period, total number of 1137 beneficiaries visited the
ICT centers and was given information about RTI, SHGs, Labour
Cooperatives and other skill development activities. Among the total
beneficiaries there were 209 males and 928 females, who were benefitted
by our interventions in the Block. Among the beneficiaries, there were 692
from the SC sections and 391 were from the OBc sections

Key Challenges & Constraints

• Irregular involvement of Rozagar sevaks in shady dealings is the biggest

problem. They are hand in Glove with the Middlemen, who are involved
irregularly in the MNREGA Programmes Implementation. They even keep
with them illegally the Job Cards & Passbooks. Our interventions led to
recovery of many passbook.

• Our Field Mobilisers received threatening from the Middlemen & some
community leaders, since we were trying to get the workers aware about
their rights & entitlements.

• Participation & involvement of NREGA Project officers is still a major

concern. They publicly support the MNREGA Programme but are hesitant
in taking strong actions against the complaints of the dubious role of the
Panchayat Rozgar sewaks & middlemen.

• The provisions of providing Unemployment Allowance are not being

implemented for those not getting work even after Job application receipts.

• Most of the wages to MNREGA workers are paid in cash, which gives
much scope to financial irregularities leading to less than actual payments
to labors.

• Less participation of Panchayat representatives MNREGA related

program.

• Centralized information about MNREGA is available only at block program

officer & not at Grass root level at Villages

• Lack of clarity about the roles/ responsibility assigned to Rozgar sevak

• Lack of transparency in job cards distribution, issuing of Application

receipts, and Muster rolls preparation is deliberate due to the official
apathy & irregularities at all level.

  24 
• In some Panchayats, even after Job applications, no job cards & works
was being provided by PRIs instituitions.

• Post Office apathy leading to slow pace of opening accounts of job card
holders and distributing. Even after official letters from Programme Officers
their work was slow.

• There is lack of Transparency at every level og programme

implementation. Only some people have access to right information.

• As per finding of our Survey report, the labours are not aware about the
calling of the AAm Sabha & Social audit meetings conveyed by PRIs.

• PRIs members and Rozgar Sewaks are discouraging people for involving
in NREGA. They are even false issuing of job cards for money making
and commiting many irregularities. Rozgar Sewaks are acting more like
PRIs functionaries and less like MNREGA facilitator and are not visiting
the area regularly.

• As per norms NAREGA is implemented through community and PRIs

involvement but now its implemented only through mukhias level.
Community and the labours are not being involved in the programme.

Survey & Findings

• Total Number of workers who were surveyed: - 2196 Person

• Total persons who received Job cards: -1868 (85.63%)

• Total persons who did not receive Job cards: --328 (14.37%)

• Total Members who have knowledge of their passbook issued: -1513

(71.6%)

• Total Members who do not have passbooks: -683 (28.4%)

• Total members who have received passbook: -1206 (54.92%)

• Total member who have not received passbook: 989(45.08%)

• Total member who have made Application for Work: -1845

• Total members who received work Under 15 days of application: -1470

(79.67%)

• Total member who did not receive work Under 15 days of application: -375
(20.33%)

• Total member having got Payment within 15 days: -288(15.61%)

• Total members not receiving Unemployment allowance: -375 out of 375

(100%)

• Facilities Received Under MNREGA on worksite: -228(12.36%)

  25 
• Entry on JOB card and Passbook after Work and Payment: -650(35.23%)

• Knowledge Of date and time of Aam sabha and social audit:- 0 (0%)

Good Practices

• We have involved & trained local MNREGA workers in the enacting of the
Nukkad Natak (Street Play), which were organized in all Panchayats
during MNREGA Awareness Rath Yatra. All the labors were given six days
of training & rehearsal for the play, whose script was written in local
dialect. The local labors involvement in Nukkad nataks were appreciated
by all.

• The organisations of the skill trainings at the Panchayat level at the place
being provided by the local community itself, lead to much convenience for
the cooperative members.

• The Leadership Development Training was conducted for 180 community

representatives. This leadership training leads to much increase in the
awareness of them regarding the MNREGA process & its implementation.
For their selection, much care was taken- first all the 24 Panchayats were
divided into 90 pockets on basis of their outreach & 2 representatives from
each pocket were selected.

• Skill development training of more than 360 Labor cooperatives members

organized in Bag making, tailoring, Hatchery, Animal Husbandary,
Handlooms & Handicrafts, leading to their income enhancement through
skill up gradation and marketing linkages. NREGA only assure job to the
registered villagers for 100 days but there is a need to provide sustainable
livelihoods through skill development on long-term basis.

• Labour cooperative members were also being provided information about

other government programmes like Indira Awaas Yojana, Antodya &
Annapurna etc

• Women Community members were also involved activities like SHGs,

Micro Finance and Micro insurance linkages with its convergence with
other programmes being run by Nidan in Bidupur Block

• Due to rise in the awareness level, more women members were

encouraged by our mobilizers to open Bank Accounts and Apply for loans
in Banks & Financial Instituitions.

Recommendations

• •Establishment of information resource centers: Information resource

centers and help lines in collaboration with civil society organizations for
smoothing the processes at the grassroots beings carried out under the
scheme should be done. Early creation of Panchayat Resource centers at
Intermediate Panchayat level as envisaged by national capability building
framework under BREGS works in BRGF districts covered under NREGA.

  26 
• Build large-scale citizen awareness campaigns for generating demand
side of NREGA: The awareness campaigns should not only provide basic
information about the Act as well as cardholders rights. For 100days
employment, but also provide guidance in exercising their rights The
success of the Programme will largely depended on the effectiveness of
the demand raised by the citizens.

• Strengthening of the village level Nigrani Samiti: Strengthening of

monitoring and vigilance committees will be help ful in the implementation
of sanctioned works. Also NREGA endows Panchayat to Gram Sabha .
Indication of low participation in Gram Sabha Panchayat shows that a lot
more has to be done to strengthen gram Sabha.

• Improve institutional capacities of Gram Panchayat: The a pnchayats have

been identified as the key implementation organization for NREGA. In
order to build panchayats as an effective executing agency for NREGA, it
is an essential pre-requisite to invest heavily on strengthening their
perspective, knowledge and skills. More financial resources have the be
set aside for creating awareness and local networks, radio advertisements,
cultural troupes should all be used for official dissemination.

• Conducive work environment: Conditions of works site facilities were not

satisfactory.

• Definition of a house hold: The operational guidelines of the NREGA detail

a household as nuclear family comprising mother, father and their children.
In addition, a household refers to a lot of confusion about the definition of
this critical term. Our country has historically followed the system of joint
families: such practices will put joint families in the disadvantageous
position.

• Distribution of a job cards: According to data provided on by block

administration of job card issued to registered households varies across
Panchayat.

• Delay in distribution of job cards: The point of concern, however, is not just
the percentage of issue of cards but the percentage of distribution pf job
cards. Through job cards have been prepared across most panchayat in
many panchayat they have not reached to the benificiaries , there by
restricting their right to demand work . Probable causes for this is the
unskilled of the panchayat seretaries who undertakes the task of
distribution.

• There is no information given to the MNREGA workrs by the PRIs

functionaries regarding the holding of the AAM Sabha meeting & Social
Audit regarding MNREGA. The District administration should develop
appropriate mechanism to redress this issue and facilitate organizing Aam
Sabha & Social Audit.

  27 
• As per our Survey finding, there are many villagers who have applied for
the Job under MNREGA but they have not neither received work nor
Unemployment Allowance. They should be provided allowance under the
Act.

Responses of PRIs & Government Service Providers

• The Block development Officers appreciated our efforts to link up the

MNREGA Awareness Programme with the concept of Skill development
Training & Formation of Labor Cooperatives. He assured full help in Rath
Yatra Awareness Campaign

• When our Project personnel brought to notice the Block Programme

Officer, MNREGA, the various irregularities being practiced by local Post
Offices & Rozgar Sewaks, He immediately issued an official letters to all
warning stong actions for irregularities. It lead to a positive impact in the
distribution of the job Cards & Pass books among labors.

• Block Level officials including BDO & MNREGA PO cooperated with Nidan
in the implementation of the Programme. It leads to some improvement in
many implementation parts

• Some of the Panchayat Rozgar Sewak & Middlemen were openly hostile
to our intervention and even threatened our mobilisers & Project
Coordinators not to take up follow up actions on the irregularities. We have
to move very cautiously in many Panchayats/

• The District Collector of Vaishali & DRDA Secretary appreciated our efforts
during meetings and suggested us to undertake a Survey for finding out
the problem areas of informal jobless Workers vis-i-vis MNREGA. We
conducted the survey and have analysed it to assess the situations

Success Story - Dalit Community battles against the MNREGA irregularities -

It is a classic case of fighting for their rights and entitlement by the villagers of
Khanpur pakdi village panchayat, who collectively uprooted irregularities &
corruption prevalent in MNREGA at village panchayat level. Khanpur pakdi is
predominantly inhabited by Dalits who are dependent on daily labor work for
managing their households. They are extremely poor people who were
exploited by middlemen and other village level officials. The middlemen
seized their job cards and passbook and the payments were completely
mismanaged and sometime fraudentely withdrawn with forged signatures.
There was high level of embezzlement in all the sections and the middlemen
and other persons vandalized the due payments of MNREGA. Nidan
catalyzed the Dalit community and collectively fought for their rights as by
organising them. A collective meeting (Gram Sabha) was organized where
concrete decisions on eradication of the irregularities were taken in the
presence of Sarpanch, Post Master and Rojgar Sevak. The present scenario
of village has completely changed and MNREGA is being implemented in a
transparent manner which has helped the depressed community and they are
getting proper & full payments on their work.

  28