MNREGA fails to curb distress migration in parts of R'than

The government's flagship programme MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emolyment Guarantee Act) has created a source of additional income for families living below the poverty line in tribal areas of Rajasthan but has failed to check distress migration as minimum 100 days of employment assured under the Act is not provided to all workers.

Many villagers in Dungarpur, Udaipur and Rajsamand districts claim that the scheme is mostly attracting women and elderly of the BPL families as they find it a good source of additional income while staying in their own gram panchayat.

The other members of the families choose to utilise the job opportunities available in other districts within the state or outside to earn their livelihood, villagers claim.

"I work in a factory in Mumbai and visit my home here when on leave. Also known as National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a good scheme but we can't sustain with only 100 days of work which too is not completely available to everyone. I earn Rs 150 per day in Mumbai. This job is good for me," said 28-year old Manilal, a Bhil tribe member, who is resident of Pal Dewal block in Dungarpur district.

He said his brother too works in a local factory and "only women and my father in family work under NREGA for whatever days provided to them by the authorities. Its good, instead of sitting idle at home, they are earning some money under the scheme".

50-year old Taua of Pal Dewal block claimed that he completed 100 days under NREGA but that could not fulfill his needs as he never got Rs 100 on any single day.

"So I am now working in a factory in Udaipur. While working under NREGA, I could earn betweem Rs 60 to Rs 70 per week. Mate (a person who measures the work on the basis of which wage is paid) never gave me more than Rs 70," he charged.

He also alleged that sarpanches interefere in the implementation of NREGA and manage to arrange regular job for the people whom they support. "At least, I have a kind of permanent job where I am working now. Wage of Rs 100 per day is also fixed. I can't leave this for NREGA where both money and opportunity is uncertain."

Laluram of Khemli gram panchayat in Udaipur district, who work in a factory in Gujarat, spoke in the same vein.
 
"Apart from NREGA providing source of additional income in family, the good thing is that the scheme has forced factory owners to raise our wage. I used to earn Rs 70 to 80 per day earlier. Now I am earning Rs 100 per day," he said.