NREGA: Catalyst to the rural development

On 5th of June 2008, the supply canal to Chekkanam tank is free of impediments to the water flow, with risen banks on either side and still certain portions of the canal are yet to be desilted, dredged and leveled. Deep in to the canal, about 500 men, women and youth throng around a few men, showing their identity cards and register their presence. Numbers of bicycles were parked under the shadow of a row of trees. It seemed that the entire population of a village had displaced; some even had their children sleeping on the makeshift cradle under the shadow of a tree. Soon after registration, people returned in batches and flung in to desilting works, digging, spading, collecting soil on baskets and reinforcing the banks. Thirukampuliyoore Panchayat was busy with NREGP works. It reminded of the pretty old days when social ownership over the common public resources was in practice.

Objective of NREGA:

The objective of NREGA is to ensure employment opportunity for the rural people who are dependents on agriculture for their livelihood. As the agricultural practices are declining due to water scarcity and increased cost of agricultural input, the majority of the national population-the agricultural labourers do not get employment opportunities, even for six months in a year, nowadays. Hence, NREGA has been implemented as a means of livelihood to the rural poor.

NREGA in Chinnamalaikottai:

Maruthambal, one of the workers engaged in desilting says “We are very happy with the scheme for it ensures employment for 100 days and a fair wages for the work done.” She further said that the villagers would have engaged in agriculture related works if they had not been included in NREGA. When asked if agriculture related works were available throughout the year, she said that works were available but with the meager amount of income they had to lead hand to mouth existence only. What makes the people happy is that NREGA provides Rs.80 as daily wages to a person.

Kamalambal said, “This much amount is not paid for agricultural works and it is not as hard as this NREGA work. NREGA is good for it ensures employment to the people for 100 days and a fair wages as long as the scheme sustains.”

People, irrespective of caste, from six villages that come under this Panchayat were assembled here to desilt the canal. Village boundary, age and the meaningless castes is no bar to their work. Krishna, 51 years old farmer said with annoyed tone that NREGA must be checked because it hampered the local agricultural works. Desilting the supply canal is in no way alien to local agricultural practices. The people gathered there also told us that the canal in the past did not wear a look as it did then for it had been desilted breath and width, from the beginning to the end and it would help the tanks and irrigation canals get much water during rainy season. The raised level of banks will prevent the draining of rain flood from the fields stretching all along the canal and thus let the water percolate in to the fields. When it was explained to him, Krishna realized the importance of the scheme. He was one among the NREGA workers.