convergence for sustainable development

8/3/2019 Convergence for Sustainable Development

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Forest

More than 8% of MGNREGA works relate to drought proofing. The Ministry of

Environment and Forests (MOE&F) has the task of achieving one-third of the land

area under forest and tree plantations as envisaged in the National Forest Policy,1988. This cannot be accomplished by MOE&F alone due to the enormity of the

task. Convergence with MGNREGA is therefore beneficial in terms of additional

resources and new possibilities of holistic development. The integrated area

development approach with ecological concerns will also benefit MGNREGA in

quality planning and selection of works that generate sustainable employment.

Agriculture

In the proposed pilot initiative between MGNREGA and ICAR, the latter can play a

substantial role in improving the quality of planning and execution for MGNREGA

works. Appropriate technology solutions have been mapped by ICAR to provide a

rational database for preparing MGNREGA plans, and its technical norms and

designs, so that the choice of works is guided not just by the expediency of

immediate employment provisioning but also by the logic of sustainable natural

resource development. The wide-ranging ICAR repository of appropriatetechnologies enables a holistic project approach whereby works selected under

MGNREGA are conceptualized as projects that go beyond natural resource

management to strengthen livelihoods as well.

Technical

More than 8% of MGNREGA works relate to drought proofing. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOE&F;) has the task of achieving one-third of the land

area under forest and tree plantations as envisaged in the National Forest Policy,

1988. This cannot be accomplished by MOE&F; alone due to the enormity of the

task. Convergence with MGNREGA is therefore beneficial in terms of additional

resources and new possibilities of holistic development. The integrated area

development approach with ecological concerns will also benefit MGNREGA in

quality planning and selection of works that generate sustainable employment.



Professional Institutional Network

Introduction:

'The Professional Institutional Network (PIN) of the Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(NREGA) is a network of institutions,

including Indian Institutes of Management(IIMs), Indian Institutes of

Technology(IITs), National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), agriculture

universities, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), think tanks, civil society

organizations and other professional institutes.

The PIN was created by the Ministry of Rural Development as an integrated

structure for concurrent monitoring, appraisal, diagnosis of implementationconstraints, recommendations on remedial action and sustainable interventions, to

enhance the quality of the programme. The main focus of the PIN is on

strengthening the capacity of the district to implement the programme and create

positive impact.

The network undertakes assessment, studies, research/action research to identify

within districts and across states, efficient management practices, procedures,

processes, factors that have contributed to good performance and the positiveoutcomes. Based on their field experiences and primary and secondary data, the

institutes make recommendations and strategies for dissemination of these practices

and factors that have or will limit the optimal performance of the Scheme.

From the completed studies and field feedback, the Ministry is continually

identifying areas of concern. The findings of these institutes have been shared with

state governments through reports, review meetings and discussions. The



Many states have started use of smart cards and hand held devices for the wage

disbursement like: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, UP,

Kerala, etc.

To extend the current use of smart cards and hand held devices from wage

disbursement to make it operate like a Job card so that all transactions of

MGNREGA programme be captured, like: registration, Job card, demand for work,issue of dated receipt, allotment of work, entry into muster roll like attendance from

the field through hand held devices which will be able to record latitude and

longitude of the area, ensuring presence of worker at the worksite and payment

either through 'branch-less banking' by adopting the Business Correspondent Model

and using biometric based technology or through low cost ATMs.

Smart card and hand held devices will have additional advantage of capturing

delays. All transactions will be updated instantly in the MIS and accessible to the

beneficiaries as well as the public. It will also enhance the management andmonitoring of the Programme.

The pilot project is initiated in States like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh,

Bihar and Orissa



Low cost ATM for Wage Disbursement with finger print

authentication and local language interface

ICTs can be fruitfully deployed to ensure that the Scheme is implemented in a

transparent manner. The Ministry of Rural Development and UNDP are supportingany IT based applications to assist in the effective implementation of the

MGNREGA.

In this context, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the UNDP are

seeking the expertise of the IITM’s Rural Technology and Business Incubator

(RTBI) to pilot and field test the technology for low-cost ATMs with finger print

authentication and local language interface in 5 villages in Tamil Nadu.

It is not just an ATM but an e-governance model that is people friendly andempowers the poorest labourer to assert his/her rights



I. SUCCESS STORY

Bio – Metric ATM for NREGS workers

Basic Bank accounts are something that most of the rural people take for granted.

Majority of the rural households do not have bank account mainly because of lessfamily earnings. This results in an economic disadvantage.

To reach the rural masses and to boost micro financing initiatives, Bio-Metric

ATMs with secure finger print readers are hitting the rural villages in Cuddlier

District. Now a pilot programme is set in 5 villages and successfully installed in

Periyakanganankuppam village and is made functional

Advantages

• This Bio-Metric ATM is equipped with Bio – Metric sensor whichhas finger print authentications as a standard feature and it ispossible for the illiterate or semi literate folks to use justthumb impression on a touch screen which will allow thebeneficiaries to withdraw their week’s wages. The ATMaccepts finger prints as the means of authentication insteadof PIN numbers only as used by other ATMs. This ensures that

the Bio metric ATM is very easy to use• It rules out the possibility of leakages in the payment as the

entire wages are disbursed through the bank

• This project will demonstrate the significant reduction of cashdelivery time, prevention of leakages and pilferages andpromotion of transparency in the system

•

In case of payment through the bank branches the workersare to be in long queues. They are not properly attended bythe bank staff. Besides most of the bank branches are runningshort of staff. These workers are perceived by the bankingsystem as additional burden to them and the workers are ill-treated in many cases



• It will encourage more savings as the amount goes directly tothe bank and the workers can withdraw a minimum amount ofRs.50/- or whatever they require rather than the entireamount

II. Success Story

PEOPLE’S VOICE

I am Lakshmi. I belong to Periyakanganankuppam village at Cuddlier Block in

Cuddlier District. I am very poor and illiterate. I did not have any bank account

before entering into MGNREGS work. I am ignorant of banking procedures and

moreover my paltry earning is insufficient to make both ends meet. After joining

the MGNREG Scheme, I have been motivated and now I have opened a bank

account with ATM card. It is very useful for the poor illiterates like me to draw

money easily for my needs. It helps me to save money after spending for my needs.



New Initiatives

Department of Rural Development (DRD), Government of India, proposes to

establish a network of Help lines under MGNREGA at the National, State, District

and Block levels for facilitating the redressal of grievances in relation to the

implementation of the MGNREG Scheme.

Use of ICT and Biometric Project

MGNREGA workers are largely illiterate, poor and at the bottom of the social

hierarchy. They cannot articulate their demands ‘formally’ in writing. The absenceof written application for employment, non-issuance of dated receipts, non-payment

of unemployment allowances or compensation for delay in wages are not only on

account of administrative lapses in record keeping, but reflect the social

undercurrents and dynamics that prevent workers from exercising their rights in

demanding work from the Gram Panchayats in an equitable manner.



The large scale of operations, the limitations of outreach of various services and the

need to handle large volumes of information in a transparent manner necessitates

the use of ICT in program delivery.

The use of ICT devices and biometrics for authentication will bring in transparency

and efficiency. Geared towards real time capture of the processes involved inMGNREGS such as registration, demand of work, issue of dated receipt, allocation

of work, attendance at worksite with GPS coordinates, measurement of work, wage

payments, etc. it would be instrumental in ensuring transparency and accountability,

strengthening MIS reporting and tracking and reducing delays in measurement and

payments.

The Biometric data will be UIDAI and core banking compliant which may be used

by UIDAI to issue the ‘Aadhaar’ number or by financial institutions for the wage payment in a more transparent manner.

EOI & Concept Note

MGNREGA Help Line

http://nrega.nic.in/circular/eoi_concept.htm

http://nrega.nic.in/circular/eoi_concept.htm



• Department of Rural Development (DRD), Government of India, proposes to

establish a network of Help lines under MGNREGA at the National, State,

District and Block levels for facilitating the redressal of grievances in relation

to the implementation of the MGNREGA Scheme. The Helpline consists of atoll free MTNL number (1800110707) that will be used by the MGNREGA

households and other individuals and groups to raise their questions, submit

their grievances and complaints and seek guidance from the Department of

Rural Development.

• On receipt of the calls, Department of Rural Development intends to resolve

the grievances by requesting the field level MGNREGA Authorities to take

suitable remedial action and obtain feed-back. Action on each complaint

needs to be ensured and pending complaints need to be closely monitored.

• The operations will run with the use of latest information and communication

technology to provide solutions to complainants on a real time basis.



• The Helpline consists of a toll free MTNL number (1800110707). The

operations will run with the use of latest information and communication

technology (ICT) to provide solutions to queries and / or complainants on a

real time basis.

Knowledge for Action

About Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Knowledge forAction

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Open Archive Initiative aims to ensurepublic access to published works. This access to knowledge wouldbenefit public governance, policymaking and promotion of a rights



based approach and mass awareness among the public regardingMGNREGA schemes and rural development, hence ensureincreased usage and impact of research and other forms of knowledge. This platform would aim to serve as an informationbase for the policy makers, think tanks and grassrootsorganizations and enable them to utilize the benefits of the

knowledge to design strong safety nets, design sustainablelivelihood processes, and ensure sustainability of naturalresources.

convergence for sustainable development

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