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1
Miracle of MNREGA
A Study on the Best Practices of MNREGA in Andhra Pradesh
Written by
Parshuram Rai
Supported by
UUHHJIF
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD SECURITY
NEW DELHI
2014
2
CONTENTS
Topic Page
1 Contents 2
2 Acknowledgement 3
3 Executive Summary 5
4 Best Practices of MNREGS in Andhra Pradesh 15
5 Findings of MNREGS Survey in Andhra Pradesh 33
6 Case Studies and Success Stories from Field
7 Case Studies from Ananthpuram 43
8 Case Studies from Chittoor 58
9 Case Studies from Vizianagaram 91
10 Case Studies from Vishakhapatnam 112
11 Case Studies from Srikakulam 122
12 Case Studies from Adilabad 140
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to put on record my highest appreciation and sincere thanks to Prakash Rao and
Ravi Shankar for their research assistance in this study . A special thank is due to Prakash
Rao for his hard work , patience and perseverence through out the field study in AP.
This Study would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of large
number of govt. officials and Gram Panchayat functionaries of Andhra Pradesh (AP-
UNITED), starting from the Chief Secretary of the State to Field Assistants of the GPs . First
and foremost , we are grateful to thousands of MNREGA beneficiaries and labourers from
across AP(UNITED) who spared time to talk to us and share with us their side of the story .
We are grateful to many officials of the State Govt. who helped us during this study ; to
name a few , Shri P K Mohanty ( Chief Secretary ) , Shri Shashi Bhushan Kumar
(Commissioner – Rural Development) , Ms Karuna Akela ( Director –MNREGA ) . A special
thank is due to Ms Karuna Akela for her diligence , sincerety , cooperation and support for
this study . A lot of credit for the success of MNREGA in AP goes to her .
We are also grateful to DMs of Srikakulam and Adilabad who took personal interest in this
study and also accompanied us in some villages during the study . A special thank is due to
Shri Saurabh Gaur ( DM- Srikakulam ) for all his support extended to us during this study .
His personal interest and involvement in the effective implementation of MNREGA and his
knowledge about the same was impressive and encouraging .
The Project Directors (PDs) of all six districts where we conducted our survey , research and
documentation deserve our special gratitude for their help, support and cooperation during
this study .We owe a special thank to Shri Kalyan Chakravarti ( PD – Srikakulam) for his
extraordinary diligence , support and cooperation during the study . I have never seen so
hard working , so simple , thoroughly honest and completely committed govt official like
him . A lot of credit for successful implementation of MNREGA in AP goes to officials like
Shri Chakravari , in whom I found a true KARMAYOGI of Bhagavad Gita variety . We are
grateful to Shri Ganapati Rao ( APD-M&E, Srikakulam) and all other officials of Srikakulam
who helped us in the study .
4
We are grateful to Shri Sriram Naidu ( PD-Vishakhapatnam) and his colleagues, Shri Appala
Naidu (APD- Vizianagaram) and his colleagues , Shri Vinay Reddy ( PD-Adilabad) and his
colleagues, Shri C. Chandramauli ( PD- Chittoor) , Shri Gopi Chand ( APD- Chittoor) and their
other colleagues , Shri Sanjay Prabhakar ( PD-Anantpuram), Shri Vijay Kumar ( APD-
Anantpuram) and their other colleagues for their sincere support and help during the field
study . I am especially grateful to Shri Vijay Kumar and his colleagues for their kindness and
help when I fell sick in Ananthapuram . He and his colleagues took care of me so much that I
recovered back soon .
Last but not the least , We are grateful to Ms.Sowmya Kidambi (Director- Social Audit) ,
Andra Pradesh and her colleague Shri Chaitanya for their help and cooperation during the
study .
-Parshuram Rai ( Swami Vedanta )
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) has been working on MNREGS (Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ) since its inception in 2006 .During
last seven years , CEFS has conducted performance audit of MNREGS in the states of
Odisha , Madhya Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh and Bihar . We found massive corruption and
serious irregularities in the implementation of MNREGS in all these states . As a result , CEFS
filed a Writ Petition in the Supreme Court of India , seeking Orders for ensuring effective
and corruption-free implementation of MNREGS in all states .
During the course of 23 hearings in the Supreme Court (SC) , CEFS submitted repeatedly
that except the State of Andhra Pradesh (AP) , no state was implementing MNREGS in letter
and spirit . During the course of some hearings , the SC wondered if other states should
be asked to follow the Best Practices in the implementation of MNREGA adopted by AP .
Therefore , CEFS decided to undertake a systematic and detailed study on the Best Practices
of MNREGA adopted by AP ; so that we could file a detailed response in the Supreme Court
regarding the replicability of AP’s Best Practices in other states, especially Social Audit .
This study is not an academic exercise but an instrument of advocacy for improving
implementation of MNREGS in other states through the intervention of the Supreme Court
directing all the states to ensure independent , effective,credible and detailed social audit
of MNREGS , as done by Andhra Pradesh (AP-UNITED) .
AP has unleashed full potential of MNREGA by ensuring effective and corruption-free
implementation of the ACT, as revealed by CEFS Study .The secret of effective and
successful implementation of MNREGS in AP lies in independent , effective , detailed and
credible Social Audit. If other states also adopt these Best Practices and implement the ACT
in its letter and spirit , the MNREGA would definitely unleash its full potential and bring a
complete turnaround in the socio-economic-ecological profile of rural India .
This study has three components : (1) Introductory note on the Best Practices of MNREGS
adopted by AP , (2) Findings of CEFS Survey in two districts of AP , and (3) 40 case studies
and success stories from 6 districts of AP .
6
Introductory Note of Best Practices of AP
The introductory note on the Best Practices of MNREGS in Andhra Pradesh is largely based
on the information provided by AP Govt.This note gives basic information on the various
Processes in the implementation of MNREGS in AP . These processes include :
Planning Process / Development Plan
Rural Standard Schedule of Rates
Use of ICT as a key tool in the implementation
RAGAS: (Rashtriya Grameena Abhivruddhi Samacharam)
MIS Reports
Electronic Fund Transfer System (eFMS)
Electronic Muster and Measurement System (eMMS)
Biometric Muster and Measurement System (B-EMMS)
Payment of wages through Smart Cards
Distribution of wage slips
Ensuring wage payments within fortnight
Delayed wage compensation
Shrama Shakthi Sanghas
Formation of Shrama Shakti Sanghalu Federations
Social Audit
Vigilance Cell
Mobile Court
Chenchu Primitive Tribal Groups
Empowering Rural Women
7
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
Grievance Redressal
Quality Control Cell
Towards Securing Livelihoods of the rural poor
Findings of CEFS Survey
CEFS conducted sample survey in 40 sample villages from two districts to ascertain the
veracity of various claims regarding MNREGS made by AP . So, this section contains CEFS
survey findings . The survey was conducted in two sample districts- Srikakulam and
Adilabad during December 2013 and January 2014 .
Wage Employment
CEFS survey has revealed that about 90 per cent of the sample households had received
over 100 days of wage employment during previous 12 months ( from January 2013 –
December 2013) . About 10 percent of the sample households had worked for less than 100
days during the same period . But ,it was not because of unavailability of the wage
employment that these households worked for less than 100 days , it was on account of
their personal problems (busy in some other work) .
Wage Payment
About 95 per cent of respondents said that they had received their full wages . About 90
per cent of respondent households had received their wage payments within 15 days but
about 10 per cent of samples had received their wages within 30 days .
Transparency and Accountability
When asked if they had seen all the Muster Rolls , almost 100 per cent of respondents said
that they had seen all their muster rolls . In reply to the question if they had ever
participated in the Social Audit Forum , over 95 per cent of sample households said that
they had participated in every Social Audit Forum held in their GP.
8
When asked if MNREGS was corruption-free in their village , all 1000 sample households
from Srikakulam and Adilabad districts emphatically said that there was no corruption or
leakage in the implementation of MNREGS in their villages . Villagers told us that since
there was proper and detailed social audit of every single rupee of expenditure under
MNREGS in all GPs , there was no question of misappropriation or leakage of MNREGS
funds .
When asked if they were satisfied with the Grievance Redressal System in MNREGS, 100 per
cent of sample households said that they were fully satisfied with the grievance redressal
system in their GP.
Food Security
Majority of sample households from both the sample districts were extremely deprived
dalits and adivasis , whose life was usually characterised by chronic hunger and food
insecurity , before the launch of MNREGS . However , the implementation of MNREGS in its
letter and spirit has resulted into significant improvement in the Food Security Index of all
sample households .
Every single respondent household said that the MNREGS had very substantially enhanced
their food security . 100 per cent of respondents from both the sample districts said that
MNREGS had succeeded in reducing hunger by 75-100 per cent . Almost all sample
households said that “the hunger is now a thing of the past, thanks to MNREGS”.
Distress Migration
The findings of CEFS survey in 40 sample villages of Srikakulam and Adilabad districts
suggest that the effective and corruption-free implementation MNREGS in AP has led to
drastic reduction in distress migration . Before the launch of MNREGS , there used to be
massive distress migration in all these villages . In most of the sample villages , before
MNREGS , about 50-75 per cent of working population used to migrate out to cities and
towns in search of wage employment . However , after the launch of MNREGS , in the case
of about 75 per cent of sample villages , distress migration is now a thing of the past ; and
9
in the case of about 25 per cent of sample villages , some people still migrate but only for a
few months .
Indebtedness
In rural Andhra Pradesh , poverty and indebtedness are two sides of the same coin . From
time immemorial , indebtedness has been a constant companion of the poor . Before the
arrival of MNREGA in 2006 , it was almost impossible to find a single poor household free
from debt . However , the effective implementation of MNREGA has significantly reduced
indebtedness among poor households . 100 per cent of the sample households said that
MNREGS had significantly reduced indebtedness in their villages .
Case Studies and Success Stories from 6 districts
We have documented 40 case studies and success stories from the field . These case studies
are based on our first hand field visit and interview with beneficiaries from six districts
(Srikakulam , Vizianagaram , Vishakhapatnam , Adilabad , Anantpur and Chittoor) .
AP (UNITED) had identified 60 Lakh acres of land belonging to SC and ST as well as small and
marginal farmers for saturated development . Besides land development, the govt. also gives
handholding support to ensure these families grow the crops on the treated land. This
approach helps in bringing fallow and degraded cultivable lands into cultivation which
enhances the income levels of the rural poor.
Fallow Land Development: Works in 5.7 lakh acres are in progress and in 13.4 lakh acres
completed.
Degraded Cultivable Land: Works in 3.4 lakh acres is in progress and 11.2 lakh acres have
been completed.
Horticulture Programme under MNREGA:
The scheme envisages development of horticulture plantation, providing micro irrigation
like drip. List of works included are Mango, Cashew, Sweet orange, Sapota, Custard apple,
10
Guava, Acid lime, Coconut, Oil Palm, Eucalyptus, Subabul, Casuarina, Rubber, Coffee. During
2013-14, horticulture was taken up in 1.2 lakh acres. Mostly mango, sweet lime, cashew and
coffee are taken up under horticulture plantations. Cumulatively, 6.8 lakh acres were taken
up benefitting SC/ST/Small & Marginal farmers.
Comprehensive restoration of M.I. Tanks under MNREGS:
In convergence with Irrigation Department, comprehensive restoration of M.I. tanks and the
command area under the tanks were taken up. List of works taken up for restoration of
tanks include- Bush clearance, Breech Closing, Repair of weir, Repair of sluice, Repair of
Channel, Repair of cross drainage & cross masonry works, Bund strengthening, Desilting and
silt application to lands of SC/ST/BPL families, Peripheral trench. 18,131 Minor Irrigation
tanks were restored including de-silting by incurring an expenditure of Rs. Rs. 3430 Cr. The
work resulted in stabilization of 8.5 lakh acres ayacut.
Our Case studies and success stories from 6 districts of AP are telling examples of
remarkable turnaround in the lives , livelihoods and lifestyles of rural poor of AP , as a
direct result of effective and successful implementation of MNREGA during last 7 years .
Following is one of the 40 case studies :
Village : Mandlipalli (Harijanawada)
Grampanchayat : Tanakal
Mandal : Tanakal
District : Ananthapuram
Total Households : 120 (Entirely Scheduled Caste)
MNREGA BECOMES DIVINE BOON FOR POOR DALITS OF MANDLIPALLI
11
About 300 acres of land (Barren/ Unproductive) was assigned to dalits of this village
long ago, but entire land was lying barren. In 2010 -11, one Dry Land Horticulture
(Mango) Project under MNREGA began in this village under which about 177 acres of
the barren land has been developed ( Bush clearance, Boulder removal, Stone picking ,
Trenches construction , earthen bunds and mango plantation). During this 2-3 years of
gestation period most of the farmers have done inter-cropping. In this entire block of
mango plantation 1390 mango plants have been planted. Their intercrops have already
provided good income to many dalit farmers. Moreover, they receive Rs.1200 per
month per acre of mango plantation as maintenance cost under MNREGA for 3 years of
gestation period . This has brought very good and regular income to all mango
plantation beneficiaries .
Beneficiary: #1
Jelipigari Narayanappa has 7.5 acres of land , out of which about half is already under
mango plantation. From the intercrop in the 1st year, he earned Rs.36,000/- from
Tomato, from the second crop of Tomato he earned Rs.46,000/- and he is expecting
about Rs.60,000/- worth of tomato this year(2014). He purchased gold worth Rupees
One Lakh last year. He also purchased about Rs.15000 worth of furniture. He is building
a new Pucca house and in that he has invested about Rupees One Lakh from his
personal income. Two of his children are studying in Government School. He used to
work in the house of a landlord and used to get Rs.1000 - 1500/- per year. His wife also
used to work on daily wage of Rs.15 – 20 before MGNREGA.
However, his life took a turn with the arrival of MGNREGA. He is now very happy farmer
and lives a life of self confidence, self respect and self reliance. His livelihood is secured
through MGNREGA and horticulture plantation. When asked if he works anywhere
other than MGNREGA, this dalit farmer proudly quipped “Now, I myself can engage and
employ 1 – 2 labourers”.
Beneficiary #2
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Jelipigari Venkataramana has 4 acres of land , in which 2 acres is under mango
plantation. In 1st year of intercrop (Tomato), he earned Rs.50,000/- and this year too he
has grown Tomato and likely to get at least Rs.50,000/- income. With the income earned
from intercrops, he was able to repay Rs.35000/- of debt and invested some income in
agriculture. He has 10 shirts.
Beneficiary #3
J Tirupal has 4 acres of land with mango plantation in the entire plot. He has earned
Rs.60,000 from groundnut cultivation. He has purchased Rs.1.5 lakh worth of gold only
last year. He says that this entire gold purchase was done with direct and indirect
income from MGNREGA . He receives Rs.1200 per month per acre of mango plantation
as maintenance cost under MNREGA . In other words , he earns Rs.48,000 towards
watering charges/wages per year. So, during 3 years of gestation period of mango
plantation project, he received about Rs.1.44 lakh as maintenance cost from MNREGA .
Beneficiary #4
J Uthanna has 5 acres of land and in 3 acres he has taken up mango plantation.
From Intercrop (Tomato) he earned Rs.70,000/-
Beneficiary #5
J Venkataramana has 3.5 acres of land and in 3 acres he has taken up mango plantation.
From intercrop (Groundnut) he earned Rs.45,000/-.
During last 2 years, he has purchased Rs.15,000 worth of gold and a Mobile phone and
has deposited Rs.30,000 as savings in the State Bank of India. He has 10 sets of clothes
(he was wearing starched and ironed clothes and had very costly towel on his
shoulders). Before 2006, he was working with a landlord and leading miserable life.
Beneficiary # 6
J Ramachandra has 4 acres of land and has taken up mango plantation in the entire plot.
He earned Rs.50,000 from the intercrop of Tomato. He has 3 children. Eldest son has
13
completed BA and is waiting for a Job. His other two children who are daughters are
both pursuing Nursing Courses.
Beneficiary #7
K Genganna has 3 acres of land and has mango plantation in all 3 acres of his land.
During last 3 years of intercrop, he has earned Rs.45,000/-. He has invested some of the
income he earned on the construction of the house and also purchased some cattle.
Beneficiary #8
V Narasimhulu has 7.5 acres of land. He has mango plantation in 5 acres of land. During
last 3 years, he has earned Rs.1.5 lakh from groundnut cultivation. He also purchased 3
acres of land worth Rs.2.1 lakh and says that this is all thanks to MGNREGA.
Beneficiary #9
M Gopal has 3.5 acres of land and in 2.5 acres he has taken up mango plantation . From
intercrops (Tomato, Chilly and Groundnut) he earned Rs.50,000/-
Beneficiary #10
J Adilaxmi has 4 acres of land and in 2.8 acres she has taken up mango plantation. She
has earned Rs.28,000/- from the groundnut intercrop alone. She purchased gold worth
Rs.52,000 . She says “Earlier I had only one pair of sarees and that too very cheap. But
now, I have 5 pairs of costly sarees”.
Beneficiary #11
J Venkataramana has 3.5 acres of land and has mango plantation in this entire plot. He
has earned Rs.60,000 from groundnut intercrop. He got his son educated till M.A, B.Ed
and other son till Graduation.
Before MGNREGA, these dalit farmers and labourers used to work as farm labourers at
daily wage of Rs.30-40 in the neighbouring villages. But now they don’t need to go out
for work in other villages . If at all they do go , they demand and get Rs.150-200/- as
daily wage. Villagers say that MGNREGA has become a “divine boon” and they are living
14
a very happy, comfortable and dignified life. All of them are sending their children to
schools and most of them have invested incomes either in purchasing durables like gold
or some savings in the bank or invested towards agriculture. Seeing and realizing the
contribution and role of MGNREGA in their life, these farmers are strongly demanding
that there should be no limit on the number of days under MGNERGA.
J Gangadhar, who used to work in a Hotel in Puttaparthy and used to earn Rs.2000/-
(Husband and wife both put together) for working round the clock. It was a bone
breaking job and life was miserable. “I am so happy now with my MGNREGA job and I
am leading a happy, comfortable and dignified life in my own village. I am no more
dependent on anyone for my food security and I am also a proud citizen of India. For
poor people like me MGNREGA is not a scheme but a god sent boon. This divine blessing
(MGNREGA) is much more meaningful and important for poor people like me than the
Prasadam (Blessing) I used to enjoy in Puttaparthy (in Satya Sai Ashram)”.
Jelipigari Gangadhar is a SC beneficiary (Mate also) with 3 acres of mango cultivation .
He says, “MGNREGA is not just another project or welfare scheme but a divine blessing
for poor people like me”.
These dalits say that now they are going twice or thrice to Balaji temple(Tirupati). But
before 2006, they never went there. It is because of the income from MGNREGA.
Earlier they used to eat non-vegetarian food once in a while, but now they are eating
non-vegetarian food twice to thrice in a month.
15
BEST PRACTICES OF MNREGA IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP- UNITED) launched MGNREGS ( Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ) on February 2, 2006 in 13 districts of the
state. The scheme was subsequently expanded to all the districts . For effective
implementation , greater transparency and complete accountability in the scheme, GoAP
has made necessary changes and introduced initiatives, based on its experiences, within the
purview of the MGNREGA .
Performance of MGNREGS (since inception) as on 23rd Oct 2013
1.9 Crore beneficiaries belonging to 93.7 lakh rural households have accessed the
scheme.
Rs. 27,988 Crore expenditure incurred. Out of total expenditure incurred, Rs.
20,114 Crore was paid as wages to the wage seekers.
209.7 Crore persondays were provided to rural households with an average wage
rate of Rs. 95.9.
Women participation has been 58%
SC participation – 25% & ST participation – 15% of persondays generated
1.4 lakh Persons with Disability have accessed the scheme.
Processes in the implementation of MGNREGS:
Planning Process – Development Plan:
The objective of the planning process is to ensure that the district is prepared well in
advance to offer productive employment on demand. The need to coordinate different
16
levels in planning and to prepare a ‘shelf of projects’ to provide wage employment requires
preparation of an Annual Plan for the District. This is done before the commencement of the
financial year so that the shelf of works in each Gram Panchayat (GP) is sufficient to meet
the demand of wage seekers in the next financial year.
Labour Budget for the next financial year for each GP is prepared after discussion
with the Srama Shakti Sanghas (SSS) ie., fixed labour groups and after approval in the Gram
Sabha (GS). After the approval of labour budget by the GS, the Programme Officer and the
mandal technical team identifies works in each GP to meet the labour budget proposed
persondays. The Programme Officer, prepares a Mandal plan by consolidating proposals of
all the GPs in the mandal. Subsequently, the Mandal Plans prepared by the Programme
Officers of the Mandals get approval of the District Programme Coordinator by the December
end and thus labour budget for the district gets prepared.
The identification of works is being taken up with the involvement of the village
communities in the planning process for creation of productive and durable assets. After the
identification of works with the involvement of village communities in the Gram Sabha, the
input data sheets for various works are filled-in by the technical team and the GPS
coordinates and the photographs are captured for each and every work that is identified in the
planning process. The estimate gets generated through the online software, RAGAS, based on
the filled-in input data sheets and the GPS coordinates and photographs uploaded.
Rural Standard Schedule of Rates:
As per the provision under Schedule 1 Para 7 and 8 “When wages are directly linked with
the quantity of work, the wages shall be paid according to the schedule of rates fixed by the
State Government for different types of work every year, in consultation with the State
Council.
Based on the provisions of the Act, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh assigned ESCI Engineering Staff
College of India to conduct Work Time and Motion Studies so as to fix up the rates for
various types of works in such a way that labourers get notified minimum wages based on
17
work output for 8 working hours. Based on the outcome of ESCI study, Department of Rural
Development,AP, brought out a Rural Standard Schedule of Rates for works taken up under
MGNREGS.
Preparation of Rural Schedule of Rates is a step taken by GoAP which paved the way for
earning wages by the labour based on the piece rate system rather than attendance. The
RSSR rates are revised based on the wage rate notified by the Govt. of India every year. The
notified wage rate during 2013-14 was Rs. 149.
Use of ICT as a key tool in the implementation:
The state of Andhra Pradesh has been the front runner in the use of technology in the
implementation of MGNREGS. Keeping in mind the degree of error that might occur in
various stages of the implementation and to ensure transparency in the execution of
MGNREGS , use of ICT becomes necessary especially in the registration of wage seekers,
estimation of works, disbursement of wages and maintenance of accounts. IT applications
also help in the social audit process, disclosure of information as per the Right to
Information Act as well as the generation of various reports, estimates and proceedings.
RAGAS: (Rashtriya Grameena Abhivruddhi Samacharam):
A highly comprehensive and end-to-end transaction based application that provides
convenience for the field staff and makes the work of the administrative officials easier at
the same time has been developed. RAGAS is capable of handling all key steps in the
implementation of MGNREGS , namely, registration of wage seekers, issue of job cards,
18
preparation of work estimates, generation of pay order etc. As a result of this automation, a
lot of manual work and drudgery is reduced at the mandal level and handling of tasks has
become fast and efficient.
MIS Reports:
MGNREGS-IT initiative has developed a web based MIS portal to help in monitoring and for
reviewing the implementation of the Scheme. The MGNREGS portal www.nrega.ap.gov.in
provides detailed information of each and every transaction relating to every wage seeker
and work taken up under MGNREGS. The reports on the web have been organized in such a
way that, reports are easily accessible for monitoring the implementation of the scheme.
The reports are categorized as –
General Reports - Physical and Financial Performance Report.
Beneficiary details
Expenditure Reports
Works related reports – Status of works, expenditure on works etc.,
Biometric payments status reports
Status of demand for work, allocation of work, musters generated
Horticulture & related reports
Details of Srama Shakti Sanghas and registrations
Reports of convergence with various departments.
Reports of performance of PWDs, Chenchu etc.
Performance Exception reports
Consolidated muster rolls
Social Audit Reports
Reports of initiatives like electronic muster & measurements; electronic fund
management system, biometric payments, ITDAs, AP NGO Network, Grievance
Redressal etc.,
Analysis reports – Analysis of households reported; wages earned;
expenditure incurred; community wise; gender wise etc.,
19
Electronic Fund Transfer System (eFMS):
Electronic Fund Transfer system (eFMS) has been established with the objective of putting
in place an efficient mechanism to generate transmission of funds through online money
transfers. This system helps in avoiding the parking of funds in some places and empowers
all blocks and Panchayats to access funds uninterrupted. By means of a central server, eFMS
enables all the Mandal Computer Centres (MCCs) and the District Computer Centres (DCCs)
to be networked to a Central fund in which all the MGNREGA funds are lodged.
The primary use of this system is to transfer funds to the disbursing accounts (Post Office,
Smart Card, Supplier’s Account or the Individual’s wage account) for timely and accurate
payment of wages. The work flow involves exchange of information between the Block
offices (MPDO), MGNREGS Server, Bank server and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) server.
20
Electronic Muster and Measurement System (eMMS)
eMMS has been introduced across the State in MGNREGS with a view to improve the
transparency and efficiency in implementation of the programme. Muster and
Measurements are recorded electronically using mobile phones networked to the central
server. Check measurement of works is also done by using mobile phones. The eMMS
enables to capture the GPS coordinates and hence the field staff are forced to go to the
work site for recording and check measurement of works.
eMMS helps in arresting various distortions in the programme like Muster Fudging; Delays
in Payments; Benami Wage Seekers; Fake Measurements and Work Duplication. This has
ensured transparency in the system. In addition, it has brought synergy to the system
making information management efficient and dynamic reducing errors and human effort in
recording information.
21
Biometric Muster and Measurement System (B-EMMS)
B-eMMS enables attendance of wage seekers through bio-metric authentication along with
GPS coordinates using Point-of-Sale (POS) devices. B-eMMS is used to achieve complete
transparency in implementation of MGNREGS by obtaining LIVE data from the Worksite to
the Website on day to day basis using biometric authentication. This helps in arresting
distortions in the programme like Muster Fudging; Delays in Payments; Benami
Wageseekers; Fake Measurements and Work Duplication. B-eMMS enables effective
program monitoring and improves efficiency in the implementation of MGNREGS.
Payment of wages through Smart Cards
Ensuring that the intended wage seekers receive the payments is a significant step towards
the success of Employment Guarantee Scheme. Payments through smartcards was initiated
to ensure that the intended wage seeker receives timely payments and also to ensure that
the right beneficiary receives the wage payments. The process of payments through smart
cards makes use of finger print technology to issue biometric smart cards to each
beneficiary at the village level. Fingerprint technology uses a person’s fingerprints to identify
him / her through fingerprint scanning. Since every individual has a unique set of
fingerprints, this technology is both foolproof as well as reliable.
Disbursement of wages is done at the pre-designated Government premises (usually the
Gram Panchayat building) by a Customer Service Provider (CSP). The enrolment is in
progress to cover all the gram panchayats in the State.
22
Distribution of wage slips:
Wage slips are provided to the wage seekers for the work done and based on the payment
generated. Wage slips carry details like no. of days worked, wage amount, details of work
etc. Generation of Wage slips brought transparency in the payments of wages. Since
wage seekers know how much is credited to their account and for how many days, etc.
leakages in the payment system were minimized.
Ensuring wage payments within fortnight:
To ensure payment of wages within fortnight to all labourers, a fixed payment cycle is
adopted as shown below:
23
The fixed payment cycle begins with the opening of muster on Day-1, which is on a Monday
and Thursday to denote the starting of the week. Attendance of the wage seekers and the
work done by them is collected by the Field Assistants (FAs) and are reported to the
administrative authorities throughout the week. At the end of every week, the muster rolls
are closed.
The next phase in the payment cycle involves the measurements of the works with respect
to the muster rolls which is done by the Technical Assistants (TAs).
After the measurements are done, the Technical Assistants pass on the muster rolls to the
Engineering Consultants (ECs) who check the measurements to eliminate discrepancies, if
any.
Once the measurements are validated completely, the muster rolls are sent to the
Additional Project Officer (APO) for his/her perusal. The data is then entered into the system
at the Mandal Computer Centre (MCC) by the Computer Operator (CO) and the pay orders
and related Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) are generated. All the FTOs and in turn the funds
are then transferred electronically to the paying agencies / banks in the following 3-4 days.
The wage seekers present their Smart Cards to the Customer Service Provider (CSP) to
establish their identity and the disbursement of wages is done.
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Delay wage compensation.
Compensation for delay payments is introduced with an objective to ensure that
wage payments are done within a week and in any case not later than fortnight from the
day the work was done (closure of muster) as mandated in the Act. Guidelines were issued
for payment of compensation to the wage seekers for the delay in wage payments, duly
recovering the amount from the functionaries / paying agency found responsible for the
delay.
The compensation is paid @ 0.1% per day of delay based on the approval and
recovery from the functionaries’ salary / paying agency’s commission. PD/DWMA is
authorized for approval or rejection of the recoveries duly mentioning the reasons for the
disapproval if any in an online mode. If Project Director has not disapproved the
compensation within 15 days, it will be presumed that the compensation has been
authorized for recovery and deduction shall be effected as per the guidelines issued. Based
on the approvals, the compensation is paid to the wage seekers with the next wage
payment to the wage seekers.
Srama Sakthi Sanghas
To ensure that all the demanding poor rural households are provided with
continuous assured employment of 100 days, labour groups were formed which helps in
providing work to the groups easily and also helps in effective monitoring. The labour
groups are formed with 20 labourers, who worked for more than 10 days in a financial year.
The mate, who is the literate person among the group takes the attendance every day using
manual muster-rolls and also updates the mate-book every day. The formation of labour
into a fixed group helps in worksite management and also for provision of worksite facilities
to the labourers.
25
All serious labourers are grouped into Srama Sakthi Sanghas (SSS). Each SSS group is
assured 100 days of continuous work. 8.2 lakh SSSs are registered consisting of 1.3 crore
labourers so far.
Formation of Shrama Shakti Sanghalu Federations
The formation of Srama Shakti Sanghas federations in gram panchayats has been initiated to
strengthen the SSS groups and for ensuring that the wage-seekers access their rights and
entitlements which were laid down in the MGNREG Act, 2005. The SSS federations will help
in the effective implementation of the scheme at village level with higher level of labour
participation. The SSS federations formed at the village level will ensure higher level of
labour participation, build confidence among the wage seekers and also empower the SSS
groups.
Objectives:
Safeguarding the rights and entitlements as laid down in the MGNREG Act.
Strengthening of SSS groups with higher level of participation.
Build confidence among the wage seekers and also empower the SSS groups in
accessing the rights and entitlements.
Ensuring 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to all the registered rural
households in the Gram Panchayat.
Ensuring all the SSS groups submit the application for work and receipt of
acknowledgment from the FA / PO by the group.
Timely wage payments and ensuring that the wage seekers get the minimum
notified wage rate.
Monitor the payments by paying agency, coordinate with CSP/BPM in disbursing the
wage payments to the wage seekers.
Participate in the social audit process.
Identification of fallow , degraded ,cultivable lands belonging to the SSS wage
seekers and conversion to cultivable land by taking up land development works in
those identified lands.
26
Ensuring the quality output for the work done based on the mark outs given to the
groups.
Active participation in the conduct of Gram Sabha , in the identification of works and
building shelf of works and also during labour budget approval.
Resolving conflicts if any, among the wage seekers / SSS groups.
Status:
The process of SSS federations has been initiated with the support of APNA NGOs,
SERP CRPs and through resource pool.
2229 SSS federations have been formed with the support of APNA NGOs and Master
Trainers. 32,831 SSS groups were formed into federations.
Social Audit
Social audit is a process by which an attempt is made to find out whether the benefits of the
project/activities reach the people for whom it is meant. It is a democratic process in which
all stakeholders involved in a particular project take part. Social audit is not only an audit of
expenses or decisions but also covers the issues of equity and quality in programme
implementation. It is a verification of Government records with people and the
works/projects executed at the field level in great detail. Social Audits of the MGNREGS-AP
was taken up by the Department of Rural Development, since the inception of the Scheme to
ensure accountability in the implementation process.
The Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency (SSAAT) was formally
registered as an independent Society on the 15th of May, 2009.
Social Audits involve both the people as well as the administrative officers who come
together to verify the processes under the scheme right from planning to implementation .
It brings on board the perceptions and knowledge of the people, involves people in the task
of verification and also brings about much greater acceptability of the government. Any
programme under the scheme can be taken up for audit by the wage seekers and the
related expenses and details can be examined. The performance of the village can be
analyzed and the concerned authorities and Gram Panchayats can be made accountable.
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Public Hearing: All the issues and shortcomings found during the audit are brought under
scanner during the Public Hearing. This gathering acts as a platform for the wage seekers to
voice their opinion and air their grievances. In order to ensure active participation from the
community, facilitators explain the need and importance of social audits. Audit teams from
various villages in the mandal read out the SA report & disclose the findings. All the details
from a village are read out without any partiality. After all teams have finished reading their
reports, the labourers express their views on the performance of the administrative officials.
Facilitators and the Presiding Officer have an important role to play in ensuring that the
discussions do not turn violent and all the questions are properly answered by the
concerned authorities. All the discussions and the corresponding decisions made during the
meeting are recorded and immediate recovery actions are taken, wherever possible. A
report is prepared with the follow up actions and is distributed to the concerned officials.
Follow up of Social Audit: - Status:
Amount covered by financial deviations (Rs Cr) 165.1
Amount dropped as the financial deviation not held proved (Rs Cr) 18.52
Amount determined as misappropriated (Rs Cr) 75.59
Amount recovered (Rs Cr) 23.85
Balance to be recovered (Rs Cr) 51.73
Balance to be finalised (Rs Cr) 70.98
FTEs suspended (including FAs) 1383
FTEs removed (including FAs) 4578
FIRs booked 163
Other removals (BPMs, VOs, CSPs etc) 1044
No. of Cases filed in Mobile Courts 76
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Vigilance Cell
A vigilance cell has been established with an aim to take follow up action on complaints
having a vigilance angle and to ensure transparency and accountability under the
programme. A retired senior IAS officer has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer with
supporting staff.
Mobile Court
For trial of offences brought out in the Social Audits and speedy adjudication of justice, the
Government sanctioned (8) special Mobile Courts covering (15) districts initially and
established a special Mobile Court in Sanga Reddy, Medak district for Medak and
Karimnagar districts on 26-02-2012.
Chenchu Primitive Tribal Groups
A special strategy has been formulated exclusively for the ultra-poor Chenchu Primitive
Tribal Group living in Nallamala forest region. Under this strategy, every chenchu labourer is
provided with continuous wage employment throughout the year. Every chenchu labour is
paid advance and the work equivalent is get done by him during that month. At chenchu
gudem level convergence with village organizations has been taken up.
Empowering Rural Women
As per Act , priority shall be given in such a way that at least One-Third of the beneficiaries
shall be women who have registered and requested for work under this Act. Since inception
of NREGS, women participation in AP is more than 55%. Specific measures that enabled such
empowerment are
Payment of equal wages to Men and Women
Depositing the wage of Women in their individual postal savings accounts directly.
Provision of worksite facilities like Crèche, Shade for their children and enabling
them to perform their work properly.
29
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
In MGNREGS-AP, a work-time-motion study was conducted with disabled persons to design
separate Rural SSR for persons with Disabilities. Based on the study, 30% additional rate is
provided for all the MGNREGS works in which persons with disabilities are working as a
group.
Since inception, Rs. 227 Cr has been paid as wages for 2.24 Crore persondays with an
average wage rate of Rs. 101.5 per day. 2 lakh PWDs( people with disability) have accessed the
scheme and 20776 Vikalangula SSS formed till date.
Grievance Redressal:
A 24x7 Call Centre with a toll free number 155321 and 1800 200 4455 has been established
to register and monitor complaints under the programme. The moment a complaint is
registered in the call centre, SMS is sent to the officer responsible to rectify and report. The
system automatically escalates the complaints to the higher levels if appropriate action
within the stipulated time is not taken at lower level.
Quality Control Cell
A Quality Control Cell has been established with a view to improve quality of works, to
review the plans monthly, computerization of field level observations, capacity building of the
field level functionaries and creation of durable assets under the programme. .
Towards Securing Livelihoods of the rural poor
Expenditure on Assets Created:
In Andhra Pradesh , NREGS funds have been consciously invested in augmenting land and
water resources in the rural areas to secure livelihoods of the poor. Several projects are
taken up to strengthen and stabilize minor irrigation sources, productivity of lands etc.,
some of the major initiatives in this direction are mentioned below:
Land Development: Land development in fallow lands and cultivable degraded lands in
rain-fed areas:
30
Agriculture is an important source of livelihood for a majority of the rural households. Due
to the lack of investment by SC/ST poor for developing land assigned to them to make it
productive, most of the SC/ST lands are fallow. To bring these fallow lands into productive
use, GoAP under MGNREGS has given highest priority for the development of SC/ST lands.
The state has identified 60 Lakh acres
of land belonging to SC and ST as well
as small and marginal farmers for
saturated development in the
subsequent years. Besides land
development, the govt. also gives
handholding support to ensure these
families grow the crops on the treated
land. This approach helps in bringing
fallow and degraded cultivable lands
into cultivation which enhances the income levels of the rural poor.
Fallow Land Development: Works in 5.7 lakh acres are in progress and in 13.4 lakh acres
completed. Total expenditure incurred is Rs. 2757.5 Cr.
Degraded Cultivable Land: Works in 3.4 lakh acres is in progress and 11.2 lakh acres have
been completed. Rs. 1498 Cr has been incurred as expenditure.
Horticulture Programme:
The scheme envisages development
of horticulture plantation, providing
micro irrigation like drip. List of
works included are Mango, Cashew,
Sweet orange, Sapota, Custard
apple, Guava, Acid lime, Coconut, Oil
Palm, Eucalyptus, Subabul,
Casuarina, Rubber, Coffee. During
2013-14, horticulture taken up in 1.2
31
lakh acres. Mostly mango, sweet lime, cashew, coffee are taken up under horticulture
plantations. Cumulatively, 6.8 lakh acres taken up benefitting SC/ST/Small & Marginal
farmers.
Bund Plantation:
2.2 crore saplings planted on the
bunds during the year belonging to
2.5 lakh beneficiaries – mostly
SC/ST/small and marginal farmers.
Main plants are teak, neredu, chinta
etc. Cumulatively, 13.5 Crore
seedlings were planted in 10 lakh
acres belonging to 9.6 lakh
beneficiaries.
Convergence with other depts.
Inter-sectoral convergence of MGNREGS, makes the assets created under MGNREGS
productive and durable which in turn will lead to sustainable rural livelihood, if wage
employment opportunities are available for needy household in the villages through out the
year. Consequently, unskilled labour becomes skilled and opportunities for skilled labour
are created.
In order to create productive assets in rural areas, a strategy is developed to implement part
of MGNREGS programme through certain Departments like Panchayat Raj, Horticulture,
Tribal Welfare, Forest, Irrigation etc. Such an initiative is contemplated to bring synergy
between the technical strengths of the Departments and MGNREGA. The following are the
projects handled in convergence with the other line Departments
Irrigation Dept.:
Comprehensive restoration of M.I. Tanks:
32
In convergence with Irrigation Department, comprehensive restoration of M.I. tanks and the
command area under the tanks were taken up. List of works taken up for restoration of
tanks including Bush
clearance, Breech Closing,
Repair of weir, Repair of
sluice, Repair of Channel,
Repair of cross drainage &
cross masonry works, Bund
strengthening, Desilting
and silt application to lands
of SC/ST/BPL families,
Peripheral trench. 18,131
Minor Irrigation tanks
were restored including de-silting by incurring an expenditure of Rs. Rs. 3430 Cr. The work
resulted in stabilization of 8.5 lakh acres ayacut.
Convergence with Panchayat Raj & Tribal Welfare:
Rural Connectivity: 28881 kms of roads laid improving connectivity to 20,413 habitations
since inception of the scheme. Cumulatively, Rs. 2465 Cr incurred as expenditure.
BNRGSK - Mandal Buildings: 456 Mandal level buildings completed &573 buildings are in
progress by incurring an expenditure of Rs. 156 Cr.
GP Buildings: 2831 GP buildings completed &1811 buildings are in progress by incurring an
expenditure of Rs. 311.15 Cr.
Rural Water Sanitation:
Individual Household Latrines: 16 lakh proposed to be taken up. 2.3 lakh works are in
progress &1.77 lakh completed. Expenditure incurred Rs. 130 Cr.
33
Findings of MNREGS Survey in Andhra Pradesh
Delhi based Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) has conducted a sample
survey on the performance of MNREGS ( Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme ) in the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP- United). The survey was conducted
in two sample districts- Srikakulam and Adilabad ,during December 2013 and January 2014 .
From each sample district , we selected 20 best performing sample villages and from each
sample village we randomly selected 25 MNREGS beneficiary households to conduct
schedule-based survey to ascertain process performance on following counts :
# Transparency and pro-active disclosure of Information
# Social Audit
# Accountability
34
# Grievance Redressal
# Durable Assets Creation
# Economic empowerment/ positive Impact on livelihood security/living standard
# Ecological regeneration
#Timely Wage Paytment
# Impact on Distress Migration
# Man-days of employment provided
# Best practices in the field of convergence
The total sample size of this survey was 1 state ( AP ),2 districts ( Srikakulam and Adilabad),
40 villages and 1,000 households .
Almost all sample villages selected for the survey were extremely deprived and majority of
1000 sample households were very poor dalits and adivasis , leading life of chronic hunger
,unemployment,distress migration and indebtedness , before the arrival of MNREGS .
Srikakulam and Adilabad are among the poorest and most backward districts of India .
Wage Employment
Findings of CEFS survey suggest that about 90 per cent of sample households in Andhra
Pradesh (AP-United) had received over 100 days of wage employment during previous 12
months ( from January 2013 – December 2013) . About 10 percent of the sample
households had worked for less than 100 days during the same period . But, it was not
because of unavailability of the wage employment that these households worked for less
than 100 days ,it was on account of their personal problems (busy in some other work) .
The disaggregated figures of wage employment suggest that almost 100 percent of sample
households from Srikakulam district had received over 100 days of MNREGS job during the
previous 12 months and only about 80 per cent of the sample households from Adilabad
district had received over 100 days of MNREGS job during previous 12 months . In fact ,
some labourers from 2 sample villages of Adilabad district complained about not being
provided full 100 days of job entitlement despite being in need of the same .
35
Wage Payment
During CEFS survey in AP , about 95 per cent of respondents said that they had received
their full wages . The disaggregated data about the wage payment suggests that 100 per
cent of sample households from Srikakulam district had received their full wages . Over 90
per cent of respondents from Adilabad too had received their full wages , but about 10 per
cent ( some labourers in a few villages ) respondents complained about not receiving their
wages even after 3 months of the work . We were informed by Commissioner , Rural
Development, Govt of AP (United) that the inordinate delay in payment of wages to some
labourers in some villages of Adilabad was because of the change in the payment agency .
About 90 per cent of respondent households had received their wage payments within 15
days but about 10 per cent of samples had received their wages within 30 days ( some
labourers in a couple of sample villages had not received even after 3 months) . While 100
per cent of the sample households from Srikakulam had received their payments within 15
days , only 80 per cent of the sample households from Adilabad had received their wages
within 15 days , about 10 per cent had received within one month and the remaining 10
per cent were still waiting for their wages even after 3 months of the work .
Transparency and Accountability
When asked if they had seen all the Muster Rolls , almost 100 per cent of respondents said
that they had seen all their muster rolls .
In reply to the question if they had ever participated in the Social Audit Forum , over 95 per
cent of sample households said that they had participated in every Social Audit Forum
held in their GP.
When asked as to how many Social Audits were conducted in the GP during previous 12
months , they replied that one social audit was conducted during the previous 12 months .
When asked if MNREGS was corruption-free in their village , all 1000 sample households
from Srikakulam and Adilabad districts emphatically said that there was no corruption or
leakage in the implementation of MNREGS in their villages . Villagers told us that since
there was proper and detailed social audit of every single rupee of expenditure under
36
MNREGS in all GPs , there was no question of misappropriation or leakage of MNREGS
funds .
When asked if they were satisfied with the Grievance Redressal System in MNREGS, 100 per
cent of sample households said that they were fully satisfied with the grievance redressal
system in their GP.
“We do not spare anyone who is found guilty of irregularity in the implementation of
MNREGA . Monitoring is done by officials from GP to district level , so , it is very difficult to
indulge in irregularities here,” said MNREGA beneficiaries ( belonging to SAVARA PGT-
primitive tribal group) of Manda colony , Manda GP , located in Seethampeta Mandal of
Srikakulam district .
Economic Impact of MNREGS
Food Security
Majority of sample households from both the sample districts were extremely deprived
dalits and adivasis , whose life was usually characterised by chronic hunger and food
insecurity , before the launch of MNREGS . However , the implementation of MNREGS in its
letter and spirit has resulted into significant improvement in the Food Security Index of all
sample households .
Every single respondent said that the MNREGS had very substantially enhanced their food
security . 100 per cent of respondents from both the sample districts said that MNREGS had
succeeded in reducing hunger by 75-100 per cent . Almost all sample households said that
“the hunger is now a thing of the past, thanks to MNREGS”.
Peda Bapadu, a SAVARA PGT labourer from Manda GP of Srikakulam district said , “ Before
the launch of MNREGA , most SAVARA tribals of this area used to take head loads of fire
wood in the market located 20 kms away and buy food items with the money earned by
37
selling fire woods . But after the launch of MNREGA , we have stopped doing so , because
our food security has now been ensured through MNREGS .”
Distress Migration
CEFS survey in 40 sample villages of Srikakulam and Adilabad districts suggest that the
effective and corruption-free implementation MNREGS in AP has led to drastic reduction in
distress migration . Before the launch of MNREGS , there used to be massive distress
migration in all these villages . In most of the sample villages , before MNREGS , about 50-
75 per cent of working population used to migrate out to cities and towns in search of wage
employment . However , after the launch of MNREGS , in the case of about 75 per cent of
sample villages , distress migration is now a thing of the past ; and in the case of about 25
per cent of sample villages , some people still migrate but only for a few months .
Indebtedness
In rural Andhra Pradesh , poverty and indebtedness are two sides of the same coin . From
time immemorial , indebtedness has been a constant companion of the poor . Before the
arrival of MNREGA in 2006 , it was almost impossible to find a single poor household free
from debt . However , the effective implementation of MNREGA has significantly reduced
indebtedness among poor households . 100 per cent of the sample households said that
MNREGS had significantly reduced indebtedness in their villages .
One of the sample respondents from Linguguda village of Pippaldari GP in Adilabad district
said, “ May God forbid even to our enemies the economic deprivation we used to suffer
before the launch of MNREGS in 2006 . Even if we were in need of 100 rupees for attending
the wedding of some relative in some village , we had no option but to borrow it from some
body .However , after the arrival of MNREGS , things have changed for the better .While the
credit worthiness of MNREGA workers has increased , the need for credit has decreased .”
Impact on Agricultural wage
38
It is not only MNREGA wages earned by labourers that has brought economic
empowerment and food security in the poor villages of AP . As a result of MNREGA , there
has been a corresponding increase in the private agricultural wage rates that has indirectly
enhanced food security and brought economic prosperity in the households who had been
subsisting on the margins of rural economy from the time immemorial .
CEFS survey in Srikakulam and Adilabad districts of AP revealed that there has been about
three fold rise in the current agricultural wage rates compared to the prevailing agricultural
wage rates before the launch of MNREGA . Before the launch of MNREGA in 2006 , the
agricultural wage rates were Rs.35 for female and Rs.50 for male labourers. The current
agricultural wage rate for female labourers is over Rs.100 and that for male labourers is
over Rs 150 . The increased agricultural wages have also played a significant role in
providing livelihood security and improving economic condition of labourers .
Expenditure pattern of MNREGS Income
CEFS survey in AP suggests that the income from MNREGS is mostly spent on two items , (1)
Food (2) Education of children . There is nothing new in the fact that labourers are spending
most of their income on food , but what was very interesting to find is that MNREGS
workers in AP are spending a very significant share of MNREGS earnings on education of
their children. Large number of MNREGS labourers are now sending their children to
private schools , paying Rs.5000-10,000/ as annual fee . Moreover , the assured MNREGS
earnings have also encouraged many households to send their children for higher
education ( B.Tech.- M.Tech.) . Andhra Pradesh is now producing over 60,000 dalit
Engineers every year , a significant proportion of them come of the families of MNREGA
workers .
Before the launch of MNREGS in 2006 , most of the sample households in Srikakulam and
Adilabad districts had only kucha house , but in last 3-4 years , large number of MNREGS
workers have gone for pucca house , thanks to MNREGS and housing subsidy under IAY (
39
Indira Awaas Yojana) . MNREGA workers in the sample villages categorically said that if
MNREGS was not there , it would not have been possible for them to build pucca house .
Pubbada is a SAVARA PGT village of Pubbada GP , located in Seethampeta Mandal (ITDA
area) of Srikakulam district . Before arrival of MNREGA , this used to be a hunger-prone area
. SAVARA (PGT) adivasis used to survive by eating mango-kernel , wild roots,wild leaves and
other forest produce . But thanks to MNREGS , these are now things of the past . Before
MNREGA , the daily wage in this area was as low as Rs.30 for male and Rs.20 for female
labourers . Villagers said, “ There was too much of indebtedness in SAVARA villages before
MNREGA . We used to borrow from the local money lender at the interest rate of 100 per
cent . But now , there is hardly any indebtedness as such . That exploitative borrowing has
come to an end and now we borrow money from SHGs.”
All households in Pubbada GP have been getting over 100 days of MNREGA job regularly .
Before the launch of MNREGA in 2006 , there was not a single Graduate in Pubbada .
Motaka Surja Rao ( savara PGT) , a MNREGA beneficiary , is the first Graduate of this PGT
village . Motaka Surja Rao is helping his younger brother to pursue B.Tech., that is another
first in this village . There are now seven Graduate boys in this village . There are now four
Graduate girls also and all of them have been working as MNREGA labourers during
Summer Vacation for last three years . “ It is only because of MNREGS that we have been
able to complete Graduation,” said SAVARA PGT boys and girls of Pubbada village .
Ponnada GP , located in Etcherla Mandal of Srikakulam district , is the Gram Panchayat
with distinction of being highest MNREGA spending GP in Andhra Pradesh .During 2013-14 ,
Ponnada GP spent over Rs.1.3 crore under MNREGA . All needy households of the GP have
been given over 100 days of job regularly . As a result , there is significant improvement in
the economic condition of poor people of Ponnada . “ Before MNREGA , we had no option
but to borrow money from exploitative money lenders at very high interest rates . But now
, there is no need at all for any kind of borrowing , thanks to effective implementation of
MNREGS in our GP”.
Female labourers of Guruvupeta Village in Ponnada GP said , “ Besides ensuring our food
security , MNREGA is very helpful in education too . Before the launch of MNREGS in 2006,
40
our economic condition did not allow us to send our children to schools . But now ,we are
sending our sons and daughters to schools and colleges , thanks to MNREGA wages .”
Garkampet village , located in Seethagundi GP of Gudihatnur Mandal in Adilabad district ,
is a classic example of the complete socio-economic transformation being unleashed by
MNREGS . T Laxmi Bali , a poor adivasi woman of Garkampet village said , “ Before the
launch of MNREGS in 2006 , we used to live a life of chronic hunger and extreme deprivation
. Every morning, we used to go to nearby forest and collect firewood , flowers, gums etc.
and used to go to Adilabad to sell the same . After selling the forest produce , we used to
buy cheapest available broken rice and somehow survive by eating that broken rice with
leafy vegetable collected from the forest . We never ate two full meals . But now , we are
able to eat three full meals with vegetables bought from the market . Before MNREGS, we
could hardly eat non-veg food , but now we are eating non-veg food every week . There
used to be massive distress migration , but now we do not need to go anywhere in search of
wage employment . Earlier , it was not possible for us to send our children to school , but
now we are sending them to schools and colleges . Income from MNREGS is also helping
construction of new pucca houses in our village”.
Geedipally is an extremely deprived and entirely GOND adivasi village , located in
Kamalapur GP of Gudihatnur Mandal in Adilabad district . MNREGA has brought complete
turn around in the lives, livelihoods and lifestyles of Gond adivasis of this village . They said,
“ Before MNREGS , we used to have very hard times and seer survival was a big problem
.But now , our life has improved a lot , thanks to MNREGS . Now we do not need to go any
where looking for wage employment , because we are getting employment right in the
village . Before MNREGS, we used to wear a single cloth for the whole week , but now we
change our clothes every day . Earlier , men used to wear a single worn out kurta for the
entire week , but now they change it daily . Earlier , adivasi women used to have just one
saree and they would cut the same into two pieces and wear it alternatively . But now ,
most women have 5-10 sarees each and change them daily .”
Kamalapur , located in Kamalapur GP of Gudihatnur Mandal in Adilabad district , is a
deprived and dalit dominant village . MNREGS has brought a new hope in the lives of dalits
of Kamalapur . They said that before MNREGA they used to survive just eating boiled
41
watery rice with chilly paste twice . But now , they are eating 3 square meals with
vegetables and eat non-veg food at least once a week . When asked as to how many times
they eat now , one dalit woman quipped , “As and when we feel hungry”.
It was a pleasant surprise to know that about 20 dalit MNREGA workers of Kamalapur are
sending their children to private and English medium schools . Navaneetha , aged 11 years ,
is studying in 4th class in an English medium school located in Adilabad district town . Her
father , Chityala Narasimhulu, is a dalit and works under MNREGS . Like Navanettha, there
are many children of MNREGA labourers who are studying in private English medium
schools . Villagers categorically said , “ It would not have been possible , if MNREGS was not
there .” Before MNREGS , there were only 10 Graduates in this village , but now there are
40 boys and girls who have either completed or pursuing Degree courses , and it is largely
because of their economic empowerment through MNREGA .
Dalit women of Kamalapur who work as MNREGA labourers said , “ Before MNREGA , we
had hardly 2 sarees and that too very cheap and ordinary , but now all of us have more than
6-7 good quality sarees , thanks to MNREGS wages .” Similarly , men are also having 5-6
sets of good quality clothes , whereas earlier they used to have hardly 2 sets of clothes .
List of Sample Villages from Srikakulam District
NAME OF VILLAGE NAME OF GP NAME OF MANDAL
1 KUPPILI KUPPILI ETCHERLA
2 TALLAVALASA TALLAVALASA ETCHERLA
3 SUBHADRAPURAM TALLAVALASA LAVERU
4 MURAPAAKA MURAPAAKA LAVERU
5 GUNTUKUPETA MURAPAAKA LAVERU
6 SIGIRIKOTHAPALLY SIGIRIKATHAPALLY LAVERU
7 VENKATA RAO PETA SIGIRIKOTHAPALLY LAVERU
8 LACHARAYAPURAM LACHARAYAPURAM REGIDI
9 AMUDALAVALASA AMUDALAVALASA REGIDI
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10 ATTALI PALAKONDA PALAKONDA
11 APPAPURAM HABITATION APPAPURAM LAVERU
12 APPAPURAM APPAPURAM LAVERU
13 GURUGUBILLI HABITATION GURUGUBILLI LAVERU
14 GURUGUBILLI GURUGUBILLI LAVERU
15 MANDA COLONY MANDA SEETHAMPETA
16 PUBBADA PUBBADA SEETHAMPETA
17 PUBBADAGUDA PUBBADA SEETHAMPETA
18 MANDA MANDA SEETHAMPETA
19 GURUVUPETA PONNADA ETCHERLA
20 PONNADA SC COLONY PONNADA ETCHERLA
List of Sample Villages from Adilabad District
NAME OF VILLAGE NAME OF GP NAME OF MANDAL
1 ANKOLI ANKOLI ADILABAD
2 SIRIKONDA ANKOLI ADILABAD
3 CHINCHU GHAT CHINCHU GHAT ADILABAD
4 TEKDIGUDA CHINCHU GHAT ADILABAD
5 VAANMAT VAANMAT ADILABAD
6 MAMIDIGUDA VAANVAT ADILABAD
7 LINGUGUDA PIPPALDARI ADILABAD
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8 LOKARI LOKARI ADILABAD
9 CHITTELBORI KUCHKATI ADILABAD
10 SEETHAGONDI SEETHAGONDI GUDIHATNUR
11 GARKAMPET SEETHAMGONDI GUDIHATNUR
12 GEEDIPALLY KAMALAPUR GUDIHATNUR
13 KAMALAPUR KAMALAPUR GUDIHATNUR
14 MANNUR MANNUR GUDIHATNUR
15 SAMBUGUDA MANNUR GUDIHATNUR
16 NAGAPUR NAGAPUR UTNUR
17 TAKKUGUDA NAGAPUR UTNUR
18 GANGAPUR UTNUR UTNUR
19 UTNUR UTNUR UTNUR
20 PIPPALDHARI PIPPALDHARI ADILABAD
CASE STUDIES AND SUCCESS STORIES
ANANTPURAM DISTRICT
CASE STUDY -1
Village: Bandlapalli
Grampanchayat: Bandlapalli
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Mandal: Narpala
District: Ananthapuram
MNREGA BRINGS ECOLOGICAL REVIVAL , LIVELIHOOD SECURITY & ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY
Before the launch of MGNREGA, there was massive distress migration from this village.
About 300 labourers from this village used to migrate out to cities like Bengaluru,
Hyderabad, Tirupathi etc. The children used to normally dropout from school and
people used to find it very difficult to get two meals a day. The daily wage was for
females - Rs.30/- and for males - Rs.50/-. There used to be water crisis in this village
and farmers used to get hardly any yield from their fields due to depletion in ground
water table and water scarcity. There used to be very severe livelihood crisis in this
village before 2006.
However, there has been a total transformation in the economic condition of this village
after the arrival of MGNREGA. All needy households have got 100 days of employment
and their due wages every year since 2006. As a result, the distress migration has
stopped. Moreover, as a result of various water harvesting projects implemented under
MGNREGA, most of the water bodies in the village have got recharged and farmers are
getting 2 – 3 times more crop yields compared to 3 – 4 years ago. In this village, there is
no irregularity in the implementation of MGNREGA ; most of the villagers attend social
audit forum and there has been no case of misappropriation of MGNREGA funds.
About 80 percent children of the village are going to private schools, spending at least
Rs. 10 -15 thousand per annum. Four school buses of different private schools located in
Ananathapuram come every day in this village to pick up students. Before 2006, no one
in this village went to any private school. In last 2 -3 years, about 50 boys and girls have
completed Graduation and about 15 have completed Post Graduation. Villagers say that
all this has become possible only because of effective implementation of MGNREGA in
this village. When asked as to what would have been their condition without MGNREGA,
villagers unanimously said “We would be back to distress migration, chronic hunger,
livelihood crisis , no education for children, miserable life and extreme deprivation.”
45
Before MGNREGA, there used to be very severe fights among these villagers. There were
20 murders within this village before 2006. Villagers (labourers) say that prior to
MGNREGA, they were solely dependent for their food security on two big landlords of
the village. These two landlords used to fight between themselves to get control over
larger number of labourers of the village. That used to lead to fight between them. The
poor labourers had no option but to work with one or the other landlord because
otherwise they would starve. These labourers used to suffer the worst consequences of
the fights between 2 big landlords. Some family members of the fighting landlords as
well as some labourers lost their lives in the fights.
However, with the arrival of MGNREGA, the labourers slowly and slowly became less
dependent on the landlords for their livelihood and this led to gradual decline and end
to the factional fights, because the labourers are no more dependent on the landlords
for their livelihood.
In last 2 – 3 years , about 400 – 500 new pucca houses have been constructed in
Bandlapalli village. Most households have Colour Televisions and all households have
cell phones. In last 2 – 3 years , more than 200 Colour Televisions were purchased.
BENEFICIARIES OF WATER HARVESTING & GROUND WATER RECHARGE
Beneficiary #1
Babu Reddy belongs to OC(other caste) and has 5 acres of land. 10 years ago he had
drilled a bore well, but after giving some water for one year, it failed to give any water.
He drilled another bore well 3 years ago. In the beginning, the bore well was giving
about 1 inch of water discharge but now the volume of water has increased to 2 inches
as a result of water harvesting structures, check dams, desiltation etc. recharging the
ground water level. As a result, this farmer got about Rupees One lakh worth of chilly,
Rs.40,000/- worth of groundnut and Rs.15,000/- worth of paddy from his field.
Before the second bore well was dug , he used to get hardly Rs.30,000 – 40,000 worth
of crop yield from his land.
46
Beneficiary #2
Laxminarayana is a dalit farmer with 5 acres of land. He used to get hardly Rs.50,000
worth of crop yield (Groundnut) before 4 years, but now he has got about Rs. Two lakh
worth of chilly and tomato. It has happened because of the various water harvesting
projects implemented under MGNREGA. These projects have led to appreciable rise in
the ground water levels of the village. 4- 5 years ago , the ground water was available
below 450 feet which led to failure of many bore wells in the village. But now, due to
rise in the ground water table even at the depth of 250 – 300 feet, bore wells are
yielding sufficient water. In other words, due to various water harvesting structures
dug/built under MGNREGA in this Gram Panchayat , there is about 150 feet of rise in
the ground water table. This amazing ecological revival has remarkable economic
and livelihood implications for the farmers of this poor village. As a result of these
projects the farmers’crop yield and income has increased 2 – 3 times during the
last 3 years. If calculated in terms of income , this would throw up a very high
amount of annual income coming to this village as a result of the increase in crop
yield and income of the poor farmers directly as a result of ecological revivial and
restoration brought about by water harvesting projects implemented under
MGNREGA.
Laxminarayana is a living example of the ecological and economic turnaround brought
about by MGNREGA. He is now sending 2 of his children to school and college. His eldest
son Anil Kumar is studying in Nalanda Degree College, pursuing CEC(Commerce,
Economics and Civics) in Ananthapuram. And his younger son is studying in 5th class in
Little Flower High School in Ananthapuram and paying about Rs.10,000/- as school fees
and about Rs.5000/- towards transportation per annum. Moreover, with additional
income, he invested about Rs.30,000/- towards construction of a pucca house(partial)
in 2012 and he has purchased a Colour TV worth Rs.8000/- and a Mobile phone worth
Rs.3000/ during 2013. Before 2006 , he used to go to Bengaluru and work as daily wage
labour. But now, he does not need to go anywhere, thanks to MGNREGA.
Beneficiary #3
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Akkamma belongs to OC(other caste) and has 4 acres of land. She got about Rs.1 lakh
worth of crop yield during 2013. Before 2009 , she hardly used to get 20 – 30 thousand
rupees of income from her land. Her younger son is now pursuing B. Pharmacy in
Ananthapuram. She has just begun to construct a new house and has 20 sarees. Before
2006, her family used to go to other cities and towns in search of wage employment. But
now they don’t go out anywhere.
Beneficiary #4
Yugandhar Reddy belongs to OC and has 5 acres of land. Though he had drilled one bore
well 15 years ago and another about 8 years ago, both these bore wells had been giving
very little water and 2 – 3 years ago he was able to get hardly Rs.1 lakh worth of crop
yield from the land. However, last year he harvested Rs.3 lakh worth of Chilly , thanks to
the sufficient water availability from the bore wells as a result of groundwater recharge
through MGNREGA projects. With additional income, this farmer has been able to drill
another bore well costing Rs.1.5 lakh . Moreover , he has purchased 2 buffaloes worth
Rs.50,000/- which are giving milk worth Rs.500/- per day. Realizing the importance of
MGNREGA in his livelihood security, this farmer says “If MGNREGA was not there , it
would be impossible for us to get income like this. It is simply because of the rise in
groundwater table due to implementation of MGNREGA projects that we are getting
this much of income. Our livelihood is now secure and we don’t need to go anywhere
to get our livelihood”.
Beneficiary #5
Parmeshwar Reddy belongs to OC and has 15 acres of land. Last year, he got income of
Rs.6 lakh whereas earlier he used to get only around Rs.1.5 lakh of income from his
land . He has one bore well. This increased income is solely on account of rise in the
groundwater level thanks to MNREGA projects.
Beneficiary #6
Ramchandra Reddy belongs to OC and has 10 acres of land. Pre- MGNREGA , he got
hardly Rs.1 lakh as income from his land ,but he is getting Rs.3 lakh post –MGNREGA,
due to sufficient availability of groundwater for irrigating his crops.
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CASE STUDY -2
Village: Cherlopalli
Grampanchayat: Balampalli
Mandal: Hindupuram
District: Ananthapuram
Total Households: 150 (SCs 70, BCs 60 and OCs 20)
BONDED LABOURERS LIBERATED BY MNREGA
Most dalit families of this extremely deprived village in Ananthapuram district were
leading life of bonded labour, distress migration, chronic hunger, servitude and
humiliation. These people used to work in the homes and farms of big Zamindars and
they used to get hardly anything as wages.
Anjinappa , aged 72 years , is a dalit labourer who worked as bonded labour for 15
years. His father had put him and seven of his brothers in the homes of various
Zamindars, because he could not take care of all his children. There were many other
dalits in the village who also worked as bonded labourers. They used to get only Rs12/-
per year as wage from Zamindars 30 years ago. But even before MGNREGA, they were
living life of semi-starvation and extreme deprivation. Their children never went to
schools because they used to tend cattle of land lords. All these dalits have got some
assigned lands but that is as good as barren because of drought and water scarcity. They
used to get very little produce from their assigned lands.
However, with the arrival of MGNREGA in 2006, a new ray of hope has dawned in the
lives of these poor dalits of Ananthapuram village. In about 115 acres of assigned land
belonging to 38 dalits, a Comprehensive Land Development Project has been
implemented in this village (Muddalapuram Anjaneyaswamy Block). During 2010 – 11,
bush clearance was done and thereafter some farm ponds and mini percolation tanks
have been dug.
49
Under the Land Development , activities undertaken were Bush Clearance and Land
levelling, Boulder removal, Deep ploughing, Drilling bore wells, Energization and Motor
fixing. In the entire block, mango plantation has been done and some of the farmers are
likely to get their 1st yield of mango this year(2014). Most of the farmers are getting
increased yield from the intercrops like Groundnuts, Horsegrams etc, compared to the
pre-development stage.
Most Households of this village, before MGNREGA , used to migrate out to big towns in
search of wage employment and they were unable to get 2 square meals, but after
MNREGA all of them are able to eat 3 square meals . They have now also been taking
regular Non-Vegetarian meals. Their children are going to schools, distress migration
has been drastically reduced and these dalits who used to live life of bonded labour are
now living life of dignity, self reliance and livelihood security.
Anjinappa, who once was a bonded labour, recalling his traumatic days says, “When I
was working as a bonded labour , my landlord would not allow me to go home or take
rest even if I was sick. But now, nobody can dictate me what to do and what not to do. I
am free now , as and when required I take rest and do work as per my wish. I am living
a liberated and dignified life”.
MANGO PLANTATION
M Ashwathappa is a dalit farmer who has 4 acres of assigned land with mango
plantation done under MNREGA. He hopes to get at least Rs.20,000/- of annual income
from his mango plantation after 2 years. Similarly , most of the mango farmers expect
after 2 -3 years Rs.5 – 6 thousand of annual income per acre of mango plantation. After
5 -6 years the annual per acre income is likely to be not less than Rs.10,000/- . In
monetary terms, after 5 – 6 years, this 115 acres of mango plantation block developed
under MNREGA is going to give an annual income of atleast Rs.10 lakh (all 38
beneficiaries put together) to these extremely deprived dalits.
50
In this Gram Panchayat, there are various water harvesting projects implemented under
MNREGA , which has resulted into increase in the ground water table and now many
farmers are getting increased yields from their fields.
CASE STUDY -3
Village: K K Thanda
Grampanchayat: Kamalapuram
Mandal: Garladinne
District: Ananthapuram
ORANGE PLANTATION UNDER MNREGA MAKES ADIVASI FARMERS PROSPEROUS
Beneficiary #1
Prasad Nayak belongs to Scheduled Tribe(ST) and has 5 acres of land which was
virtually unproductive and a loss making exercise. He used to sow groundnut. Many a
time, he used to incur losses upto Rs. 20 – 30 thousand because the land was not
levelled. But in 2006, a Land Development Project (pebble bunding, boulder removal)
was implemented under MGNREGA. Thereafter, in 2007 sweet orange plantation was
done in 5 acres of his land. The costs and investments for orange plantation came from
MGNREGA as in the case of mango plantations. During 2007 -2010, this ST Farmer got
about Rs.3 lakh from the intercrop of groundnut in the sweet orange plantation. In
2010, he got the 1st orange fruit yield worth Rs.70,000/-, in 2011 Rs.1.2 lakh and in
2012 he got Rs.1.5 lakh from the sweet orange fruits.
This adivasi farmer has purchased about 100 grams of gold from the income of sweet
orange plantation. He is now able to eat three wholesome meals with vegetables and
has bought costly clothes for his family, whereas in 2006, he used to eat food with
pickles and used to be always indebted. Now, he has also cleared Rs.2 lakh of debt taken
before 2006. Two of his daughters are studying in Residential School in Ananthapuram.
Beneficiary # 2
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Laxmi Nayak belongs to Scheduled Tribe and has 5 acres of land under orange
plantation . During 3 years of intercrop, he earned Rs.50,000/- from them. The 1st
orange fruit gave him Rs.2 lakh, 2nd year – Rs.3 lakh and in 3rd year he got Rs.2.5 lakh
(due to fall in market prices).
With the income from his orange plants he purchased 3 acres of wet land for cultivating
paddy, spending Rs.4 lakh on that . This year in April (2013), he married his daughter
and spent Rs. 7 lakh in the marriage of his daughter. He had purchased about 120
grams of gold. In fact, he borrowed Rs.3 lakh for the marriage of his daughter thinking
that he would be able to repay back that loan from the income of orange, next season.
The same farmer before 2006 had spent less than Rs.1 lakh on the marriage of his sister
due to poor financial condition.
Beneficiary # 3
Anjaneyulu Nayak belongs to Scheduled Caste and has 5 acres of land under orange
plantation . From the intercrops during 3 years, he got about Rs.1.5 lakh of income. 1st
crop of orange gave him Rs.1.3 lakh, 2nd year he got Rs.1.8 lakh and in the 3rd year Rs.
2.4 lakh.
With the additional income of orange, he has cleared Rs.2 lakh of debts. The first child of
this adivasi farmer is daughter and doing M.Tech in Osmania University at Hyderabad.
The second child is pursuing B.Com in Government Arts College at Ananthapuram and
staying there in private hostel. The third child is pursuing 1st year B.Tech in Chaitanya
Bharathi Institute of Technology at Hyderabad.
He is spending over Rs.1.5 lakh per annum on the education on his 3 children. This
adivasi farmer proudly and emphatically says that “It would be impossible for us to
even dream of this kind of education without the incomes coming from MGNREGA
projects.”
Beneficiary # 4
Shivaiah Nayak is a ST farmer and has 5 acres of land under orange plantation done
through MNREGA. He earned about Rs.1.5 lakh from intercrops and 1st year sweet
orange fruit gave him Rs.80,000/-, 2nd year – Rs.2.5 lakh and in 3rd year also Rs.2.5 lakh.
52
He has got 3 children and on their education he is spending Rs.2 lakh per year . His 1st
son is doing Diploma in Mechanical and his second son is pursuing B.Tech in
Electronics. Third is a daughter studying in Intermediate (History,Economics and
Civics) .
Beneficiary of Land Development
Ruplu Bai ( a beneficiary of land development project under MNREGA) is a ST farmer
who says “We used to live a miserable life before 2006 and led a life of distress
migration, hunger and abject poverty. The children were unable to go to schools. We
used to have hardly one pair of sarees but thanks to MGNREGA we are now able to eat 3
wholesome meals with purchased vegetables. Our children are able to study in
government schools and most of the women have over 15 sarees”. About half of the
households have colour TVs and every house has a cell phone.
The MGNREGA has brought all round prosperity and revival in the village economy. All
labourers/farmers of the village are having a new confidence about their future life.
Most of the labourers/farmers are investing a lot of their MGNREGA income towards
giving good education/high education to their children. Many have bought cultivable
lands also. The new found confidence in the incomes from MGNREGA has led many
farmers/labourers to borrow money also. The credit worthiness of the villagers has
increased. A lot of their barren land has been made cultivable, thanks to Comprehensive
Land Development Projects taken under MGNREGA.
Villagers say that there is no complaint in this village regarding implementation of
MGNREGA. There is effective and corruption free implementation of MGNREGA in this
village. All labourers and MGNREGA beneficiaries participate in Social Audit Forum.
CASE STUDY -4
Village : Mandlipalli (Harijanawada)
Grampanchayat : Tanakal
Mandal : Tanakal
53
District : Ananthapuram
Total Households : 120 (Entirely Scheduled Caste)
MNREGA BECOMES DIVINE BOON FOR POOR DALITS OF MANDLIPALLI
About 300 acres of land (Barren/ Unproductive) was assigned to dalits of this village
long ago, but entire land was lying barren. In 2010 -11, one Dry Land Horticulture
(Mango) Project under MNREGA began in this village under which about 177 acres of
the barren land has been developed ( Bush clearance, Boulder removal, Stone picking ,
Trenches construction , earthen bunds and mango plantation). During this 2-3 years of
gestation period most of the farmers have done inter-cropping. In this entire block of
mango plantation 1390 mango plants have been planted. Their intercrops have already
provided good income to many dalit farmers. Moreover, they receive Rs.1200 per
month per acre of mango plantation as maintenance cost under MNREGA for 3 years of
gestation period . This has brought very good and regular income to all mango
plantation beneficiaries .
Beneficiary: #1
Jelipigari Narayanappa has 7.5 acres of land , out of which about half is already under
mango plantation. From the intercrop in the 1st year, he earned Rs.36,000/- from
Tomato, from the second crop of Tomato he earned Rs.46,000/- and he is expecting
about Rs.60,000/- worth of tomato this year(2014). He purchased gold worth Rupees
One Lakh last year. He also purchased about Rs.15000 worth of furniture. He is building
a new Pucca house and in that he has invested about Rupees One Lakh from his
personal income. Two of his children are studying in Government School. He used to
work in the house of a landlord and used to get Rs.1000 - 1500/- per year. His wife also
used to work on daily wage of Rs.15 – 20 before MGNREGA.
However, his life took a turn with the arrival of MGNREGA. He is now very happy farmer
and lives a life of self confidence, self respect and self reliance. His livelihood is secured
54
through MGNREGA and horticulture plantation. When asked if he works anywhere
other than MGNREGA, this dalit farmer proudly quipped “Now, I myself can engage and
employ 1 – 2 labourers”.
Beneficiary #2
Jelipigari Venkataramana has 4 acres of land , in which 2 acres is under mango
plantation. In 1st year of intercrop (Tomato), he earned Rs.50,000/- and this year too he
has grown Tomato and likely to get at least Rs.50,000/- income. With the income earned
from intercrops, he was able to repay Rs.35000/- of debt and invested some income in
agriculture. He has 10 shirts.
Beneficiary #3
J Tirupal has 4 acres of land with mango plantation in the entire plot. He has earned
Rs.60,000 from groundnut cultivation. He has purchased Rs.1.5 lakh worth of gold only
last year. He says that this entire gold purchase was done with direct and indirect
income from MGNREGA . He receives Rs.1200 per month per acre of mango plantation
as maintenance cost under MNREGA . In other words , he earns Rs.48,000 towards
watering charges/wages per year. So, during 3 years of gestation period of mango
plantation project, he received about Rs.1.44 lakh as maintenance cost from MNREGA .
Beneficiary #4
J Uthanna has 5 acres of land and in 3 acres he has taken up mango plantation.
From Intercrop (Tomato) he earned Rs.70,000/-
Beneficiary #5
J Venkataramana has 3.5 acres of land and in 3 acres he has taken up mango plantation.
From intercrop (Groundnut) he earned Rs.45,000/-.
During last 2 years, he has purchased Rs.15,000 worth of gold and a Mobile phone and
has deposited Rs.30,000 as savings in the State Bank of India. He has 10 sets of clothes
(he was wearing starched and ironed clothes and had very costly towel on his
shoulders). Before 2006, he was working with a landlord and leading miserable life.
55
Beneficiary # 6
J Ramachandra has 4 acres of land and has taken up mango plantation in the entire plot.
He earned Rs.50,000 from the intercrop of Tomato. He has 3 children. Eldest son has
completed BA and is waiting for a Job. His other two children who are daughters are
both pursuing Nursing Courses.
Beneficiary #7
K Genganna has 3 acres of land and has mango plantation in all 3 acres of his land.
During last 3 years of intercrop, he has earned Rs.45,000/-. He has invested some of the
income he earned on the construction of the house and also purchased some cattle.
Beneficiary #8
V Narasimhulu has 7.5 acres of land. He has mango plantation in 5 acres of land. During
last 3 years, he has earned Rs.1.5 lakh from groundnut cultivation. He also purchased 3
acres of land worth Rs.2.1 lakh and says that this is all thanks to MGNREGA.
Beneficiary #9
M Gopal has 3.5 acres of land and in 2.5 acres he has taken up mango plantation . From
intercrops (Tomato, Chilly and Groundnut) he earned Rs.50,000/-
Beneficiary #10
J Adilaxmi has 4 acres of land and in 2.8 acres she has taken up mango plantation. She
has earned Rs.28,000/- from the groundnut intercrop alone. She purchased gold worth
Rs.52,000 . She says “Earlier I had only one pair of sarees and that too very cheap. But
now, I have 5 pairs of costly sarees”.
Beneficiary #11
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J Venkataramana has 3.5 acres of land and has mango plantation in this entire plot. He
has earned Rs.60,000 from groundnut intercrop. He got his son educated till M.A, B.Ed
and other son till Graduation.
Before MGNREGA, these dalit farmers and labourers used to work as farm labourers at
daily wage of Rs.30-40 in the neighbouring villages. But now they don’t need to go out
for work in other villages . If at all they do go , they demand and get Rs.150-200/- as
daily wage. Villagers say that MGNREGA has become a “divine boon” and they are living
a very happy, comfortable and dignified life. All of them are sending their children to
schools and most of them have invested incomes either in purchasing durables like gold
or some savings in the bank or invested towards agriculture. Seeing and realizing the
contribution and role of MGNREGA in their life, these farmers are strongly demanding
that there should be no limit on the number of days under MGNERGA.
J Gangadhar, who used to work in a Hotel in Puttaparthy and used to earn Rs.2000/-
(Husband and wife both put together) for working round the clock. It was a bone
breaking job and life was miserable. “I am so happy now with my MGNREGA job and I
am leading a happy, comfortable and dignified life in my own village. I am no more
dependent on anyone for my food security and I am also a proud citizen of India. For
poor people like me MGNREGA is not a scheme but a god sent boon. This divine blessing
(MGNREGA) is much more meaningful and important for poor people like me than the
Prasadam (Blessing) I used to enjoy in Puttaparthy (in Satya Sai Ashram)”.
Jelipigari Gangadhar is a SC beneficiary (Mate also) with 3 acres of mango cultivation .
He says, “MGNREGA is not just another project or welfare scheme but a divine blessing
for poor people like me”.
These dalits say that now they are going twice or thrice to Balaji temple(Tirupati). But
before 2006, they never went there. It is because of the income from MGNREGA.
Earlier they used to eat non-vegetarian food once in a while, but now they are eating
non-vegetarian food twice to thrice in a month.
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CASE STUDY -5
Village: Venkatagari palli
Grampanchayat: Venkatagari palli
Mandal: Puttaparthy
District: Ananthapuram
Total Households: 222 (120- SCs, 150- BCs)
MNREGA RECHARGES GROUND WATER TABLE IN WATER-SCARCE VILLAGE
This village used to have distress migration up to 2/3rd and these poor people were
living life of extreme deprivation, chronic hunger and distress migration. Many days
they used to get no meals at all and their children would also go without food. Many a
time, they used to survive by eating just wild products like leaves of drumsticks etc.
None of these villagers had ever gone to Tirupathi before 2006. Women had hardly one
pair of sarees. Most of these people used to live in thatched houses.
However, with the arrival of MGNREGA there has been some remarkable change in the
lives and livelihoods of the poor people living in this village. Distress migration is now a
thing of the past. Every household is able to eat 3 full meals with vegetables bought
from the market. They are also eating Non-Vegetarian food once or twice in a month,
while earlier it was rare. Most women have 10 – 14 sarees against earlier having 1 -2
pairs. Most of them have now constructed pucca house and some expenses of the house
have also been met from MGNREGA income.
Ananthapuram is by-word for drought and crop failure. In this village too, farmers who
had land used to face and bear the brunt of water scarcity. The bore wells and open
wells of this village had become defunct/dried-up or giving very little water.But after
the arrival of MGNREGA, the implementing agencies realized the importance of water
harvesting structures and went for building the same in large numbers. As a result,
there has been appreciable increase in the ground water table of this village and now
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about 25 open wells and 35 bore wells have got recharged. Consequently, many of the
farmers whose lands are irrigated by these bore wells and open wells are getting
increased crop yields and more income .
CHITTOOR DISTRICT
CASE STUDY-1
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Village: PILLARI KONA
Grampanchayat: PULLAMANAIDU KANDRIGA
Mandal: RAMACHANDRAPURAM
District: CHITTOOR
No. of HHs: 47 (Entirely Adivasi village)
MNREGA UNLEASHES SOCIO-ECONOMIC REVOLUTION IN ADIVASI VILLAGE
Pillari Kona is an entirely adivasi village of Chittoor district . A Comprehensive Land
Development Project (CLDP) was implemented under MNREGA during 2007-10 in this
extremely deprived village. An area of 40.66 acres has been developed under this scheme
belonging to 34 adivasi beneficiaries of this village. Most of the area developed under
MGNREGA was essentially land assigned to STs & SCs of the Grampanchayat 20 years ago.
These adivasis (Yanadi) were leading very miserable life before MGNREGA and this was a
text book case of deprived adivasi village living always on the edge. They were surviving
primarily by collection of NTFP(non-timber forest produce) like firewood, honey , rat
trapping etc. Since the food was scarce and many times they didn’t get any food for 3 to 4
days , they used to survive only by eating rats. This in itself explains the kind of
dehumanising poverty and livelihood crisis these Yanadi adivasis had been facing from time
immemorial.
Some of the adivasis used to go to Tirupathi for wage employment. But most of them didn’t
, because it was 40 kilometers away and there was no link road. So, most of them used to
remain trapped in their village nestled in the foot hills. There were very little sources of food
and livelihood , therefore , these adivasis had no option but to lead a life of extreme
deprivation, chronic hunger, semi-starvation and perpetual misery.
Even the assigned land of these adivasis was substantially barren and unproductive ;
because very little area of that could give some dry land crops like millets which was
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absolutely insignificant for meeting their food requirements. This kind of miserable life
continued till 2006, when MGNREGA came in their life as a new ray of hope.
When MGNREGA came in 2006, officials of the implementing agencies (Mandal &
Grampanchayat functionaries) came to this adivasi village and explained to these poor
people about the role and relevance of MGNREGA and also succeeded in convincing these
adivasis to allow and undertake land development activities in their assigned lands. The
adivasis took it as a divine boon and they went for bush clearance in their lands as part of
land development activity in 2007. This was the beginning of a new chapter in the lives,
livelihood and lifestyle of these poor adivasis. Under MGNREGA, most of the adivasis have
got over 100 days of job since the beginning of the project and they have got their due
wages too.
It is heartenning to note that all 47 households of this adivasi village have already completed
100 days of job this year(2013 -14). Within one week of completion of the job, these
adivasis have been receiving their wage payment from post office through bio-metric
authentication without any hitch.
What is more interesting is the indirect benefits that have started coming to these adivasis
as a result of comprehensive land development undertaken in their assigned lands under
MGNREGA.
These poor adivasis who never had in their life seen or known any productive assets
belonging to them are now proud owners and beneficiaries of mango plantation done
under MGNREGA.
GUNDRAJU KUPPAM MAHALAXMI is a poor Yanadi adivasi woman and her family had been
living a life of extreme poverty and semi starvation till 2006. But with the arrival of
MGNREGA in her village , her family’s life and economic condition has taken new
turnaround. Not only that her household has completed 100 days of job every year but she
also got land development and mango plantation done in 2 acres of her assigned land. She
has 140 mango plants and these plants have already given one yield which gave about
Rs.18,000 of income to her. This year and for next three years she has given that mango
plantation on lease and the contractor will give her about Rs.20,000 per year .
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More importantly, the intercrops like groundnut, sunflower, vegetables (ladies finger,
beans, green chilies, coriander, bitter gourd and green leafy vegetables) have given her
Rs.30,000/- of income just in one year(2013).
In other words , this poor tribal family has earned about Rs.50,000/- of annual income from
the yields/crops of 2 acres of land developed under MGNREGA. This is over and above the
wage money earned from 100 days of job done under MGNREGA. In other words, this poor
adivasi household has earned about Rs.60,000/- to 65,000/- of direct and indirect income
from MGNREGA. That is inconceavable for anyone who doesn’t understand the far reaching
implications and impacts of a project like MGNREGA.
GUNDRAJU KUPPAM MAHALAXMI’s life has now become meaningful, dignified and
livelihoods secure . The future looks very bright. She has two daughters. Eldest daughter
Hima Priya is studying in 3rd year in Govt. Polytechnic in Palmaneru. Her second daughter G
Hema is studying in 10th class in Zilla Parishad High School, Nettukuppam. She emphatically
says , “It would have been impossible for her to educate her children if MGNREGA was not
there. She has tasted the fruits of MGNREGA and hence requesting forcefully that given the
importance and contribution of MGNREGA in livelihood security of STs and SCs, the
limitation of 100 days should be lifted and at least ST and SC households should be allowed
unlimited days of employment.”
She further says, “Before MGNREGA, I used to buy second hand clothes which were stiched
and worn out. But now thanks to MNGREGA, I have 35 sarees and most of them I bought
from branded saree stores located in Tirupati, like Chandana Brothers and Bommana
Brothers”.
This adivasi woman became emotional while narrating her story of hardships and misery
before arrival of MGNREGA and said in a chocking voice , “We used to live without food for
days together and there would be hardly any clothes on our bodies. Only mercy of God
saved our lives. I pray to god that long live MGNREGA and god bless the people who made
MGNREGA”.
While narrating her story in front of the Mandal Additional Program Officer, Smt. O Jyothi
Sree and other government officials, she couldn’t control her emotions and tears started
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rolling down from her eyes with a sense of deep gratitude towards the MGNREGA and the
officers who implemented it in her village .
She has purchased about 50 grams of gold in last 3 years , thanks to MGNREGA income. Two
years ago , she built a pucca house with a total cost of about Rs.2 laksh . Of this total cost ,
only Rs.45000/- came from Govt. subsidy in the form of Indira Awaas Yojana grant. The rest
was the income her family got from MGNREGA and other personal incomes. Earlier, they
were living in a thatched house only.
This is not the story of only one adivasi woman and her household alone, but of all 34
beneficiaries of this village who have got mango plants in their assigned lands and are getting
similar yields and income.
Four other beneficiaries’ children are pursuing various degree courses and it is heartenning
to note that one adivasi MGNREGA beneficiary’s daughter has become Engineer and now
working in Hyderabad. P Uma, d/o Pilliguntla Nagaraju, completed her B.Tech from
Tirupathi only last year and immediately got employed in some private company in
Hyderabad.
All adivasi households are sending their children to schools and nurturing dreams of making
their sons and daughters Engineers or Doctors. All these adivasis are now eating even non-
vegetarian food weekly and milk products also. Many of them have cows and other milch
animals.
It is gratifying to note that this poor adivasi village has utilized the full potential of
MGNREGA and has been able to provide not only 100 days of wage employment to all the
needy households, but also succeeded in creating and building productive assets (Mango
plantation). There is complete transparency and accountability in the implementation of
MGNREGA in this village. One does only wish that every village and Grampanchayat of
India had similar success story in the implementation of MNREGA. The full scale and
dimensions of socio- economic and ecological benefits of MGNREGA coming to a village
like this one is yet to be estimated, understood and told before the country. But , we can
say for sure that the indirect benefits of MGNREGA are many times more than the direct
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economic benefits coming in the form of wages. We are happy and proud to say that the
MNREGA in this adivasi village has been implemented in letter and spirit.
CASE STUDY-2
Village: CHANDRAMAKULAPALLIE HARIJANA WADA
Grampanchayat: CHANDRAMAKULAPALLE
Mandal: PUNGANUR
District: CHITTOOR
Total HHs: 70 (ENTIRELY SC HABITATION)
LAND DEVELOPMENT & MANGO PLANTATION UNDER MNREGA BRINGS LIVELIHOOD
SECURITY IN DALIT VILLAGE
The area of the mango plantation is spread in 159 acres and total number of beneficiaries (
all of them SC) are 53 , with each beneficiary having 3 acres of land. This land was assigned
in 2006. This entire land before 2006 was barren and full of jungle.
This land development and mango plantation project started in 2007 under MNREGA. All
the beneficiaries have already got 3 mango yields after land development and plantation of
DISABLED/LEPER WORKING AS MGNREGA LABOURER
GUNDRAJUKUPPAM CHALAMAIAH has got leprosy since he was 30 years old and has been
living as untouchable since then .His life was miserable. Besides sufferings and miseries of
an adivasi, he was suffering this trauma of being a leper. But MGNREGA has brought a ray
of hope in his life too. Every year since 2006 , he has worked for over 100 days. More over
,he also got 65 mango plants in his assigned plot.
Disabled persons in Andhra Pradesh are eligible for wage employment upto 150 days per
year.
42 new pucca houses have been either built or being built in this poor adivasi village
during last 2 – 3 years.
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mango . During three years of gestation period, these dalit farmers had cultivated intercrops
like tomato, chilly, brinjal and other vegetables and got good income from them.
Before 2006, these dalit farmers were absolutely landless and living life of chronic hunger,
extreme deprivation and distress migration. About half of the households used to migrate to
nearby towns like Bangalore in search of wage employment. Those who were left behind in
the village were eking out their livelihood through virtual bonded labour. These poor dalits
were made to work in the fields of landlords and they would get only food to eat and
Rs.300-400/- per year for bone- breaking labour work they used to do in the homes and
lands of landlords. They were unable to send their children to schools.
However, with the arrival of MGNREGA in 2006, these poor dalits got a ray of hope.
Moreover, during the same time each dalit household was assigned about 3 acres of land. In
2007, the implementing agencies identified this entire block to be developed
comprehensively and there after developed mango plantation. The MGNREGA employment
as well as the land development project and mango plantation have begun to give assured
and sustainable income to these poor dalits. Now, they have stopped going out to cities and
towns for wage employment and they are not at the mercy of big landlords for their
livelihood.
All these farmers are sending their children to schools and colleges. One daughter of a poor
dalit has already completed B.Ed and three others are pursuing various degree courses. Two
children have completed IIIT. About 20 are pursuing intermediate courses.
All dalits of this village say that without MGNREGA they would have been living the same
life of misery and chronic hunger. They look upon MGNREGA as a divine boon in their life.
Case Studies:
#1. VENKATAGIRI SURESH
Income from intercrop Rs.80,000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.20000/-
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#2. V KOTA NAGAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs. 1.2 lakh
Income from mango plantation Rs. 20000/-
Spent Rs.50000/- in building pucca house and spending annually Rs.50000/- for eduction of
his 2 children who are studying in Residential colleges in Tirupathi.
#3. YELLARI BANDLU SHANKER
Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.7500/-
#4. PACHE GANGULA PRASAD
Income from intercrop Rs.1.3 lakh ( tomato, mirchi, beans)
Income from mango plantation Rs.9500/-
Spent about 3 lakh on marriage of his daughter.
#5. C GANGULAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs.1.5 lakh (tomato)
Income from mango plantation Rs. 15000/-
One of his sons is doing IIIT for which he is paying Rs.25000/- annual fee . Other son is
studying in Intermediate. He has spent about Rs.50,000/- of MGNREGA income in building
pucca house.
#6. CHEKKALA GOPALA
Income from intercrop Rs. 55000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.25000/-
#7 ALIVELAMMA
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Income from intercrop - nil-
Income from mango plantation Rs.7000/-
#8. YELLARIBAILU DHANAMMA
Income from intercrop Rs.50000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.10000/-
#9. RAMALAXMI
Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs. 13000/-
#10. P RAVI
Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.13000/-
#11. Y BABU
Income from intercrop Rs.50000/-
Income from mango plantation - nil –
#12. G SRINIVASULU
Income from intercrop Rs.1.1 lakh
Income from mango plantation Rs.30000/-
#13. Y GANGADHAR
Income from intercrop Rs. One lakh
Income from mango plantation Rs.10000/-
#14. V NAGAPPA
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Income from intercrop Rs.20000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs. One lakh
#15. V MUNIGATAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs.20000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs. One lakh
#16. C GANGULAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs.15000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs. One lakh
#17. G RAMARAJU
Income from intercrop Rs.25000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs. One lakh
#18. P GANGULAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs.15000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.10000/-
#19. G SRINIVASULU
Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.One lakh
#20. Y REDDAPPA
Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.5000/-
#21. Y GANGAPPA
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Income from intercrop Rs.30000/-
Income from mango plantation Rs.10000/-
About 20 households have constructed new pucca houses recently and they have invested
Rs. 50-60 thousand from their MGNREGA income besides their standard Indira Awaas
Yogna amount of 45000/-
Distress migration from this village has now completely stopped. Earlier, they used to eat
only once in a while non-veg, but now they are eating every week. Before MGNREGA, these
poor dalit women found it difficult to have even 2 saree but now they have 10-50 sarees.
DHANAMMA has 50 sarees now and she loudly says that all this is thanks to MGNREGA.
Majority of the households have TV sets and all have mobile phones. Before 2006, these
dalits had not seen face of Balaji in Tirupathi nor had visited any famous temple, but now
thanks to MGNREGA, all of them have gone on pilgrimage to Tirupathi and seen Balaji.
YASHODAMMA, a poor dalit says with pride, “One of my son has completed M.Com and the
other is B.Com discontinued. It was all because of perfect implementation of MGNREGA”.
CASE STUDY-3
Village: HANUMAIAH KANDRIGA
Grampanchayat: KANDLURU
Mandal: KVB PURAM
District: CHITTOOR
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Total HHs: 150 (STs – 15, Rest all BCs)
TANK DESILTATION PROJECT GIVES 1.8 CRORE OF ADDITIONAL INCOME TO PADDY
FARMERS
One tank desiltation project was implemented in Hanumaiah Kandriga village of Kandluru
GP during 2007-2008. The total ayacut of the tank is 300 acres. Earlier, the tank had silted
up and there was very little water storage capacity in the tank. But, due to desiltation & silt
application project implemented under MGNREGA, the water holding capacity of the tank
has increased. As a result, about 300 acres of arable land is now getting adequate irrigation
water from this tank. This has resulted into increased yield of paddy of around 80-100%.
While before MGNREGA desiltation project, the per acre paddy yield was about 20 bags,
after desiltation of the tank, the per acre paddy yield has increased to around 35-40 bags.
In other words, the per acre paddy yield and income has almost doubled.
VOLUKURU VENKATA REDDY is a farmer belonging to BC(backward caste) with 4 acres of
paddy land in the command area of the desilted tank. Before desiltation, he used to get
about 20 bags of paddy per acre, but now he is getting about 35 bags per acre.
In economic terms, there is an additional income of at least Rs.12000/- per acre per annum
as a result of tank desiltation project. If Rs.12000 is multiplied by 300 acres, there is an
additional annual income of Rs.36 lakh coming to poor farmers of this village every year
due to MGNREGA desiltation project.
If that is multiplied with 5 years, the total additional income as a result of the tank
desiltation project that has come to these farmers so far is around Rs.180 lakh, i.e, Rs. 1.8
crore.
The beneficiary farmers said , “Now as a result of desiltation project, we are reaping good
harvest and farmers whose land is in the command area are feeling very happy. Had this
tank desiltation project not been implemented, our life would have become miserable and
have returned back to same life of indebtedness, hunger and livelihood crisis. But due to
this project, we are now living comfortable life and getting additional income.”
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GUNA CHENGAMMA, a BC farmer having 4 acres of land in the command area of tank says,
“There was menace of naxalism prevailing in this area 20 years ago. Even though naxalites
never came in our village , we always lived in fear. Police used to come and search our
houses.But that is now thing of the past”.
GUNA CHENGAMMA further says, “Before MGNREGA, we were living a miserable life of
unemployment, extreme poverty, chronic hunger and extremely low daily wage. But now
due to MGNREGA, our life has become much more comfortable. We are now able to eat 3
square meals , wear good clothes and sending our children to schools. Almost all households
of this backward deprived village of Chittoor are having TVs and Mobile phones. Almost all
households have got now pucca houses.” The life of poor farmers and labourers of this
village has taken a complete turnaround and now their livelihood is much more secured.
They don’t go around in search of wage employment.
CASE STUDY-4
Village: DIGUVAJUPALLI (Habitation)
Grampanchayat: GANUGACHINTHA
Mandal: ROMPICHERLA
District: CHITTOOR
A police encounter took place on the boarders of this GP and 7 naxalites were killed in 1996-97.
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Total HHs: 55( OC-45, BC-5,SC-5)
LAND DEVELOPMENT & MANGO PLANTATION BRING PROSPERITY IN THE VILLAGE
As per data provided by Mandal & GP authorities, land development under MNREGA has
been undertaken in about 180 acres and this entire land has been planted with Mango.
About 25 farm ponds have been also constructed as life saving irrigation source.
All the job card holders and households of this habitation are small and marginal farmers
with less than 5 acres of land. Before MGNREGA, this plot of 180 acres used to remain
fallow/barren and farmers did not get any income. However, with the arrival of MGNREGA,
these lands have become life line for these poor farmers of Chittoor district.
Immediatly after bush clearance taken up in their lands in 2007-08, beneficiary farmers
started cultivating intercrops like tomato, groundnut, red gram, horse gram etc. As a result,
they got good income from the intercrops.
At the same time, they also got maintenance expenses for watering and manuring of the
mango plantation from the MGNREGA wages. In other words, in the first 3 years of
gestation period of Mango Plantation, these lands which were lying unproductive became
source of good income from intercrops . Moreover , these beneficiaries also earned wages
under MGNREGA for working in their own fields. When the maintenance period of 3 years
came to an end, the mango plants have started giving good yields and income to these poor
farmers.
All farmers and households of this habitation are mango plantation beneficiaries and most
of them have got 2-3 yields, which brought them good income.
Case Study #1
JAI KONDAIAH is a small farmer with 3 acres of land under mango plantation, which was
lying barren. Besides getting MGNREGA wages towards maintenance cost of his own mango
plantation, he earned about Rs.30000/- from the intercrops he had grown during 3 years of
gestation period of mango plantation. Afterwards, he has already got about Rs.75000/-
worth of income from 3 mango yields. In the first year, he earned Rs.10000/-, in the 2nd year
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Rs.25000/- and during the last year(2013) he earned Rs.40000/-.
The direct and indirect benefits and income from MGNREGA has brought an unbelievable
transformation in the economic condition of this poor farmer of Chittoor. Before
MGNREGA, his economic condition was such that his parents could not afford his education
after 10th Class and it was very difficult to get 2 meals a day. They were living in thatched
houses and life was miserable.
But, with the arrival of MGNREGA, their life has taken a 180 degree turn and this poor
farmer is now not so poor. The income coming from MGNREGA wages and the land
development project implemented in his land , besides the mango garden income , have
brought substantial annual income and economic empowerment to this farmer. As a result,
this farmer has built a pucca house 3 years ago, investing about 40-50 thousand rupees from
MGNREGA incomes , besides the Indira Awaas Yogna grant of Rs25000/-. His eldest
daughter is pursuing B.Tech in a private college (MJR Engineering College) in Piler mandal.
His son is studying in intermediate (Sree Chaitanya College) in Tirupathi, where he is paying
Rs.40000/- annual fee for this residential college.
JAI KONDAIAH emphatically says, “If MGNREGA was not there, it wouldn’t have been
possible for me to give good education to my children and build a pucca house”.
The story of JAI KONDAIAH is not a stand alone story, but this is the story of the entire
village and almost every household. About 25 households are sending their children to
private schools. Over 10 boys and girls from this village are pursuing B.Tech degrees in
nearby Engineering college, one has already completed B.Tech and pursuing M.Tech.
During last 3-4 years, all households of the village have converted their thatched houses
into pucca houses , thanks to the additional income from MGNREGA as well as the IAY
grant.
Case Study #2
KALLAM KUMAR has 3 acres of land with mango plantation.
He got earnings from Inter crop worth Rs.90000/- to one lakh (majority crop is groundnut)
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He got income from mango worth Rs.30000/-
He has two children and he is sending both of them to private schools and paying
Rs.11000/- of fees towards the same. He converted his thatched house into a pucca house 3
years ago in which he spent Rs.50000/- from MGNREGA income.
Case Study #3
KALLA RAMANAIDU has 5 acres of land with mango plantation.
From intercrop he earned Rs.40000/- (Groudnut and Tomato)
His income from mango yield is Rs.1.5 lakh.
His eldest daughter is pursuing M.Tech and second pursuing B.Tech. He spent above
Rs.40000/-towards pucca house 3 years ago. When asked if he could have managed to give
higher education to his daughters without MGNREGA, this farmer emphatically said, “No, it
would not have been possible for us to educate our children and build pucca houses without
MGNREGA”.
Case Study #4
SRINIVASULU MALLEMMA has 4 acres of land with mango plantation.
From intercrop he earned Rs.10000/-(groundnut once only)
From mango yield he got Rs.50000/-
He has only one son who completed degree 3 years back. Now he is waiting for a job. He is
also working as wage seeker under MGNREGA and working on his own field too.
Case Study #5
UJJINI VENKATARAMANA NAYAK has 3 acres of land with mango plantation , has 210 mango
plants under land development. From intercrop he earned Rs.85000/-(groudnuts only) .His
income from mango yield was Rs.45000/-
Case Study #6
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KANIKURTHY ADANNA has 3 acres of land with mango plantation.
His income from intercrop was Rs.10000/-(Horsegram)
Case Study #7
ABBAREDDY CHENGAMMA has 3 acres of mango plantation.
Income from intercrop was Rs.40000/-
Income from mango yield Rs. 42000/-
Case Study #8
GOLI VENKATARAMANA has 3 acres of mango plantation.
His income from intercrop was Rs.40000/-
He had income from mango yield worth Rs. 54000/-
CASE STUDY-5
Village: MADDIPATLA SUGALAGUDEM
Grampanchayat: GANUGACHINTHA
Mandal: ROMPICHERLA
District: CHITTOOR
Total HHs: 12
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Total JobCards: 16
MNREGA’S LIBERATING IMPACT ON ADIVASIS
BUKKA CHANDRA NAYAK is an adivasi farmer with 2.5 acres of land. In this plot of land,
comprehensive land development was undertaken under MGNREGA during 2009-10.Under
this ,the activities undertaken were bush clearance, stone pickup, stump removal, stone
bunding, farm pond and silt application . The land which was lying barren since it was
assigned to these adivasis about 30 years ago has now become productive as a result of
land development activity done under MGNREGA. This poor adivasi farmer has got about
Rs.16000/- of additional income from various crops grown in this land (tomato, groundnut,
chilies) during last 2 years as a result of the land development project. Besides, he has been
doing 100 days of job every year and getting due wages for it.
This farmer says , “Our life was very miserable before MGNREGA. We used to work as farm
labourers and used to take cattle of landlords for grazing. We were unable to get 2 square
meals. It was a hand to mouth existence. We were unable to send our children to school.
But thanks to MGNREGA, we are now leading a comfortable life. Our livelihood is secured.
We are now sending our children to schools and colleges. My eldest daughter B MADHURI
completed B.Ed and now working as Teacher in a Govt. School. My second daughter B
BHAGYA LAXMI, completed M.Tech from Sri Venkateshwara University in Tirupathi last year
and she is working as a guest lecturer in Tirupathi Engineering College. My son B JAGDISH
NAYAK completed Graduation and working as Police Constable in Andhra Pradesh Police.
Had MGNREGA not been there all my children would have ended up as farm labourers and
dropouts. MGNREGA has arrived in our life as a divine blessing. MGNREGA is now life- line
for poor adivasis like us”.
There are 16 other adivasi households in this habitation and all of them are MGNREGA
beneficiaries. In this habitation, land development under MGNREGA has been done in about
17 acres and about 14 households are beneficiaries of the same. Water harvesting
structures (farm ponds) have been dug in the lands of 3 beneficiaries. Mango plantation has
been done in about 17 acres, benefitting 6 farmers.
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As result of MGNREGA and Land Development /Horticulture, these adivasi farmers are now
economically empowered and they are eating 3 square meals, sending their children to
schools and colleges, barren/unproductive lands have become productive and likely to give
good income from mango yields.
CASE STUDY-6
Village: KALANGI
Grampanchayat: KANDLURU
Mandal: KVB PURAM
District: CHITTOOR
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No. of Beneficiaries: 17 (All SCs)
Acreage of Plantation: 28.7
Year of Implementation: 2011 - 12
KALANGI MANGO PLANTATION BRINGS HAPPINESS IN LIVES OF DALIT FARMERS
This land was assigned to these dalits 10 years ago, but it was lying barren because it is hard
soil. But now thanks to MGNREGA , Mango Plantation has been done in this unproductive
land. Since it is the first year of intercrop, it is difficult to find out the amount of income and
the mango yields will come only after 4-5 years. But with this mango plantation, these dalits
have now become proud owners of mango plantation and they are getting wages under
MGNREGA for working in their own lands. This horticulture block has brought a new ray of
hope in the lives of these poor dalits.
# 1. SURYAPAKA VENKATAIAH, who is owner of 3 acres of mango plantation says, “Earlier
we were working as farm labourers and used to get very small amount as daily wages. Life
used to be very difficult and it was not enough for even food. But thanks to MGNREGA, we
are now proud owners of mango plantation and we don’t need to go begging at the doors of
big landlords asking for wage employment.”
#2. KOMMALA VENKATAMMA , who is a dalit beneficiary of mango plantation with 4.76
acres of land , says, “Before MGNREGA, we used to find it difficult to get even one square
meal. But thanks to MGNREGA, we are able to get three square meals and we have now
good clothes. Moreover, through MGNREGA we have got mango plants in our own fields
and we are getting wages for working in our own fields. I hope that in 4-5 years my mango
plants would give 20-25 thousand rupees of annual income. With this assured regular
income we hope to lead a comfortable life. We will be very happy if we are given MGNREGA
job for more than 150 days”.
CASE STUDY-7
Village: Sivagiri ST Colony
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Grampanchayat: Kandadu
Mandal: Yerpedu
District: Chittoor
MNREGA BRINGS SOCIAL & ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN LIVES OF DEPRIVED
ADIVASIS
This village is entirely Yanadi adivasis with 150 households. In this colony , 37 households
have been selected for land development under dry land horticulture scheme . As a result,
there were 3600 saplings @70 per acre. Prior to sanction of dry land horticulture , land
development activity, i.e,. bush clearance, land leveling, pebble bunding etc, were
sanctioned under MGNREGA with the cost of Rs.5.36 lakh. Subsequently , dry land
horticulture was sanctioned. Under this pitting, plantation, maintenance etc. worth
Rs.37.89 lakh was done from MGNREGA.
Under convergence with NABARD – RIDF XIII funds were dovetailed for sanction of bore
wells, energization and submersible pump sets. Since this land was covered with thick
jungle, an amount of Rs.86000/- was also utilized from NABARD fund to clear bush in an
extent of 18 acres. So totally , from MGNREGA Rs.37.89 lakh and from NABARD Rs. 9.80
lakh were spent to develop 50 acres of barren land benefitting 37 Yanadi households.
Before MGNREGA, these adivasis used to live a life of extreme deprivation, chronic hunger
and distress migration. They used to live existence of hand to mouth and always dependent
on NTFP (non-timber forest produce) like broomsticks, honey collection etc to eke out a
living ; and it was difficult to get even one meal for them. It was impossible for them to send
their children to school. The children also used to accompany their parents in the forest and
education was impossible.
However, thanks to MGNREGA, the economic condition of these poor adivasis has taken a
remarkable turnaround and there is a great sense of economic empowerment in the lives of
these poor adivasis.
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G. Nagamma , a poor adivasi and also MGNREGA worker & beneficiary says, “We used to
survive on millets like jowar, broken rice, ragi balls with salt and green chilly . We used to
have a single saree which would be washed and dried every day. But now thanks to
MGNREGA , we are able to eat 3 full meals and also buy regular vegetables from market. We
have also started taking non-veg food once or twice in a month. I have 15 sarees and a
Mobile also. We are also able to save some money in the SHG fund. Our life has become
much more comfortable and meaningful due to MGNREGA”.
Another adivasi woman N Sarojamma has also similar story to share. She has now 20 sarees
and mobile phone. She is eating 3 square meals and sending her son to school. In her 1.5
acre of assigned land (which used to be barren before MGNREGA) there are now 105 mango
plants . From these 105 mango plants, in 5th year (2014) she will get about Rs.4000/-, 6th
year Rs.6000/- and from 7th year over Rs. 8000 . For next 10 -25 years, she would get about
Rs.10000 of annual income from her mango plantation without any maintenance or
production cost.
This is not the story of only one or two adivasi women but 37 poor adivasi
laborers/beneficiaries of Sivagiri ST Colony. MGNREGA has changed their lives, livelihoods
and life style beyond imagination.
Moreover, these adivasi beneficiaries have done Mahatma Gandhi Bund Plantation under
MGNREGA on the boundaries of their individual mango fields. Under this, every individual
beneficiary has got 160 teak plants, which will be after 20 – 25 years worth Lakhs of rupees.
There can’t be a better investment for the future of these poor adivasis.
When asked as to what would be life without MGNREGA, these adivasis said in chorus,
“We would return back to the same miserable life of extreme deprivation, chronic hunger,
distress migration and perpetual livelihood insecurity. MGNREGA has brought complete
transformation in our economic and social condition and we would like this scheme to
continue for long in the future too”.
CASE STUDY-8
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Village: Yelakamitta ST Colony
Grampanchayat: Kandadu
Mandal: Yerpedu
District: Chittoor
Land Development Programme Brings Livelihood Security in Adivasi Village
In Yelakamitta ST Colony , a Comprehensive Land Development Programme and Mango
Plantation has been taken up in convergence with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) , Rural Infrastructure Development Fund(RIDF) XV, MNREGA and
Tribal welfare. Till 2008 , the entire land belonging to Yenadi adivasis was bushy and barren
.The land was assigned to these poor adivasis 8 years ago. The number of beneficiaries of
this mango plantation is 33.
Under MGNREGA , the bush clearing, land levelling, pitting and mango plantation was done.
Under NABARD component, two bore wells were drilled. Energization component also
came from NABARD. ST corporation contributed cost of two submersible pumps.
In this mango plantation, inter cropping is also being facilitated , promoted and being paid
from MGNREGA. Jowar, Groundnuts and other Millets are also promoted as intercrops for 3
years .The maintenance cost for the mango plants is also paid from MGNREGA.
Before MGNREGA, these extremely poor adivasis used to live a life of perpetual misery in
the form of chronic hunger, extreme poverty, and massive distress migration. The wages
were Rs.10 -20/- and they used to go to Tirupati and other towns in search of wage
employment. It was impossible for them to send their children to school. They used to
collect forest produce like fire wood, gums, honey and broomsticks etc, and lived hand to
mouth existence. The life was so miserable and livelihood so insecure that they had to be
always worried about getting just one meal in a day.
But thanks to MGNREGA, those days are things of past and now the livelihood security of
these poor adivasis is being enhanced and ensured every year through MGNREGA.
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The land assigned to these poor adivasis and effective/corruption free implementation of
MGNREGA in this Grampanchayat has brought a complete turnaround in the lives, livelihood
and lifestyle of these poor adivasis. They are now eating 3 square meals and also weekly
non-veg food. All of them are sending their children to schools. Distress migration has
completely stopped.
The adivasi women used to have hardly 1- 2 sarees before MGNREGA, but now most of
them have 15 – 20 sarees.
Govindamma , a poor adivasi woman got 70 mango plants in 1 acre of this horticulture
block. She is happy and proud to say that “Now, we throw away our sarees and other
clothes the moment they are torn off and buy new sarees and clothes. We are in a position
to lend money to others on interest (as part of self help group’s savings). Some women are
saving Rs.100/- and others Rs.200/- per month in the self help group fund”.
The economic empowerment through MGNREGA has also increased credit worthiness of
these poor adivasis . Govindamma has three mobile phones and Chenchamma also has 3
mobile phones and 20 sarees. All these adivasi beneficiaries have at least 1 mobile phone
and the loan repayment to banks has also improved after introduction of MGNREGA.
The mango plantation block area used to be a deserted place 10 -15 years ago, because of
presence of naxalites in the nearby areas. But villagers say that they didn’t face any
problems on the part of the naxalites nor they ever interacted with them.
CASE STUDY-9
Village: KANDLURU (SC COLONY)
Grampanchayat: KANDLURU
Mandal: KVB PURAM
District: CHITTOOR
No. of HHs: 200
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Total Job Cards: 200
No. of Beneficiaries: 52 (All are SC beneficiaries)
Total area of horticulture block : 94.7 acres
Year of Implementation: 2011
Total number of Mango plants : 6580
Total number of Teak plants : 5000
MNREGA LIBERATES BONDED LABOURERS
95 acres of land was assigned to poor dalits of Kandluru village in 1995 , but this land was
lying barren till 2011. Under MNREGA , a horticulture plantation project was sanctioned in
2010 covering 94.7 acres of assigned land . Then bush clearance and other land
development works were taken up in 2011. 8 bore wells in convergence with NABARD have
been drilled and power supply is also being provided from NABARD component. 6 bore wells
succeeded and 1 bore well collapsed and motor erected to one bore well. Electrification was
done for 6 bore wells and 5 out of them are connected with motors. 5 bore well recharge
structures were constructed, which came from Indira Jala Prabha.
In 2011 itself , the beneficiaries started cultivating intercrops like black gram, green gram,
water melon and rainfed paddy was also grown. Vegetables like ladies finger, brinjal, leafy
vegetables, soya bean, horse gram etc are also being cultivated on the horticulture block.
Besides, as maintenance cost coming from MGNREGA, any farmer who has about 2 acres of
land in the mango plantation is likely to get more than 100 days of annual employment for
maintenance of his own plot itself.
All these dalit farmers have already got intercrops’ income for 2 years. The average annual
income per acre from intercrops is at least Rs.7000/-
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In other words, a farmer who has two acres of mango plantation has already got about
Rs.28000/- from intercrops alone. Over and above this, each beneficiary house hold is
entitled for 100 days of job which brings another Rs.14000 – 15000/- as annual wage
income. To put it differently , the direct and indirect benefits of MGNREGA to these dalit
farmers from this mango plantation during this gestation period/initial years is about
Rs.28000/- per year.
CHURU SRINIVASULU is a poor dalit farmer with 1.98 acres of assigned land which has been
brought under mango horticulture under MGNREGA. He has already earned about
Rs.28000/- from various intercrops harvested during last 2 years. This is over and above 100
days of wages that he gets for the works he does on his own mango plantation fields.
Pre-MGNREGA socio - economic condition of the farmers
This entire village of dalits was living as bonded labourers to big landlords of this GP and
they used to live in socio-economic conditions that are text book descriptions of bonded
labour in rural India. These poor dalits were absolutely landless and were wholly and solely
dependent on the mercy of their landlords. The untouchability was prevalent in its most
dehumanizing form. While working with the landlords, if they were thirsty, the landlords
would pour down water on their hand palms and these dalits used to work in the homes
and lands of big landlords from early morning to late in the evening. For their entire day’s
work they used to receive small ragi balls and some little quantity of boiled rice, and the
same used to be shared and eaten by rest of the family members. The children of these
dalits used to tend the milch animals and other cattles of the landlords and used to take
them to pasture lands for grazing.
These dalits used to poduce as many children as possible in order to serve as many
landlords as possible. The parents of these dalits became bonded labourers to the
landlords after borrowing small amounts of money for their survival needs. These
dehumanizing conditions continued till the arrival of MGNREGA. These dalits used to live
on just one meal a day. They didn’t send their children to school. These dalit labourers
were not allowed to wear shoes or trousers and could go to work in the homes of
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landlords wearing only lungies. They were living life of bondage, semi starvation, extreme
deprivation and dehumanizing social exclusion.
However, things have completely changed after the arrival of MGNREGA. Even before
MGNREGA, about 50% of dalit households had got some land assigned to them in 1995.
But, the stronghold of the landlords who were ruling over the life of these dalits was so
strong that even these assigned lands were under effective control of the landlords or these
lands were lying barren.
With the arrival of MGNREGA, the socio-economic condition of these poor dalits has taken
180 degrees turn , thanks to the wage employment and horticulture plantation done in the
fields of these poor dalits.
52 dalit beneficiaries of this mango horticulture block are not only getting 100 days of wage
employment for working on their own fields of mango but they are also getting about
Rs.7000/- of income per year from the intercrops.
After 3 – 4 years, these dalits who are now owners of mango plants would be getting 5 -10
thousand rupees from the mango yields per year. They are eating 3 full meals and most of
the women have 15 -20 sarees, males also have 10-15 pairs of clothes. This in itself gives
enough indications about the kind of economic empowerment that has come in the lives of
these poor dalit labourers turned mango orchard owners. They are all sending their children
to good schools and determined to give their children higher education also.
Earlier, when these dalits were living as bonded labourers , only landlords were in
commanding position , but now thanks to MGNREGA , these poor dalits are in a
commanding position at least in terms of the wage rates.
#1. PALETI MASTHAN RAO is a poor dalit beneficiary with 2 acres of mango plantation. He
says with pride “We tell landlords that we would work in your fields only if you give us
Rs.200/- as daily wage. If they don’t, we refuse to work in their fields”.
#2. MALLARAM BALAKRISHNAIAH is a poor dalit beneficiary with 2 acres of land under
mango plantation. When we asked him about his socio-economic condition before
MGNREGA, he started narrating the pain and trauma he had suffered as a bonded labourer
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for 10 years. “We were treated as untouchables and would suffer dehumanizing and
demeaning conditions. We used to get only little food for survival. We could not dare
speak anything before landlords. Our life was completely on the mercy of landlords. It is
difficult to believe that we are now owners of some mango plantation and earning our
livelihood with dignity and self respect”. This poor dalit said this in a chocking voice
overwhelmed by the past memories of a bonded labourer.
This is not the story of just one dalit but all dalits of this village. Dalits said that before
MGNREGA they used to eat non-veg only on festival times but now eating weekly.
#3. MALLARAPU VENKATA RAMANAIAH a poor dalit has 1 acre of land under plantation.
He studied upto B.com but failed in the final year. Both of his parents were working as
bonded labourers to the big landlord of the village. But now, thanks to MGNREGA, he and
his parents are MGNREGA beneficiaries and living a life of dignity and food security.
#4. GUDURU RAMANAMMA is a dalit woman with 1.53 acres of mango plantation.
Narrating her days of hardship and misery before MGNREGA, she says, “We used to get only
Rs.15/- as wage and the landlords would not allow us to return back to home till late in
the evening. Therefore, it was very difficult for us to do household chores and work in their
fields too. That low wage was not enough to feed us. But now thanks to MGNREGA, we
are working for just 6 hours and do get decent wage for the same. Moreover, through
MGNREGA, we have become proud owners of some mango plantation also. We request
that the number of working days for poor people like us should be raised or it should be
made available for unlimited number of days. MGNREGA has given a totally different
meaning to our lives. We are greatful to MGNREGA and the people behind it.”
Thanks to MGNREGA, all these dalits have TV sets, mobile phones and ornaments like ear
rings etc.
CASE STUDY-10
Village: LOTHATTU VENKATAPURAM (LV Puram) (Adivasi Habitation)
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Grampanchayat: NETHAKUPPAM
Mandal: RAMACHANDRAPURAM
District: CHITTOOR
MNREGA GIVES LAND DEVELOPMENT & MANGO PLANTATION TO ADIVASIS
In this Adivasi habitation of 11 ST households, a Comprehensive Land Development &
Mango Plantation Project has been undertaken in about 28 acres with 11 beneficiaries. This
project started in 2007 December and now the mango plants have already given two yields.
Along with the mango plantation, farmers are doing intercropping also(vegetables, turmeric,
horsegram, onions, coriander chilies, groundnut etc.)
GUNDRAJUKUPPAM CHENGAIAH, an adivasi farmer was assigned an extent of 3 acres of
land some 25 years back. At the time of assignment, the land was barren with full of thick
jungle and thorny bushes. Since the beneficiary was not financially sound to take up land
development , the land was lying idle. After introduction of MGNREGA, the field staff visited
his land and advised him to take up LDP(land development project) under MGNREGA.
Accordingly, bush clearance, land levelling, bund formation, farm ponds construction and
compost pits construction were executed with MGNREGA funds. Besides horticulture,
pitting and plantation was also sanctioned. Subsequently , in convergence with NABARD
funds and RIDF IX, 3 bore wells were drilled and energization of pump sets were installed.
Under Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation project, drip system was also installed. The
beneficiary has nurtured his mango plants regularly. Besides , he has taken up inter crops by
raising horse gram, red gram and water melons.
From 210 mango plants on his land, initially he used to get Rs.5000/- per acre from inter
crops. After 5 years his mango plants gave him annual income of Rs.16000/- in the first year,
Rs.25000/- in the second year. In the third year, he got an income of Rs.80000/-.
This year (2014) he has given the entire 3 acres of mango plantation on lease for Rs.1.5
lakh. Besides, this farmer is growing various vegetables (onion, chilly, coriander) in an extent
of 15 cents. He has also planted 300 banana plants.
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Pre MGNREGA, they used to live life of semi starvation and extreme poverty. Getting even
one meal was very difficult. They used to work as farm labourers in the nearby villages and
used to get Rs.75/- as daily wage.
However, the life and livelihood of these MGNREGA beneficiaries has completely changed.
They are eating 3 square meals and wear decent clothes. G ESHWARAMMA, daughter-in-
law of the beneficiary has 10 sarees now, whereas pre MGNREGA she had hardly 2 – 3
sarees.
This family has spent Rs. 2 lakh on drilling 3 bore wells in their fields. They wouldn’t have
even imagined to do this if MGNREGA was not there. Four years ago, they spent Rs. 1.5 lakh
on marriage of their daughter. The money that was borrowed for the marriage of their
daughter has now been repaid back , thanks to direct and indirect incomes from
MGNREGA.
VENKATRAMAIAH GULLURU is an Yanadi adivasi beneficiary with 3 acres of land. During
first 4 years of the plantation, inter crops were raised which brought him about Rs.15000 .
He has now already got 2 yields from mango and the 3rd is coming up. From the first mango
yield , he earned Rs.6000 and from the second Rs.15000 . This year(2014) he has leased
out for Rs.25000 . He has 200 mango plants on his plot . It is the mango variety which does
not give very good price. Hence only Rs.25000 .
The other nine beneficiaries of land development and mango plantation too shared similar
stories of economic empowerment and livelihood security through MNREGA
CASE STUDY-11
Village: NETHAKUPPAM HARIJANA WADA
Grampanchayat: NETHAKUPPAM
Mandal: RAMACHANDRAPURAM
District: CHITTOOR
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MNREGA BRINGS SOCIO-ECONOMIC REVOLUTION IN THE LIVES OF POOR DALITS
In about 47 acres of assigned land, Comprehensive Land Development project has been
implemented under MGNREGA and there are 32 beneficiaries in total, all of them Scheduled
Caste. Under the Comprehensive Land Development project, there is about 40 acres under
mango plantation.
This dalit village was extremely poor and backward before MGNREGA. These 32 dalit
families of the village had about 47 acres of assigned land. But, this was hardly giving any
yield or any income to these poor families. At best, if the weather God was happy, they
could get some dry land crops in some part of their land. They used to go for labour work in
the nearby villages and GPs to earn their living . That too was not easily available and wages
were very low. Therefore, these dalits had no option but to lead a life of extreme poverty,
chronic hunger and perpetual livelihood crisis. They used to find very difficult to get even
one square meal a day.
It is against this background that MGNREGA came in their life as a ray of hope. Under
MGNREGA, all these families have got 100 days of job and their due wages every year. But,
that was not the only benefit that MGNREGA brought in their lives. The comprehensive land
development project undertaken in their lands under MGNREGA has started giving much
more benefits per year to these poor dalits than the MGNREGA wages annually earned. This
has not only brought about a complete transformation in their economic condition but
there is remarkable change in their social status too.
From being a poor wage seeker to proud owner of horticulture block and getting assured
income is nothing short of socio-economic revolution in the lives of these poor dalits.
# 1. NELLEPALLI DORAISWAMY is a poor dalit with 4 acres of assigned land. Of these 4
acres he got, CLDP (comprehensive land development & plantation) was done in 2 acres
and he has 140 mango plants in his field.
NELLEPALLI DORAISWAMY says with a very strong and emotional sense of pride, “I was a
wretched dalit labourer leading a miserable life, but now I am so happy and proud to say
that I am owner of some land with horticulture plantation on that. I could not have even
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dreamt of this before arrival of MGNREGA. But MGNREGA has become a boon and a
miracle for poor dalits of my village”.
#2. NELLEPALLI CHINNAIAH has 4 acres of land under mango plantation with 270 mango
plants. He earned Rs.2000/- from 1st yield of mango and expecting to earn Rs.30000/- from
the next yield (2014).
#3. KIRUMANYAM MANIRATNAM has 200 mango plants in 4 acres of land. He earned
Rs.2000/- from 1st yield and expecting Rs.30000/- from second yield.
#4. TAIDALA VENKATASWAMY has 2.6 acres of land with 140 mango plants. He earned
during 1st yield Rs.2000/- and expecting Rs.20000/- in the next yield.
#5. MALAPATI LEELAVATHY is a dalit woman and has 1.1 acre of land with 100 mango
plants. During 1st yield she earned Rs.2000/- and expecting Rs.15000/- in the next yield.
CASE STUDY-12
Village: PULLAMANAIDU KANDRIGA
Grampanchayat: PULLAMANAIDU KANDRIGA
Mandal: RAMACHANDRAPURAM
District: CHITTOOR
No. of HHs: 62
MNREGA COMES TO THE RESCUE OF DISTRESSED UPPER CASTE FARMERS
Major works taken up in this village under MGNREGA are:
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1. Boundary Trenches
2. Bund plantation
3. Horticulture
4. Land Development (Bush clearance)
All households in this village are forward caste but are working under MGNREGA. 45
households have got land development project . 40 families are beneficiaries of dry land
horticulture (mango) and 20 families have been given bund plantation (teak plants). Jungle
clearance and stone bunding activities were also sanctioned under MGNREGA. Besides that,
under Integrated Water Management Program, 9 NADAP Compost pits have been
sanctioned. One beneficiary benefitted from fodder development project in convergence
with animal husbandry department. Land levelling , ploughing and skilled labour component
comes from MGNREGA. It is a 3 years project.
All the horticulture beneficiaries are certified small and marginal farmers , hence eligible for
land development and horticulture projects under MNREGA.
Even before MGNREGA, these forward caste (Khamma) farmers used to work as labourers in
the fields of other people , even in the fields of low caste SCs and STs, within the gram
panchayat. But they don’t go out in search of wage employment to other GPs. All of them
have some land , 2- 4 acres, but that is not sufficient to take care of their needs. It seems as
if Reverse Social Engineering is at work in this village of Chittoor district. Chittoor has been
reeling under drought for 20 years. Out of 20 years, for 17 years Chittoor has been declared
as drought affected district. Even those farmers who have 5 – 10 acres of land are willing to
work for MGNREGA because of livelihood crisis. So, these upper caste farmers are as much
in need of MGNREGA as low caste labourers. Upper caste farmers and MGNREGA workers
say that, “If MGNREGA was not there, our life would have become economically insecure
and we too are desperately in need of MGNREGA job for our survival”.
This year alone (2013-14) , 35 households from this village have completed 100 days of
work. Previous year, 45 households had completed their 100 days of job.
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LEKKALA VASANTHA is a Khamma woman farmer with one acre of land. She says, “We are
very poor even though we are from upper caste. We need MNGERGA work as much as
lower caste labourers, because without MGNREGA life is difficult for us. Earlier upper caste
women normally didn’t get out of their house. But now with the arrival of MGNREGA, we
have started going out for MGNREGA work and also work in the private fields of lower caste
people within our GP. Now there is a sense of egalitarianism and we , the women of upper
caste, don’t mind working in the lands of low caste people.” After talking to these villagers ,
one could only say that India’s journey towards egalitarianism has begun , even though at a
slow pace.
VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT
CASE STUDY-1
Village: KORLAM
GP: KORLAM
Mandal: GANTYADA
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SHRAMA SHAKTHI SANGHA (SSS) SYSTEM MAKES EFFICIENT USE OF LABOUR FORCE
Total number of fixed labour groups in Korlam GP is 50 . 6 groups are headed by women
and rest by men. Total number of job cards in the GP is 592 . Total number of registered
labourers is 1012 (650 – Men, 362- Women) .
Before 2010, large number of labourers used to work on a single project. The number used
to be about 50-60 labourers and it was not harmonious, conducive and efficient way of
getting maximum output from the labourers working in the large groups. There was very
little sense of individual accountability and those people who were hard working had no
incentives . Therefore , most of the labourers were not able to give maximum output,
because there was no one who could closely monitor their work. Thus, their collective
output being lower because of inefficient labour group management, they were able to get
very small amount of wage ( on work measurement basis), even though, a particular
labourer or group of them might have worked very hard. It is this realization of inefficiency
inbuilt in that system which made the Government of Andhra Pradesh to come out with an
innovative idea of fixed labour groups locally known as Shrama Shakthi Sangham (SSS) and
each group is headed by a mate. The minimum number required for SSS is 10 and maximum
number can go up to 30 labourers. Since the number of labourers is relatively small and also
harmonious and manageable group which can be closely monitored by the mate, therefore,
the output per capita becomes higher and the small labour groups are easily and efficiently
managed. The SSS labourers try to give their best while at work and since the group is
relatively small, in fact each labourer becomes monitor and supervisor for the fellow
labourers too.
Therefore, since the introduction of SSS system in Korlam GP, the per capta output of the
labourers has increased and there is relatively higher participation by women labourers.
Another benefit of SSS system over the previous system is that, earlier these large groups of
50-60 labourers would necessarily mean requirement of big enough projects to absorb and
engage all of them. As a result , it became very difficult to take up small works like
construction of channels (water, drainage) etc , because they require only a few labourers .
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Whereas in the present system , there are groups with even 10-15 labourers and the same
could be engaged in even smaller projects as mentioned above.
Before 2010, entire MGNREGA implementation responsibility was vested with field
assistants and there was no system of mates. Therefore , it was very difficult for field
assistants to single handedly do all paper works (job card maintenance, attendance, filling
up of muster rolls, monitoring the work) as well as close monitoring of the labourers.
Therefore, it was a major managerial inefficiency which was a problem in the effective
implementation of MGNREGA. But , after introduction of SSS system , every fixed labour
group has a mate who mobilizes the labourers, monitors their work and also fills up muster
rolls. On the other hand, most of the paper work - job cards maintenance, work register
maintenance, record maintenance of GP, work demand application, timely handover of
muster rolls to APO and collection of wage slips from Mandal office is done by field
assistant. Therefore ,this system has provided required managerial man power at the GP
level and also created a system of close and efficient monitoring of the labourers, their
works and the work site conditions as well as timely and proper payment of wages to
labourers.
The system of labour groups has also facilitated larger participation of women in MGNREGA
projects implemented in this GP. Before the SSS system , women participation in MGNREGA
was lower and there was an inbuilt bias against female labourers’ participation in MGNREGA
projects. Earlier , majority of the labourers working in big projects would be men and very
few women would be allowed to work in the projects, because male labourers were
reluctant to come to terms with the fact that female labourers would also be paid wages
equal to male labourers. However, the introduction of SSS system has shattered that
traditional bias against female labourers and the SSS became a very powerful tool to attract
female labourers in MGNREGA projects. It slowly but surely started giving space to female
labourers to form conducive, harmonious and manageable fixed labour groups which are
either headed by women mates or by male mates. Majority of members are female
workers. In this process , women have created and captured their due share in the
MGNREGA and this process has enabled larger participation of women than men in this GP.
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In those families where female labourers are working under MGNREGA , male labourers
prefer to work for private jobs like construction labourers, jute mill labourers, khalasis etc ,
because in those jobs they get daily wage up to Rs.200/-.
The SSS system has facilitated more efficient management and better output from the
rural labour force . The benefits of the same can be seen by anybody by visiting rural areas
of Andhra Pradesh. It has given complete turnaround to the rural economy of AP.
CASE STUDY-2
Village: PEDA TADIVADA
GP: PEDA TADIVADA
Mandal: DENKADA
SHINING EXAMPLE OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MNREGA
Total number of SSS in GP 44 (4 temporary groups)
Total number of women headed labour groups 38
1. SIMHADRI APPANNA GROUP
A RADHA (MATE)
Male - 02
Female - 18
2. SRI SAI LAXMI GROUP
Y LAXMI (MATE)
Male - 02
Female - 14
3. ASHA JYOTHI GROUP
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Y ADI LAXMI
Male - 04
Female - 10
4. SRI RAMA (DISABLED)
G PAIDI RAJU
Male - 04
Female - 02
5. MARAMMA PERANTALU
P GOWRI
Male - 03
Female - 14
6. G PAIDI TALLI GROUP
G PAIDI RAJU
Male - 02
Female - 16
7. LALITHAMBA GROUP
CH. VNEKATA LAXMI
Male - 08
Female - 01
8. OM SAI RAM GROUP
M BANGARAMMA
Male - 03
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Female - 13
9. SIDDIVINAYAK GROUP
G LAXMI
Male - 04
Female - 09
MARIAMMA , a landless poor dalit labourer of PEDA TADIVADA village says, “Before 2010,
the system that was prevailing was inefficient, therefore, wage seekers used to get
relatively lesser amount of wages. There used to be 50-60 labourers working together and
there would be only one field assistant who had to single handedly do all paper works,
besides mobilizing the labourers, monitoring their work and disbursing wage payments to
them. It was practically impossible for any field assistant to monitor all the labourers closely
,therefore , many labourers would not work properly or even not work at all , but still they
would get the equal wages. Finally, we poor labourers were the sufferers due to average
daily wage coming very low.”
But the SSS system ( SHRAM SHAKTI SHANGHA- fixed labour groups) has made the labourers
much more efficient , because each labour group is being headed and monitored by a mate
and the present labour groups are small, therefore , monitoring them closely is easier for
mates. Moreover, since groups are small, each labourer effectively has vested interest in
monitoring and ensuring that other members of the group are also working as hard as they
themselves. Another important factor which makes SSS more efficient and manageable is
that most labourers of these groups are either from same street , same mohalla, same
community or same neighbourhood, therefore, all of them know each other very well and
functioning of the groups becomes smooth and trouble free.
For example , the fixed labour group headed by A RADHA (mate) consists of 18 members.
All of them are BCs ( backward caste) and live in the same street.
EXCLUSIVELY SC LABOUR GROUPS
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There are 5 SSS groups in the village which consist exclusively of SCs
- The SSS group headed by S POTHU RAJU has 20 members.
- The SSS group headed by KOTHALA RAMU has 20 members
- The SSS group headed by M KUMARI has 20 members
- The SSS group headed by K NARSING RAO has 20 members.
- The SSS group headed by A YESU BABU has 20 members.
FOLLOWING ARE EXCLUSIVELY BC LABOUR GROUPS
- The SSS group headed by P GOWRI has 17 members
- The SSS group headed by G PAIDI RAJU has 06 members.
- The SSS group headed by Y PARVATHI has 13 members.
- The SSS group headed by Y ADI LAXMI has 14 members.
- The SSS group headed by Y LAXMI has 14 members.
THE SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MGNREGA
MARIAMMA , a MNREGA wage seeker says, “MGNREGA has made great impact in the lives
of poor people. Before MGNREGA, we were unable to get even 2 square meals, but now we
are able to eat 3 wholesome meals a day. So, hunger and starvation have become a thing of
the past in our village , thanks to MGNREGA.”
She adds further , “Earlier, large number of labourers from our village would walk on foot
daily and go to Vizianagaram town, 10 Kms from here , stand there at coolie adda(labourers’
waiting point) and anxiously wait for somebody to come and offer them daily wage job for
the day. But now that too is a thing of the past. Labourers of the village now work under
MGNREGA or even in some private lands but very few go to coolie adda in the district
town.”
INDEBTEDNESS
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A RAMU (mate) says, “Before MGNREGA, most labourers and poor households were always
carrying some or the other burden of indebtedness. But now, they don’t need to take any
loans from exploitative local money lenders.”
IMPACT ON EDUCATION
MNREGA workers of the village said, “Earlier, it used to be very difficult to send our children
to schools. But thanks to MGNREGA , now we are sending our children to schools and we
hope to send them for higher studies also from the earnings of MGNREGA. MGNREGA has
brought a ray of hope in our lives and given a complete transformation to our livelihood
security and family economy. MGNREGA is definitely a divine blessing for poor people like
us.”
IMPACT ON WOMEN
All the women labourers who had gathered to talk to us , when asked if they had purchased
their sarees from MGNREGA wages or husband’s money, emphatically and unanimously
said, “We have purchased our sarees from the MGNREGA wages and we are now self
reliant. Earlier before MGNREGA, if we asked our husbands for sarees or other essential
items , they would tell us in stern voice to “ wait till the next festival”. But now we are happy
that we are no more dependent on them for these kind of basic needs.”
The poor women labourers working as MNREGA mates very confidently and proudly said,
“Our mate job has helped us develop some leadership qualities within us. We have now
learned financial management, communication skills and household economic
management also. Most importantly , it has given us a sense of self respect and self
confidence in our own abilities. Had we not worked as mates, we would not have the level
of self confidence , self respect and sense of responsibility as we have today. MGNREGA
has made us working human beings and made our lives meaningful. We are happy that as
labourers and mates we are also contributing to country’s formal economy as well as
bringing income to our household economy.”
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A BETTER EXAMPLE OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH A GOVERNMENT SCHEME.
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CASE STUDY-3
GP : BUDATHANAPALLY
MANDAL : GANTYADA
MNREGA BRINGS SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE VILLAGE
PADMANABHA CHERUVU(TANK):
Padmanabha Cheruvu is a big traditional tank of Budathanapally village which provides
irrigation water to 238 acres of land belonging to 200 small and marginal farmers .The
desiltation and bund strengthening of the Tank was done under MNREGA during 2009-10
and 2011-12. As a result, there has been over 20% of increase in the water holding capacity
of the tank. This has resulted in over 50% of increase in the yield of paddy per acre. Tail end
area of the tank is about 60 acres . The farmers with land at the tail end of the tank were
worst sufferers due to water scarcity caused by drying up of the tank due to siltation.
Therefore , the tail end area and the dependent farmers are the biggest beneficiaries of this
desiltation project undertaken under MGNREGA.
Prior to MGNREGA, the water from tank was unable to reach to the farm lands at the tail
end , and due to this, farmers had fights between them. But after desiltation work , they are
getting sufficient water for their lands and there are no more fights between the farmers.
In other words , this MGNREGA project has brought not only water for irrigation but also
peace in the farming community of this village.
RONGALI SATYAM has half acre of land under the tank ayacut . Before desiltation of the
tank under MNREGA project , Rongali Satyam was getting less than 9 bags of paddy from
his half acre land , but after the desiltation work , this farmer is getting 15 bags of paddy
from the same plot , because of availability of adequate water for irrigation .
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RONGALI KRISHNA has 3 acres of land under the tank ayacut. Before desiltation of the tank ,
he was getting only 15 bags of paddy per acre , but now he is getting 25 bags of paddy per
acre . Rongali Krishna says, “Earlier, we were living a miserable life . Many times we would
have no option but to leave our lands fallow, because of water scarcity. I used to go out for
rice trading to earn my livelihood. But thank to MGNREGA, those things are matter of past. I
am getting about 25 bags/per acre of paddy yield. I and my wife both have been regularly
working in MGNREGA too. MNREGA wages along with the increased and assured paddy
yield in my fields has enabled me to have a sense of livelihood security and I have stopped
doing petty rice trading business. All this has become possible only because of MGNREGA ”.
Rongali Krishna has recently bought a cow (Rs.25000/-) from the earnings of MGREGA and
paddy. His son BALAJI NAIDU is pursuing 2nd year Engineering in KAKINADA. Due to the
turnaround in his economic condition , this poor labourer cum farmer has been able to send
his son to Engineering College and also got his daughter married recently very comfortably.
MGNREGA has brought about a holistic transformation in the socio-economic condition of
this farmer .
CHALLA SATYANARAYANA has 1.5 acres of land. Before desiltation of the tank , he was
getting only 15 bags of paddy per acre , but now he is getting 20-25 bags .
Challa Satyanarayana says , “Earlier we used to live a life of misery and penury, but after
MGNREGA , our economic condition has significantly improved. The wages earned from the
MGNREGA work and the increase in paddy yield due to desiltation of the tank has enabled
me to send my children to schools and college comfortably.”
From the MGNREGA wages and increased farm yield , he managed to buy 2 cows
(Rs.80,000/-) in 2011. MGNREGA has become a divine blessing for poor farmers and
labourers of this backward village of VIzianagaram district. His son CHANDRA SEKHAR is
pursuing B.Pharmacy 1 st year and daughter PURNIMA is studying in Inter 1st year.
BAMMIDIPATI VARI BANDHA (TANK)
This tank is part of a chain of link tanks of Budathanepally traditionally used for irrigation
.These are age-old tanks made during the era of Maharaja but upkeep of these link tanks
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has been taken care of by beneficiary farmers. When the tanks used to get breached and
damaged due to heavy rains , there was hardly any intervention or support from the Govt.
authorities . But , farmers used to look after these tanks because their livelihood security
and the entire village economy was inextricable linked to the healthy maintenance of these
tanks and water level in them.
After the MGNREGA work in the link tanks of Budathanepally village , there is no
overflowing of water or breach in the bunds. Therefore , all these tanks are now holding
sufficient water that is able to irrigate farm lands of this village. This has brought a
remarkable turnaround in the entire agricultural economy of this poor and backward village
of Vizianagaram , which was earlier characterized by massive distress migration and chronic
hunger .
B RAMBABU , a social activist and panchayat president , is a farmer with 2 acres of farm
land and 1.5 acres under horticulture. Earlier , the horticulture plantation land was giving
hardly any income , because it was bushy and fallow. But, 1.5 acre of land of this farmer was
brought under MGNREGA during 2008. Before this project , he tried to plant mango
saplings in this land twice, but due to scarcity of water the plants didn’t survive. Only after
MGNREGA came to his rescue , he went for mango plantation under MGNREGA and the
plants have mostly survived , thanks to open well and drip irrigation (2010) provided to his
land under MGNREGA.
COMMUNITY IRRIGATION WELL
A Community Irrigation Well was constructed in 2010-11 under MGNREGA . This well has
four beneficiary farmers . One of the beneficiaries is B RAMBABU , who has 40 cents of land
adjacent to the open well. This land was bushy, thorny , barren and hardly gave any yield to
him. But after construction of the open well , he had raised papaya and got income of
around 1.5 lakh rupees from papaya alone. He had grown marigold flower as intercrop
between papaya plants which brought another Rs.8000/-. After removing papaya plantation
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he had grown tomato which gave about Rs.20,000/-. So, this 40 cents of land with
available water from open well has so far brought about Rs.1.8 lakh of income to this
farmer , thanks to MGNREGA.
BVS GANDHI is another beneficiary of the open well , with 60 cents of farm land . That was
also only barren land before open well. But after the construction of the open well , he had
sown bitter gourd and got about Rs.35,000/- of income from that last year.At the same time
, he had sown ginger as intercrop which brought about another Rs10,000/-. After clearing
bitter guard , brinjal and tomato had been grown which brought another Rs.15000/ .
Another income of Rs.5000/- came from Kheera, sown in 5 cents of land.
Other open well beneficiaries have planted mango in their lands which would start giving
fruits and income very shortly.
MNREGA GIVES BIRTH TO A SARPANCH
B RAMBABU is a 45 year old social activist who has been engaged in grass roots issues
concerning poor labourers and farmers of his village . He is District President of Farmers
Association also. He very actively participated in raising awareness about MGNREGA in the
beginning of the scheme . He worked very hard to ensure that every needy labourer was
registered and provided job card for MGNREGA. A lot of credit for successful
implementation of MGNREGA in Budathanepally GP goes to this social activist and now he is
also one of the beneficiary of the MGNREGA too (open well).
His role in the MGNREGA implementation in GP was so powerful that he was put up as a
popular candidate for Panchayat President , even though he was not personally interested.
The farmers and labourers of Budathanepally GP forced him to fight the election and he was
elected comfortably without spending a single rupee from his own pocket. His opponent
(Telugu Desam Party candidate) spent about Rs. 15 lakh, but couldn’t stand the force and
popularity of this social activist unleashed through the effective implementation of
MGNREGA. In other words , MGNREGA has made him Panchayat President.
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Villagers said , “His role in successful implementation of the MGNREGA in our GP is
unquestionable and his MGNREGA activism made him Panchayat President even without his
desire for the same.”
This social activist turned Panchayat President (SARPANCH) said, “Successful
implementation of MGNREGA has brought such confidence in the villagers that they are not
concerned about their future livelihood any more. Because , that has been very effectively
ensured and demonstrated in this GP” .
Before MGNREGA, the poor labourers of this GP used to beg before the big landlords for
wage employment. But now the wheel of time has taken a full turn. The big landlords are
coming to labourers with folded hands and requesting them to work in their fields.
MGNREGA has brought social equity in this GP and caste discrimination has been now
significantly reduced. The labourers have now acquired a sense of dignity and self respect,
and can live and walk with their heads held high. This is a classic case of ‘Tagorean
Dream’ becoming a reality. The dignity of labour has been established and understood.
Desperation for food and livelihood is a matter of the past. Distress migration is optional.
There is much more to come in the near future if MGNREGA continues in this GP in the
same spirit.
Panchayat Sarpanch B Rambabu said, “The moment I come to know about any irregularity
or malpractice in the implementation of MGNREGA, I immediately report the same to
higher authorities of Mandal and District , and ensure that immediate action is taken
against the erring functionary.”
CASE STUDY-4
GP: NARSAPURAM
Mandal: RAMABHADRAPURAM
TANK PROJECTS UNDER MNREGA BRING SWEETNESS IN LIVES OF FARMERS & LABOURERS
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The major projects under MGNREGA in Narsapuram GP are-(1) desiltation of tanks &
strengthening of bunds, (2) Horticulture . Under tank project, they have desilted and
strengthened bunds of 6 tanks and thereby converted 60 acres of dry land into wet land ;
besides providing assured irrigation to the paddy farmers who had started facing severe
problems due to shortage of water in the tanks because of siltation . The first tank project
was undertaken in 2009 and it continued up to 2012. Due to this project, besides 60 acres
of added irrigated farm land in the GP , there is increase in the paddy yield due to assured
irrigation.
Before the tank desiltation project under MNREGA was implemented , per acre paddy yield
was only about 15 bags , but after desiltation of the tank , per acre paddy yield has
increased to about 25 bags. In other words , there is about 1400 bags of increased yield in
total ayacut. In monetary terms , it comes to about Rs.14 lakh of increased income to the
beneficiary farmers per year from just paddy.
Many of them have started growing second crop also. Some have sown sugarcane , others
have raised black gram, green gram, horse gram and ginger. These second crops are also
bringing added income to the farmers of Narsapuram GP , thanks to MGNREGA.
KOTA ACHIYAMMA ( BC) is a farmer of Narsapuram with 10 acres of land . She has 5 acres of
dry land and 5 acres of wet land. Pre- MGNREGA , she had only 3 acres of wet land .
Before the tank desiltation project under MNREGA , she was getting only 12 bags of paddy
yield per acre , but after desiltation of the tank , per acre paddy yield in her land has
increased to about 25-30 bags . From her entire wet land of 5 acres , she got about 125
bags of paddy . She is also growing black gram and groundnuts. Whereas pre -MGNREGA,
she used to get only about 36 bags of paddy yield from the entire 5 acres. In other words,
this MGNREGA project has brought about Rs.80,000/- of additional income to this poor
farmer of Narsapuram GP in just one year .
Besides this indirect income coming from MGNREGA , her family also got job under
MGNREGA . Moreover , she has got 1.67 acre of her dry land brought under Mango
horticulture through MGNREGA , which is likely to give after 5 years at least Rs.40,000/- of
annual income and after 8-10 years more than Rs.1 lakh of annual income to this poor
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farmer . KOTA ACHIYAMMA built a pucca house two years ago with investment of Rs.8
lakh. She said,“Had MGNREGA and this tank project not been implemented, it would not
have been possible for her to build the new house”.
So , this much of income and benefit is coming to just one family, imagine the kind of
economic transformation MNREGA has unleashed in the village economy, because more
than 200 farmers in the village have got similar benefits under MGNREGA ,even though the
land holdings in many cases are smaller.
Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say that successful implementation of MGNREGA in
Narsapuram GP has brought a complete turnaround in the village economy and the future
of the poor people seems much brighter. This is the scale and dimension of economic
empowerment and livelihood security MGNREGA has unleashed and is capable of
unleashing anywhere in the country , if the scheme is implemented in letter and spirit.
Tank project Beneficiaries - Yields:
1. KADI NARAYANA 2 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 15 bags
Post MGNREGA 25 bags
Purchased a bike worth Rs.25000/-
2. DATTI SRI RAMULU 2.5 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 24 bags
Post MGNREGA 48 bags
Purchased Bullock cart and 2 bulls worth Rs.55000/-
3. KOTA NARAYANA 2 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 20 bags
Post MGNREGA 45 bags
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4. VENGALA APPALASWAMY 4 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 50 bags
Post MGNREGA 90 bags
5. MARREPU SRINIVASA RAO 1.5 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 25 bags
Post MGNREGA 34 bags
6. MARIPI APPALANAIDU 2 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 20 bags
Post MGNREGA 40 bags
7. MARIPU ANANDAMMA 3 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 30 bags
Post MGNREGA 60 bags
8. M KRISHNA MURTHY NAIDU 3 ACRES
Pre MGNREGA 18 bags
Post MGNREGA 25 bags
Purchased a bike one year ago , also sent his son for education in private boarding school.
MNREGA BRINGS SWEETNESS IN THE LIVES OF SUGARCANE FARMERS
1. KADI NARAYANA has 2 acres of arable land under sugarcane and 90 cents under paddy
crop. He is a MGNREGA worker and mate also. He says, “We are getting many more times
of economic returns and benefits from the tank desiltation work undertaken under
MGNREGA than the direct wages earned by us from 100 days of annual job entitlement.”
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No farmer was able to get enough water even for paddy crop , but after the Narsasagaram
tank desiltation project implemented under MGNREGA, large number of farmers have gone
for sugarcane crop , which will give about Rs.40,000/- of net income per acre per year to
these farmers.
Comparative figures of Income from Sugarcane and Paddy
After reducing all the investments made in one acre of sugarcane crop, about Rs.40,000/- is
the net income to the farmer , whereas net income from paddy crop per year is less than
Rs.10,000/-
The same cost- benefit analysis and economics apply to all beneficiaries of tank desiltation
project.
2. MARIPI SATYANARAYANA is another farmer whose land is irrigated by Narsasagaram
tank. Before MGNREGA project, he used to grow paddy and would hardly get Rs.10000/-of
net returns from the plot of 1.5 acre. But now , he not only hopes but is confident of getting
net annual return of Rs Rs.40,000/- from the same plot due to sugarcane .
3. DATTI SRI RAMULU is a farmer who has land that is irrigated by Narsasagaram tank.
Before MGNREGA project, he used to grow paddy and would hardly get Rs.10000/- of net
returns from this plot of 2 acres. But now, he is confident of getting about Rs.50000/- of
annual net returns from only 1.3 acre of sugarcane plot.
MGNREGA BRINGS MARBLED PUCCA HOUSE TO THE POOR FARMER
4. MARRI PARVATHAMMA, who is also a mate and has 0.5 acre of land says, “MGNREGA
has brought big benefits to poor labourers and farmers in my village. I built the pucca
house investing about Rs.5 lakh. The MGNREGA wages as well as increased paddy yield from
0.5 acre of land were very helpful in making this pucca house a reality. I couldn’t even
imagine about this kind of pucca house, had MGNREGA not been there. MGNREGA has
become a blessing for poor people like us”. Her two sons also work as labourers in towns
and that was also helpful in making this pucca house possible .
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CASE STUDY-5
GP: BILLALAVALASA
Mandal: BONDAPALLY
WOMEN MATES & LABOURERS SCRIPT BETTER SUCCESS STORY OF MNREGA
There are 36 Shrama Shakthi Sanghas (SSS) in this GP, 22 of them have women mates .
LENKA VENKATASATYANARAYANA, Sarpanch of Billalavalasa GP, said, “Due to successful
implementation of MGNREGA, large number of water bodies like tanks and open wells have
got recharged and there is a rise in ground water level of around 10 feet. As a result ,
farmers are now able to provide assured irrigation to their crops and thereby getting higher
yields from their fields. There has been appreciable increase in the paddy yield due to rise in
the storage capacity of the tanks because of desiltation of the same undertaken under
MGNREGA.”
According to C. H. RAMA RAO (additional project officer), BONDAPALLY Mandal , main
achievements of BILLALAVALASA GP ( with Women Mates in majority of SSSs) compared
to other GPs ( with Men Mates in majority of SSSs) are following :
1. Compared to other GPs of this Mandal , more job days have been created in
BILLALAVALASA GP because of women mates.
2. Compared to other GPs of the Mandal , very little irregularities were found during
the social audit of MGNREGA work in this GP. It is because of the fact that the
women mates are complying to every single norm of the MGNREGA and
implementing the same in letter and spirit of the Act.
3. Whenever there is any requirement of meeting of mates in the GP, women mates
very happily and enthusiastically gather together and facilitate discussion to resolve
any issue related to MGNREGA implementation. Their sincerity and commitment to
the work is of very high order.
4. 100% of the wage slips are being pasted/ attached to job cards by these women
mates. In other GPs , it is not so. This brings transparency in the implementation of
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MGNREGA and this instrument of transparency ensures that there is no possibility of
any irregularities or misappropriation of MGNREGA funds by implementing
authorities.
5. These women mates , whenever there is any job demand, ensure that the same is
met at the earliest by promptly taking up the issue with the concerned authorities
at the Mandal level. Mandal authorities find it difficult not to meet the demands of
the women mates, because of the sincerity and determination of the women
mates.
INDRAVATI (BC) comes from a poor coolie family . She passed 10th Standard in 2008 and
now she is working as a woman mate for last 3 years. After completion of 10th class in 2008,
she started working as MNREGA labourer. After working as labourer for 2 months , she was
made a mate and she doesn’t find it difficult to perform her duties as a mate . All members
of her SSS , whether men or women , follow her directions.
B SRIDEVI , a BC , could study only up to 7TH Class . She comes from a labourers’ family
and has been working as MNREGA mate for 3 years . She says, “Earlier, men were not
prepared to take the responsibility of mate because only Rs.3/- extra per labourer is given to
mate. So, they didn’t find it attractive enough to take the responsibility of mate. At that
period of time , we the women came forward to take the responsibility of mate , even if it is
only Rs.3/- as extra income . We worked with full devotion and dedication to the work
assignment to us as mate. We are now happy and proud that we have successfully carried
out this responsibility . Not only that we have matched up to the leadership role of men
mates, but in many respects , we have made our gram panchayat one of the best
performing GPs in respect of implementation of MGNREGA in this district. If we as women
mates are not competent and confident enough, that would not have been possible. Our
experience as women mate has given us confidence that women are now capable of taking
up those responsibilities which were till now regarded as exclusively men’s domain.”
When this SSS concept started in 2010, initially male labourers refused to join fixed labour
groups , because man or woman every member of the fixed labour group would get equal
wages. The male labourers refused to join the fixed labour groups saying that, “Why should
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we join a group in which men would be getting only as much of wage as women. Because
men work hard and their output is higher than women labourers.” It is under these
circumstances that women labourers of this GP mustered the courage and formed Shrama
Shakthi Sanghas of women only , headed by women mates. But slowly and slowly , male
labourers also began to join their labour groups . Now , men have accepted and come to
terms with the fact that women are not inferior to them in any respect and men are not
superior to women in any respect , and they have to work shoulder to shoulder with each
recognizing and respecting the other’s value. Now in SSS system of MNREGA , men and
women labourers are working together amicably and effectively under the leadership of
women mates.
BADDI BHAVANI is a woman mate of this GP . She says, “It gives us a sense of happiness
and satisfaction that men have come to terms with the fact that men and women are equal
and now there is no conflict visible or invisible on that count. It gives us a real sense of pride
and empowerment in true sense of the term”.
The SSSs with majority of members being women labourers appear to be giving per capita
output higher than those groups having male labourers as majority of members. This is the
biggest testimony to the fact that women are working with more sincerity and dedication,
therefore , their output is much more than the groups headed by men. RAJYALAXMI , a
woman who works as technical assistant , says that when she goes to measure the work of
various sanghas, she found that sanghas with majority of labourers as women were giving
higher labour output compared to those sanghas who had male labourers in majority.
THE SHRAM SHAKTI SANGHAS (SSS) HEADED BY WOMEN MATES IN VIZIANAGARAM
DISTRICT HAVE SHATTERED THE AGE OLD MYTH THAT WOMEN CAN’T BE AS HARD
WORKING AS MEN AND WOMEN ARE GOOD ONLY AT SOFT JOBS AND HOUSEHOLD
CHORES. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE ANYWHERE IN THE
WORLD WHICH HAS DEMONSTRATED SO POWERFULLY THAT WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY
EQUAL TO MEN BUT IN MANY RESPECTS THEY ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO MEN . TO USE A
MYTHOLOGICAL METAPHOR, IT SEEMS THAT THESE WOMEN MATES AND FEMALE
LABOURERS ARE ACTUALLY MANIFESTING THE QUALITIES AND ENERGIES OF DURGA,
LAXMI AND SARASWATHI, ALL THREE IN ONE .
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CASE STUDY-6
Village: BUDATHANEPALLE
GP: BUDATHANEPALLE
Mandal: GANTYADA
MNREGA BRINGS FOOD SECURITY IN THE HOMES OF YERUKALA ADIVASIS
In BUDATHANAPALLE Gram Panchayat , there are 70 Yerukala adivasi families who are
absolutely landless . Traditionally , they have been earning their livelihood from basket
weaving; but sale of the baskets would suffice to buy food hardly for 3 months in a year. For
the rest of about 9 months, they used to migrate out to big towns, cities and other districts
to earn just two ends meet. But thanks to MGNREGA, they have stopped migrating out of
the village and now they are able to meet their basic needs by the daily wages of
MGNREGA, besides the earnings from sell of baskets . For these traditional basket weavers,
distress migration has now become a matter of past.
Before MGNREGA, it was impossible for these poor tribals to send their children to school
for education, but thanks to MGNREGA, all of them are now sending their children to
schools and many of them are sending their children even to private schools. MGNREGA has
brought not only livelihood security but total socio-economic transformation in the lives
and livelihood of these poor adivasis (Yerukala).
In this village, about 30% of population used to migrate out of the village in search of
livelihood before MGNREGA. But now, there has been huge reduction in the rate of distress
migration . Labourers migrate out only after completing 100 days of MGNREGA jobs in the
village.
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VISHAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT
CASE STUDY-1
Village: PEDAGANGUDI
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GP: SUNKARA METTA
Mandal: ARAKU
District: VISHAKAPATNAM
COFFEE PLANTATION UNDER MNREGA TRANSFORMS LIFE OF KONDH ADIVASIS
BURIDI MANESSE RAO , an adivasi, has 3 acres of land under coffee plantation, of which , 2
acres have been brought under plantation through MGNREGA. The plantation was done in
2009-10. 2009 plantation is already bearing fruits. The protection stone-wall around the
coffee plantation has been constructed under MGNREGA.
This 2 acres plot before MGNREGA project was bushy and they used to do shifting
cultivation (Podu) which brought very little yield to the farmer. In the Podu , they used to
grow Ragi. By ragi farming the farmer used to get hardly Rs.1000/- worth of yield per year.
However, things have significantly changed after this plot was covered under MGNREGA.
To begin with , after identification of the land for coffee plantation, the adivasi farmer was
allowed to clear the bushy land and the labour cost for the same was paid from MGNREGA.
Next step was line marking and pitting for uniformity. 900 coffee plants were given for one
acre.
The Integrated Tribal Development Authority coffee nursery has been raised from the
MGNREGA fund and the same was supplied to beneficiary farmers free of cost. So, after
getting the plants, farmers begin to plant and labour cost of the same is borne by
MGNREGA.
The first year’s plantation cost comes from MGNREGA ; and the second, third and fourth
years’ MGNREGA funding towards maintenance takes care of pest management and
replacement of coffee plants.
Therefore, the entire cost of bringing one acre of land under coffee plantation comes to
about Rs.34000/- providing 207 man days of wage employment from MNREGA. This cost of
Rs.34000/- includes 207 days of wages and material costs for pesticides, fertilizers etc.
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After plantation, the plants start bearing fruits from 3rd year, but commercial yield comes
only from 5th year. In the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th years, an average plantation gives not less than
50-70 Kgs of coffee yield per acre per year, which in monetary terms comes to about
Rs.5000 – 7000/-. But, as the plantation matures from the 9th /10th year, the yield comes
to about 100 Kgs per acre/per year, which in monetary terms comes to Rs.11 – 12
thousand per acre.
Besides this income, the coffee plantation has many inter crops like black pepper,
pineapple, guava, lemon, jackfruit and sweet-oranges etc.
KORRA RAMANNA is a coffee growing adivasi farmer who got 75 Kgs of dried black pepper
from one acre of coffee plantation and he sold the same at the rate of Rs.350/- per Kg. But,
actual market price would be many times more. In monetary terms, this comes to
Rs.30,000/- of annual income per acre from black pepper alone. From other intercrop fruits
they normally get at least Rs.5000/- per year per acre.
To put all the yields per acre of coffee plantation in monetary terms, one acre of
plantation is giving about Rs.45000/- of income to the tribal coffee farmer. After the plant
starts bearing fruits, no other costs except protection of the plantation are involved in
coffee plantation.
In other words , MNREGA IMPLEMENTATION IN THIS AREA OF VISAKHAPATNAM HAS
FACILITATED THESE POOR KONDH TRIBALS TO GET ATLEAST 40 TIMES OF NET INCOME
FROM THIS COFFEE PLANTATION COMPARED TO WHAT THEY WERE GETTING BEFORE
MNREGA - JUST Rs.1000/- AS INCOME FROM RAGI CULTIVATION UNDER PODU.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MGNREGA ON KONDH TRIBALS
The MGNREGA has brought complete transformation in the socio-economic condition of
these poor tribals. Pre-MNREGA, about half population in this village used to migrate out in
search of livelihood , but now very few of them migrate . They used to find very difficult to
get two ends meals and would many times suffer hunger. But now, they are getting full
meals and also their livelihood security is ensured. There would be hardly any clothes on
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their bodies earlier, but all of them are now wearing decent clothes. They have also started
giving education to their children.
While Pre- MGNREGA daily wages ( for private work) were Rs.25 -35 , Post - MGNREGA
wages for males and females both have gone up to Rs. 100 .
KORRA RAMANNA, a tribal farmer and coffee plantation beneficiary got 2 acres of his land
under coffee plantation through MGNREGA in 2009-10 . For developing his coffee
plantation , he worked as labourer and he earned about Rs.10,000/- from MGNREGA wages
per year for working on his own field. That alone was a great help for this poor tribal farmer.
He has been able to educate one of his daughters up to B.Sc. Horticulture and the other one
is pursuing Diploma in Horticulture . He is very happy with the coffee plantation project
implemented under MGNREGA and says , “This project has come as a blessing for poor
adivasi farmers like us.”
Within 2/3 years , all these coffee plantation farmers are likely to get about Rs.40-50
thousand per acre per annum of net income which is mind boggling figure for these
extremely poor Kondh adivasis.
CASE STUDY-2
Habitation: KEDARIVANIPALEM
Village & GP : SOWBHAGYARAYAPURAM
Mandal: PENDURTHI
District: VISHAKAPATNAM
WOMENS EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MNREGA
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Most of the households in KEDARIVANIPALEM habitation are BCs and depend on wage
labour for their livelihood . In this habitation only 30 families are residing. Total job cards in
the habitation are 70 . All job card holders of this habitation got 100 days of job during
2012-13. The MGNREGA started in this village in 2008-09 and during 2009-10, 29 families
completed their 100 days.
In SOWBHAGYARAYAPURAM GP, 90 acres of assigned land has been allotted to poorest of
the poor for the development. Bund plantation with teak wood was taken up in 20 acres
under Indira Jala Prabha for SC beneficiaries.
KARRI DEVUDAMMA is a landless BC beneficiary. Before the arrival of MGNREGA, her
family used to earn their livelihood from doing labour work in some quarry nearby .In fact,
the work was not available to one and all willing to undertake hard work, but available only
in rotation due to higher demand and lower availability of job. So, one family used to earn
under this rotation system not more than Rs.1500/- to 2000/- per month , out of which,
about half of the amount used to be wasted on liquor by male members of the families. In
this way, the entire family had to make do with just Rs.500/- to 1000/- per month for their
livelihood. This amount was not sufficient to give them even sufficient food, nor was it
possible to give education to their children. However, thanks to MGNREGA, they are now
able to eat 3 full meals and now they do take non-veg food every week , whereas earlier it
used to be very difficult to get non-veg food even once in a month. And now they are
sending their children to school also.
It is not only the direct wages of 100 days (about Rs.15000/-) that has brought economic
empowerment in the lives of these poor people, but the indirect impact of MNREGA being
huge increase in the wage rates of even private works. Before MNREGA, they used to get
Rs.35 – 50/- as daily wage , but now they are getting Rs.150/- as daily wage even for
private works.The working hours earlier used to be very long but now they don’t work for
more than 6 hours.
There are 9 Shrama Shakthi Sanghas (SSS) in the GP, all headed by women mates.
All the women wage seekers and female mates who had gathered to share with us their
stories of economic empowerment and social transformation told us , “Whereas pre-
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MGNREGA, we depended on the goodwill and generosity of our husbands/fathers for sarees
and other clothes; now thanks to MGNREGA, we have bought sarees and other clothes for
us from the money earned under MGNREGA. We are now self reliant and economically
empowered. We don’t have to depend on the merciful eyes and attitude of our men folk.”
AKKIREDDY PARVATHY (BC) is totally landless and entirely dependent on wage labour for
her livelihood. When asked if there has been any change in the attitude of men towards
them, she quipped, “Post- MGNREGA, there has been a huge shift in the approach and
treatment meted out to women by their men folk. Now, since we are also earning and
contributing to household economy, our men folk are much more sensitive, careful and
respectful to us. Moreover, earlier we couldn’t dare ask our husbands as to how much
money they had earned and where the same had been spent on. But now, we have started
questioning our men folk about their earnings and its expenditure details. This has become
possible only because we have also started earning almost as much as men folk and this has
given us a sense of self respect and self confidence to question our men folk too.”
More importantly , now men folk have realized that they cannot take unilateral decisions
on family matters and they have to consult and take into consideration the views of their
women folk too. There can’t be a more credible and direct process of women’s
empowerment than the economic empowerment of these women through MNREGA job.
Woman mate (disabled), Y KANANAKA LAXMI, a 28 years old landless BC has been able to
complete 100 days of job every year since the launch of MGNREGA here , even though one
of her legs is struck by polio. Her father died when she was 12 years old. She has a younger
brother and her mother is now too old to do anything. She alone was the bread earning
member in the family, despite being disabled . Before MGNREGA , it was very difficult for
her family to get two ends meet because people would not allow her to work in their fields.
She would go out and beg for labour work but bluntly turned away by people. She used to
return back to home and cry out of pain and misery.
She says in a chocking voice , “When my mother was able to get some work, she would take
care of me and my brother. But many times we wouldn’t have any thing to eat or make do
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with whatever small amount of food was available. Our entire life was a living story of
deprivation, humiliation, sense of helplessness and despondency.”
It is against this background that MGNREGA came to her as a divine blessing and she was
allowed to work as a wage seeker and she has completed 100 days of job every year. Since
2010, she is working as mate also. When asked as to what would have she done , had
MGNREGA not come into her life, she replied with a sense of deep sadness on her face, “I
would have no option but to commit suicide, had MNGREGA not come to my rescue.
MGNREGA to me is another name of GOD.” Not only that she has been able to take care of
the needs of her family but ,since she started working in MGNREGA , she has been saving
Rs.100/- per month. This means that MGNREGA is not only taking care of her present
needs, but also given some savings for her future needs.
The women mates say “Our role as women mates has enabled us to learn a lot of
management skills. Because , we have the responsibility to manage the fixed labour groups -
from mobilization to monitoring of the work to filling up muster rolls. We are supposed to
do a lot of things. This has brought out many leadership qualities hidden in us.”
All six women mates who talked to us said unanimously , “Had we continued to work only
as labourer , we wouldn’t have learnt many things which we learned as a mate and we
wouldn’t have same sense of self confidence and self respect ” .
When asked if they are already dreaming of any other leadership responsibility in the GP,
they unanimously said that they were now confident to fulfill their responsibilities even if
they were given opportunity to become Sarpanch or any leadership role. They have now
definitely greater sense of self confidence, thanks to their work as female mates for
MNREGA.
TADI APPALANAIDU, a landless BC, extremely poor in his 60s , when asked if he has got 100
days of job and due wages, he said, “Yes. I have got 100 days job and the due wages.
Please give me more days of job, because MGNREGA is my life line.”
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CASE STUDY-3
Village: GULLEPALLY
Mandal: K.KOTAPADU
District: VISHAKAPATNAM
MNREGA TRANSFORMS THE VILLAGE ECONOMY
Major Achievements of MNREGA in this Gram Panchayat are :
1. Land development undertaken in 300 acres
2. Ground water recharging structures
3. Minor irrigation tanks
4. Reduced migration up to 75%
BHURATHI APPA RAO is a poor farmer and he had dug an open well 10 years ago for
irrigation purpose . But, hardly within one year, the open well dried up and it was lying
defunct and useless for last 9 years. The farmer had stopped taking care of the well and the
walls had started falling down. But during 2008-09, ground water recharge structures were
constructed under MGNREGA in the nearby water catchment areas. As a result , this open
well got recharged .There is about 30 feet of water in the well at present due to recharge
of groundwater. There are another 3 open wells in this GP which have got recharged and
are now full of water after being defunct for a long period, thanks to MNREGA.
The farmers , realising the uselessness of the open wells, had started thinking of filling
them up. But fortunately, without any individual effort or investment on their part , the
open wells have become alive and full of water due to ground water recharge structures
built under MGNREGA project.
In this village, there is remarkable rise in the ground water table due to various projects
undertaken under MGNREGA , particularly desiltation of tanks, water absorption trenches,
MI tanks, field and feeder channels and many more. The direct benefit of this ecological
revival in this GP is yet to be understood and estimated. But, we can say for sure that all
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these projects implemented under MGNREGA have brought huge socio-economic-
ecological benefits to the village and household economy of the farmers dependent on
them. If the monetary figures of the benefits of MNREGA projects are worked out, they are
most likely to give mind boggling figures of economic return to farmers and labourers of this
village.
30 farm ponds have been constructed under MNREGA, with objective to recharge ground
water of this village . Now , amazing results are there on the ground. There is rise of about 6
feet of ground water level in the areas of these farm ponds. As a result, the surrounding
horticulture plants (Mango) gave higher and better yields last year. Seeing this, those
farmers who earlier were reluctant to give their farm lands for construction of farm ponds
are now lining up before the implementing authorities requesting them to construct farm
ponds in their fields too . The ecological revival is bound to give huge economic
returns/benefits to farmers and entire village economy . The imaginative and need- based
project planning under MGNREGA has made this miraculous turnaround in the village
economy possible. The water stored in the farm ponds is sometimes also used for life
saving irrigation for many crops (Vegetables).
Due to successful implementation of MNGREGA in this village, there is amazing turnaround
in the village economy and large number of labourers and farmers are now building pucca
houses. 18 households with whom we talked to were building new house. All of them have
been regularly working in MGNREGA. The new house costs around Rs.2 lakh . About
Rs.70,000/- comes from Indira Awaas Yojna subsidy. The rest amount comes from loans
from private money lenders at interest rate of 24%. The biggest contribution of MGNREGA
is that it has given credit-worthiness to these poor labourers . They have now got
confidence that at least Rs.15000/- of annual income from MGNREGA wages is assured. This
confidence has made them to go for pucca houses.
Large number of labourers of this village have started sending their sons and daughters for
higher education. There are dozens of boys and girls who have completed degree courses,
even though they come from labour families. Most of these boys and girls holding high
degrees have themselves worked as MGNREGA workers during summer vacations.
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The story of RALLAPALLY PEDARAMAMURTHY is very inspiring . He is a vey poor farmer with
only 1.5 acres of farm land . He and his wife have been regularly working under MGNREGA.
Thanks to MGNREGA , he has sent his son for Engineering Degree in an Engineering College
in Visakhapatnam. He had to spend about Rs.50,000/- on his admission and about
Rs.30,000/- per year for boarding and lodging. Another of his son is studying in 10th Class in
Govt. School. He said, “Had MGNREGA not been there, both of my children would have
been grazing cattle and sitting idle at home. It is the turnaround in the family income due to
assured income from MGNREGA that has enabled me to send my children for higher
education. Before MNGREGA, we were unable to get even 2 square meals; many times we
had to skip meals. But now, we are able to get 3 full meals and our livelihood is secured.
MGNREGA has made our lives meaningful and productive.”
RONGALI RAMA DEVI is daughter of APPALA NAIDU and ARJUNAMMA . She belongs to BC
and has only 0.25 acre of land . She , along with her parents, has been earning her livelihood
as a daily wager and has been regularly working under MGNREGA. RONGALI RAMA DEVI’s
elder sister could complete only 10th class because of economic poverty , but she has
completed M.Sc. in Zoology recently. She and her mother say that it would not have been
possible for her to complete M.Sc , had MGNREGA not been there. Her mother Arjunamma
says, “If MGNREGA was not there, she would be either working as labourer with me or
sitting idle at home.” Rongali was very sad that even after completing M.Sc she was not
getting any job . She was asking for job in a chocking voice .
MARRIREDDY DEMUDU BABU S/o MARRIREDDY ESWAR RAO has only half acre of land and
earns his livelihood from daily wages. His son is now studying C.A. (1st yr) in Guntur. At the
time of admission he paid Rs.60,000/- and another Rs.30,000/- he was yet to pay .The total
annual fee is Rs.90,000/-. He has been regularly working as MGNREGA worker. He has half
acre of land and another half acre he has taken on lease . He is growing paddy and
sugarcane. So, the income from the paddy and sugarcane as well as MGNREGA wages have
enabled him to send his son to pursue C.A. course.
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SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT
CASE STUDY-1
GP : RUSHIKUNDA
MANDAL : SOMPETA
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MNREGA PROJECT COSTING RS.45 LAKH GIVES RS. 10 CRORE OF RETURN IN ONE YEAR
The 18 KMs -long BEELA BATTI CHANNEL passes through many villages of Srikakulam
district .The seasonal flooding caused by this channel had been regularly wrecking havoc
to the standing crops of paddy belonging to the farmers of Rushikunda Gram Panchayat in
Sompeta Mandal . After repeated request by the affected farmers of Rushikunda GP,
desiltation work under MNREGA was taken up in 2.5 KMs of the channel during 2011-12
and Rs.45 lakh from MNREGA fund was spent on the same . Due to desiltation of the Beela
Batti Channel , there was no flooding by the channel during 2012. As a result , the standing
crops of paddy in Rushikunda GP did not face the fury of flooding and farmers got a
bumper paddy harvest that year .
KARRI KAMESHWARA RAO is Gram Panchayat President of Rushikunda and a farmer too .
Three acres of his paddy land used to get affected due to flooding caused by over flowing of
the channel . Before desiltation of the channel , he used to get hardly 5 bags of paddy per
acre but now he is getting over 16 bags per acre.
GIRI BABU is another farmer with 5 acres of paddy land dependent on the channel. Before
desiltation, he would get hardly 25-30 bags in the entire 5 acres of plot. But in 2012, he got
over 70 bags from this plot after desiltation of the channel.
The same kind of benefit has accrued to all farmers of the GP . There is 5000 acres of paddy
land in Rushikunda GP and paddy crops used to get damaged by flooding in Beela Batti
Channel.
Before desiltation, the farmers dependent on this channel were in a miserable state ,
because the kind of yield they were getting was very little and most of them were living a
life of poverty and misery. They were finding it very difficult to get even 2 ends meet and
had got steeped into debt. But after the desiltation work done under MNREGA, there is a
new hope in the lives of these farmers. It has brought prosperity in the lives of these
farmers and they feel indebted to MGNREGA project , because without this their life had
become unbearable.
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The farmers strongly feel that desiltation of the channel should be undertaken in the entire
length of the channel (18 Kms) and also at regular intervals as per the requirement. This
MGNREGA work has brought about a remarkable turnaround in the lives, livelihood and life
styles of the farmers of this coastal region of Andhra Pradesh. The cost benefit analysis of
this project gives mind boggling figures
Farmers said, “Before the desiltation, entire village and its adjoining farm lands used to get
inundated by the flood water of the channel. But thanks to MGNREGA desiltation work ,
that flooding is now a thing of the past. And we can have some sense of relief due to this
work.”
The beneficiary farmers told us that per acre benefit accruing due to this project is at least
Rs.20,000/- from just one paddy crop. To put it in perspective , the entire 5000 acres of
paddy land that used to be adversely affected by flooding of channel is now giving
Rs.20,000/ of additional income per acre from only one paddy crop . If 5000 is multiplied by
20,000 , the figure comes to 10 Crore. In other words , during 2012 alone , paddy farmers
of Rushikunda got about Rs.10 Crore of additional income directly as a result of the
MGNREGA desiltation project costing just Rs.45 lakh.
In last 20 years, these farmers had made representations to all the Chief Ministers of AP
and three of them visited this place (YS Rajasekhar Reddy, N. ChandraBabu Naidu and
Rosaiah), but did nothing. Farmers said, “Only after MGNREGA intervention our problem has
been solved. Venkat Ram Reddy, District Magistrate of Srikakulam was most helpful and
instrumental in making this project possible . We feel deeply indebted to him .”
Some of the Beneficiary farmers
1. S MOHAN RAO 5 ACRES BC
2. V RAMA RAO 5 ACRES BC
3. B PUNNAIAH 3 ACRES BC
4. V RAJA RAO 3 ACRES BC
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5. V RADHAMMA 5 ACRES BC
6. V BHARATHI 2 ACRES BC
7. TUMMANADHAM 6 ACRES BC
CASE STUDY-2
Village: BORRAMPET
GP: BORRAMPET
Mandal: LAXMINARSUPET
TANK RENOVATION UNDER MNREGA BRINGS HAPPINESS IN LIVES OF FARMERS
There are many traditional tanks in Borrampet GP . These tanks are life line for farmers and
villagers . But , due to lack of proper maintenance and siltation , these tanks had become
dry and defunct . Gollapally Vani Cheruvu is one such tank located in Borrampet village.
Before MGNREGA, Gollapally Vani tank had become almost dry and defunct due to siltation
and growth of thick bush in the tank. There were no proper bunds , therefore , most of the
water would flow away and very little water would be stored in the tank. But, after
desiltation and deepening of the tank bed and strengthening of the tank bunds taken up
under MNREGA , now there is sufficient water to irrigate nearby farm lands and the water
quality has improved so much that villagers are regularly using this tank for bath. The bund
of tank has also been used for plantation. Under IPT (Indiramma Panchatoranam Project),
90 mango plants on the bunds of this tank have been planted and the ownership has been
given to a ‘poorest of poor’ landless dalit labourer , Smt. GODDU SIMHACHALAM .
SRHI S RAMULU, SARPANCH OF BORRAMPET GP said, “Before renovation of the tank
under MNREGA , the farmers in tank ayacut area were getting hardly 11-12 bags of paddy
per acre ,but after the renovation, the per acre yield is likely to go up to 25 bags . 30 acres
of farm land is the command area of this tank and about 60 farmers have benefitted from
this tank renovation project .”
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YERRAMSHETTY APPANNA has 1.5 acre of land in the command area of this tank . He says,
“There has been two-fold increase in the per acre paddy yield and we are also getting a
second crop of green gram and other pulses. Earlier, we were getting only one crop that is
paddy. This tank renovation under MGNREGA has brought prosperity in our households. The
flooding due to overflowing of tank during rainy season used to inundate our farm fields.
Therefore , we were unable to cultivate any crop during kharif . But , after the renovation of
the tank , we are getting the second crop also. This renovated tank is likely to prove a boon
for this village , especially for farmers .”
As in the case of Gollapally Vani Tank where a landless dalit labour has been given 90
mango plants on the bunds of the tank under the IPT of MNREGA , there are another five
‘poorest of poor’ IPT beneficiaries in the GP who have been given ownership of mango
plantations done on the bunds of various tanks in the GP under MNREGA .
OTHER IPT BENEFICIARIES OF BORRAMPET GP
NAME NO.OF PLANTS TANK NAME
1. GANESH KUPPILI 81 MANGO PLANTS TADIBANDA CHERUVU
2. GODDU POTAIAH 67 MANGO PLANTS PATHA KONERU
3. LOKONDA RAJU 15 MANGO PLANTS KOTTA CHERUVU
4. KALINGAPATNAM 42 MANGO PLANTS EETHALAKARRA CHERUVU
5. PEDDA RAMANNA 67 MANGO PLANTS NAIDU CHERUVU
CASE STUDY-3
Village: PODUGUPADU
GP: SRIJAGANNADHAPURAM
Mandal: KOTABOMMALI
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CASHEW & MANGO PLANTATION UNDER MNREGA BRINGS NEW HOPES IN LIVES OF
POOR FARMERS
Podugupadu is a small and backward village located in SRIJAGANNADHAPURAM GP of
Kotabommali Mandal . In Podugupadu village , a Cashew plantation done under MNREGA
during 2007-8 has brought new hopes in the lives of 47 beneficiaries , all of them belonging
to BC( backward caste) . This cashew plantation is spread in an area of 22.5 acres with 2000
cashew plants in total . The total cost of cashew plantation project was Rs. 1,57,909/, out of
which Rs. 1,56,650/ was wage component expenditure . In other words , almost 100% of
the project cost went towards payment of wages to labourers .
Similarly , there is a Mango Plantation in the village done under MNREGA during 2007-8. All
42 beneficiaries of Mango Plantation are BC . This mango plantation is spread in an area of
7.5 acres with 300 mango plants in total . The total cost of mango plantation project was
Rs. 96,154/ . In this case too almost 100% of the project cost went towards payment of
wages to labourers .
SEEPANA MADHAVA RAO (BC) is a very poor farmer of Podugupadu village , who is a
beneficiary of cashew plantation . He has 80 cashew plants in the cashew horticulture Block
developed under MNREGA . Before planting cashew under MGNREGA, he had planted
mango plants on that plot , which later stopped giving any yield. But , from the cashew
plantation done under MGNREGA, he earned an amount of Rs.15000/- last year and he
says that this income was very helpful for his family.
ENNI BHASKER RAO (BC) is another cashew plantation beneficiary. He says, “this
horticulture plantation under MGNREGA has started giving some additional income to us
which is very useful for poor farmers like us .”
GUNTA SIMHACHALAM (BC) , one of the cashew plantation beneficiaries , has got 60
cashew plants under the project. From this plantation he earned Rs.3000/- during 2011.
During 2012, he earned Rs.4000/- and during 2013, he earned Rs.6000/- from the cashew
plantation.
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Mrs . YENDA LAXMINARAYANA (BC) is one of the beneficiary of Horticulture Plantation
Project . This poor BC woman farmer says, “The MGNREGA in general and plantation
project in particular have been very helpful in managing our family economy. It was also
helpful during wedding of my daughter”.
All the beneficiaries of the horticulture plantation( cashew & mango) have started getting
annual income of Rs.20,000/- to 30,000/- to even 60,000/- per annum from the plantations
done under MNREGA . Very soon that is going to increase.
Before the launch of MGNREGA, about 100 labourers from the village used to migrate out
in search of wage employment. But thanks to MGNREGA, now hardly 25 are migrating out.
MGNREGA has proved very effective in checking distress migration from the village.
Before MGNREGA, most farmers and labourers of the village were forced to take loans
from local money lenders at exorbitant and exploitative interest rates. But now thanks to
MGNREGA income , they are not under any obligation to take loans at exorbitant interest
rates. Therefore , MGNREGA has helped them to break free from bondage of money
lenders.
CASE STUDY-4
Village: MUNGENNAPADU
GP: MUNGENNAPADU
Mandal: L.N. PETA
TANK RENOVATION UNDER MNREGA BRINGS DRINKING WATER IN THE VILLAGE
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OPEN WELL RECHARGE
After the desiltation of the fresh water tank of the village under MNREGA, there has been
an increase of 10 feet in the water table of the open well of the village. This open well is a
drinking water source for many villagers from time immemorial. So, the renovation of fresh
water tank has directly provided drinking water to many households of the village too.
BORE WELL RECHARGE
There is one bore well in the village that was drilled 20 years ago. This was the major source
of drinking water for these villagers . Before desiltation of the adjoining tank , it was yielding
very little water. Water table had gone down . But after desiltation of the tank, this bore
well has got recharged and is now supplying abundant water throughout the year. Thus,
the renovation of tank under MGNREGA has provided drinking water to this village through
recharge of the water table in the village.
Before MGNREGA, about 150 labourers of this village used to migrate out in search of
livelihood. But now thanks to MGNREGA, no body from this village is going out in search of
wage employment.
The potable water availability in the village has obvious health implications for the
population of this backward village. Earlier, when drinking water used to get scarce due to
depletion of water table in the open well and tube well, they were left with no option but to
drink unsafe and unhygienic water from the open tank.
YERABATI RAMBABU, Sarpanch of the GP says,“Earlier we used to get very little water from
the bore well and open well, but now we are getting sufficient supply of drinking water,
thanks to desiltation of the tank under MGNREGA.”
RUNKU RAMANA, a resident of this village says,“Earlier , when we used to take bath in the
tank, we used to get boils and blisters on our body due to dirty water. But after desiltation
of the tank ,the water quality in the tank has significantly improved and hence even if we
take bath in the tank, we don’t get any boils and blisters on our body”.
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LOKALAKU PENTAIAH is a poor farmer of Mungennapadu village . This person from the
backward caste has recently built a new pucca house with expenditure of about Rs.3 lakh.
The earnings from MGNREGA were very helpful in completing this house. He got Rs.70,000/-
from Government under IAY and the rest of the expenses came from agricultural income
and savings from MGNREGA. Interestingly, the foundation stone of the house was laid with
the amount of Rs.3000/- which came as MGNREGA wages to this household.
INDIRAMMA PACHCHA TORANAM (CHETTU – PATTA) BENEFICIARIES
There are four ‘poorest of poor’ households from this village who are IPT beneficiary :
1. BATTILI PENTAIAH is a landless dalit who has been given 100 coconut plants on
tank bund under IPT scheme of MNREGA .
2. POLIAH CHAVIDANI is a landless dalit who has 150 mango plants on the tank bund.
3. BATTILI PARSAIAH is landless dalit and has 200 mango plants on the road side.
4. KETA NEELAMMA is another landless dalit having 200 mango plants on the road
side.
These IPT beneficiaries are now effectively owners of more than 2 acres of horticulture land
with productive plantation of coconut and mango . The IPT scheme under MNREGA has
provided not only wage employment to the most needy households but ensured long term
livelihood security of the poorest of poor households
ABOUT 15 BOYS AND GIRLS BELONGING TO THE POOREST COMMUNITY OF
MUNGENNAPADU VILLAGE HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED DEGREE COURSES, THANKS TO
MGNREGA EARNINGS.
CASE STUDY-5
Village : SEETHAMPETA
GP : SEETHAMPETA
Mandal : SEETHAMPETA
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RAVIKELA BANDA TANK RENOVATION BRINGS PROSPERITY IN ADIVASI VILLAGE
RAVIKELA BANDA , located at Seethampeta village of Seethanpeta Mandal , is a very old
naturally formed tank . This tank is spread in 2 acres and it is supposed to provide irrigation
for 2 crops in 100 acres of tribal land . Unfortunately , due to lack of proper maintenance
and negligence , about 2.5 meters of siltation got formed in the tank , hence , it stopped to
store and provide sufficient water for even one crop. Moreover, 15 Bore Wells and 8 Open
Wells located around the tank began to get dry during the summer season . It became
difficult to provide drinking water for cattle too .
It is against this background that under MNREGA Special Stream Project , a Tank
Restoration Project costing Rs. 30 lakh was sanctioned and implemented during 2012 . This
Ravikela Banda Tank restoration project started in April 2012 and was completed by
October 2012 .
As a result of tank desiltation project , the water storage capacity of the tank has increased
to 2800 Cubic Meters . Now , this tank is providing assured irrigation for 2 crops in 200
acres directly and for another 100 acres indirectly (by recharging water table of Bore wells
and Open wells) . About 300 cattle are also getting drinking water . Coconut plantation and
vegetables are also being grown around the tank bund .
The successful execution of tank restoration project has brought a complete turnaround in
the lives, livelihood and lifestyle of adivasi farmers of Seethampeta village .
P SIMHACHALAM,an adivasi farmer , is direct beneficiary of the Tank Renovation Project.
Before tank desiltation in 2012 , he used to get maximum yield up to 10 bags of paddy per
acre if there was good rainfall. And only one crop was possible during the year. But, after
the restoration of the tank under MGNREGA , they are harvesting 2 crops , which comes to
around 35 bags of paddy per acre/per year. In other words, this tank renovation has started
giving about 3 times more returns to these poor adivasi farmers , that too in an assured
manner.
JANARDHAN is a tank beneficiary with 2 acres of land . He says proudly , “Earlier, it was very
difficult for us to take care of basic needs , but thanks to the renovation of the tank , now
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we are getting 2 very good and assured paddy crops , and now we can afford to send our
children to very good private schools and get treatment even at Corporate Hospitals.”
Some other adivasi beneficiaries
1. INTI JAGANNADHAM 3 ACRES
2. ARIKA BHARATHI 2 ACRES (SARPANCH)
3. T KURMA RAO 50 CENTS
4. UDIBA TELLIAH 2 ACRES
5. PALAKA APPALA SWAMY 1.5 ACRE
6. NIMMAKA APPANNA 3 ACRES
7. B MOHANA MURALI 1 ACRE
8. POLAKA APPA RAO 3 ACRES
9. PATRUNI SANJEEVA RAO 1.5 ACRE
10. TEMALA KRISHNA RAO 3 ACRES
11. KONDURU RAMULAMMA 3 ACRES
CASE STUDY-6
Village: MANDA (Primitive Tribal Group, SAVARA)
GP: MANDA
Mandal: SEETHAMPETA
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MNREGA FACILITATES ALL ROUND DEVELOPMENT IN PRIMITIVE TRIBAL VILLAGE
Manda is a backward village of Seethampeta Mandal , inhabited by primitive tribe called
SAVARA . Before the arrival of MNREGA , the socio-economic condition of the tribals living
in this village was pathetic . But , with the arrival of MNREGA , this village has witnessed
remarkable rejuvenation and revival of natural resource base , leading to development in
every sphere of life.
RAYAMANUGUDA TANK is an old tank of the village and it used to be life line of tribals in
the past . However , due to negligence and lack of proper upkeep , this important tank of
the village got silted up and became absolutely dry and useless in recent years .
But, a tank desiltation project under MNREGA was implemented during 2010-11 . As a
result , the desilted and renovated tank is now storing and supplying sufficient irrigation
water to adjoining farm lands . 15 acres of land , which was lying barren from time
immemorial , has now become productive and the tribal farmers are getting very good
paddy (rabi) crop from these 15 acres . In other words, just desiltation of the tank under
MGNREGA has brought irrigated farming in the lands of 10 farmers. To put in monetary
terms , now per acre paddy yield is about 10 quintals which brings about Rs.9000/- of
income to farmers belonging to primitive tribe SAVARA .
CASHEW REJUVENATION PROJECT UNDER MNREGA
Activities undertaken under cashew rejuvenation project in this village are:
- Cut bushes around trees
- Created basins to store water
- Ploughing between trees
- Cut unproductive branches of trees
- Chemical application to cut branches to stop infestation.
- Applying fertilizers to roots.
As a result of cashew rejuvenation project , tribal farmers are now expecting about 5 kgs of
cashew nuts per tree on an average .
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Pre - MGNREGA, there was not a single lady Graduate in Manda GP. But thanks to
MGNREGA , now there are 15 SAVARA girls who have either completed or pursuing various
Degree Courses.
SAVARA JYOTHI and SAVARA THUMPAMMA, both have now secured B.A Degrees this year
(2013) . They categorically say , “without MGNREGA, it would not have been possible for us
to get these degrees.” So, MGNREGA has also brought higher education in the poor and
backward tribal villages of Srikakulam.
Pre –MGNREGA , there were not even Under Graduates in the GP, but now there are 15
who have already completed degrees and many more who are pursuing the same. So, in this
Manda GP, there is very strong and direct linkage between MGNREGA and education in the
tribal families.
SAVARA MOHANA RAO, an Indiramma Pachcha Toranam beneficiary under MNREGA , has
got 200 mango plants. He has completed 648 workdays on the mango plantation. His
watch,ward and watering monthly income comes to around Rs.3000/-. He has also got very
innovative drip irrigation system for his mango plants - water collected in polythene bag
and hung over the plant , which would continue to provide water to plants for 3 days . All
this development has become possible only because of MNREGA.
CASE STUDY-7
Village: TALLAVALASA
GP: TALLAVALASA
Mandal: LAVERU
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MNREGA HELPS POOR DALIT GIRLS TO BECOME ENGINEERS
NETHALA SWATHI, daughter of a poor dalit, is pursuing B.Tech (ECE) in local college and she
commutes daily to the college and pursuing her studies staying back in the poor dalit colony
of TALLAVALASA village itself. Her father expired 4 years ago but her mother has been
working in MGNREGA. She says that MGNREGA wage and her sister’s regular job both put
together have enabled her to pursue B.Tech (ECE). She says that she wouldn’t have been
able to pursue her dream of becoming an Engineer, had MGNREGA not been there.
Other MNREGA beneficiaries’ children pursuing higher studies
1. PEYYALA TRIVENI D/O RAJA RAO
2. YENDA PADMA D/O LATE APPA RAO
Both these girls are daughters of landless dalits but they are pursuing B A , thanks to
MNREGA .
P TRIVENI is another landless dalit and MNREGA worker of this village . His brother recently
completed B.Sc, but has no job ,therefore , he is working as a MGNREGA labourer to earn
his livelihood .
In recent years , the rural Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a silent revolution , the scale and
dimensions of which are yet to be known outside AP . Andhra Pradesh ( AP) is churning out
over Sixty Thousand dalit (SC) boys and girls as Engineers every year . There is a fee
reimbursement scheme of AP Govt . which is largely responsible for this education
revolution among dalits . However , MNREGA is also playing a very significant role in
unleashing the educational potential of dalit boys and girls . Had MNREGA not been there ,
it would not have been possible for such a large number of dalit boys and girls to pursue
B.Tech ; because in the condition of extreme deprivation , chronic hunger and livelihood
crises , it used to be very difficult for dalit parents to think of sending their children even
for primary education and normal schooling . During our field study in six districts of AP ,
we came across dozens of villages where extremely deprived dalits and adivasis were
spending a very significant share of MNREGA incomes on education for their children .
Large number of dalits and adivasis who are MNREGA workers across AP are sending their
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children to private schools , many of them to boarding schools . These people seemed
determined to give their children good education and make them Engineers . We were told
very categorically by these dalits and adivasis that they could not dream of making their
children even clerks or peons , in the absence of MNREGA . They said , “ empty stomachs
dream only about food and not about education .”
Since MNREGA has ensured food security of these poor dalits and now they are not always
worried as from where the next meal would come , they have begun to dream big and give
best possible education to their sons and daughters , so that they would lead a dignified life
unlike their parents by becoming engineers , doctors and teachers .
CASE STUDY-8
VILLAGE : SAVARAPETA
GP: KIDIMI
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Mandal: SARAVAKOTA
WATER RECHARGE STRUCTURES UNDER MNREGA HELP FARMERS OF KIDIMI
There is rise of 9 feet of water table in Savarapeta village of Kidimi GP , as a direct result of
2 tanks being deepened and strengthened as well as construction of 1 new tank under
Indira Jala Prabha and MGNREGA.
Due to renovation of the tanks under MNREGA, there has been rise of 10 feet water in
BODHARA BANDA . Before this tank rejuvenation ,there was no water at all in the tank
during the summer and during other seasons too there was very little water in the tank.
But after the rejuvenation, there has been appreciable rise in the water table and even
during summer there is about 3-4 feet of water in the tank.
VANGARA CHINRANJEEVULU (ST) , is a tank beneficiary farmer of Savarapeta village with
3.6 acres of land - 1.8 acre of wet land and 1.8 acre of rain fed land .
Earlier , he used to grow chilly, horsegram and jowar, but thanks to sufficient water
availability in the tank , now he has started growing vegetables like tomato and earning
good income. Half acre of his land is under tomato and now he is likely to get an income of
about Rs. 20-22 thousand from tomato. Where as from the same plot earlier , he used to
get groundnut crop hardly worth Rs.10,000/-. Similar is the story of many other tank
beneficiary farmers of this village .
OPEN WELLS UNDER MNREGA GIVE BETTER YIELD AND HIGHER INCOME TO FARMERS
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Under MNREGA , many Open Wells have been constructed in the lands of poor farmers of
KIDIMI GP .
DASARI VENKATESHWAR (OC) is a poor farmers of KIDIMI with 2 acres of land , who is also
open well beneficiary. In 1.5 acre of land , he has sown paddy and in 0.5 acre brinjal has
been grown. From brinjal alone he has earned Rs.15000/-. From the paddy crop in 1.5 acre ,
he is likely to get about 40 bags of paddy and that too because of some damage caused by
storm. If there was no cyclone effect , he could have got more yield .
BORRA MANMADHA RAO (OC) has only 0.7 acre of land and got an open well under
MNREGA. Before this open well , he used to sow some vegetables but very little income was
coming through that. After the open well, he grew sugarcane crop, from which he earned
Rs.35000/-. And now he has grown a second crop of sugarcane.
DASARI RAMANA (OC) has only 0.3 acre of land and he is a beneficiary of open well .Before
the open well was dug , he used to sow vegetables and used to get an income of around
Rs.5000/-. But now he is getting an income of above Rs.10,000/- from the vegetables he has
sown.
DASARI GOVINDAM (OC) is another beneficiary of open well and he has 1 acre of land .
Before this open well , he was growing vegetables like cabbage, tomato etc, from which he
used to get an income of Rs.7000/-. But after the open well has been dug , he is earning
Rs.15-16 thousand from vegetables.
There are many more open well beneficiaries in KIDIMI GP who are getting better yield
and higher incomes due to construction of open wells under MNREGA .
CASE STUDY-9
GP : GARA CHEEPURUPALLI
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Mandal : RAJAM
INDIRAMMA PANCH TORANAM EMPOWERS POOREST OF THE POOR
KUNDA NARSAMMA is a landless and “poorest of the poor” beneficiary of the IPT
scheme(INDIRAMMA PANCHA TORANAM) implemented under MNREGA . She is a widow
with 2 children. Her son has completed Intermediate and is sitting idle. Her daughter is
studying in 10th class. Her husband died 9 years ago. Since she is a landless dalit widow , she
has been given 200 coconut plants on the bund of Kotta Cheruvu (Tank) of Gara
Cheepurupalli Gram Panchayat under the IPT scheme of MNREGA. She has also raised some
vegetables on the bund of the tank.
To put it in perspective , 200 coconut plants on bund are equal to 5 acres of coconut
plantation on plain land. Under the IPT scheme of MNREGA , this landless dalit widow has
now become legal owner of 200 coconut plants and gets cost for watering the plants too
from MNREGA. Under the IPT , she gets Rs.69200/- per year for watch and ward of coconut
plants, and she gets Rs.15000/- towards MGNREGA wages for working on her bund
plantation. In other words , MGNREGA is giving her Rs.85000/- per year . After 5 years , she
is likely to earn about Rs.1.5 lakh per year from the yield of coconut plantation on the tank
bund .
Before Kunda Narsamma became an IPT beneficiary, she was earning about Rs.-6000/ per
year from daily wages. But after becoming an IPT beneficiary from Sep 2013 , she is getting
a monthly income and farm inputs like fertilizers and fencing are also provided to her.
Additionally , she is also going to get income from vegetables she has grown on the tank
bund. The IPT project under MNREGA has really provided short term as well as long term
livelihood security to this landless dalit widow .
THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL AND SHINING EXAMPLE OF ECONOMIC SECURITY AND
lIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF AN EXTREMELY DEPRIVED FAMILY , A LANDLESS DALIT WIDOW ,
BEING ENSURED THROUGH MNREGA . KUNDA NARSAMMA IS THE PROVERBIAL “LAST
MAN IN THE ROW” THAT MAHATMA GANDHI REFERRED TO IN HIS CONCEPT OF
ANTYODAYA. THE SOUL OF GANDHI MUST BE FEELING HAPPY AND RELIEVED THAT
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ATLEAST SOMEWHERE IN SOME REMOTE VILLAGE OF INDIA SOME POOREST OF THE POOR
HOUSEHOLD HAS REALLY BEEN EMPOWERED IN TRUE SENSE OF THE TERM .
ADILABAD DISTRICT
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CASE STUDY-1
Village: PITTABONGARAM
GP : DASNAPUR
Mandal: INDERVELLY
MNREGA MAKES ADIVASI FARMERS PROSPEROUS
A Comprehensive Land Development Project ( CLDP) implemented under MNREGA has
brought a new dawn in the benighted lives of adivasi farmers of Pittabongaram ( this
village was hot-bed of naxalism 3 decades ago) . Land development has been done in 216
acres in this extremely deprived adivasi village of Adilabad district. Under land development
the following activities were taken up:
1. Farm ponds
2. Boundary trenches
3. Stone bunds
4. Pebble bunds
5. Compost pits
6. Earthen bunds
7. Diversion drains
8. Contiguous contour trenches.(CCT)
VITTI RAJESHWAR, an adivasi farmer, had 10 acres of fallow and rocky land which was giving
only 6 quintals of cotton earlier. But various land development activities under MNREGA
were taken up during 2006 in his entire land. Under this, activities like boundary trenches
for soil moisture conservation and stone bunding to control the soil erosion were taken up.
As a result, he is now getting annual yield of 15 quintals cotton per year. In monetary terms
,it implies about Rs.35000/- of additional income to this poor adivasi farmer dependent on
dry land farming.
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ERMA LAXMAN, an adivasi with 6 acres of fallow land , is also a beneficiary of the land
development project. Soil erosion has been controlled with stone bunding on his land.
After land development, this farmer got 12 quintals of cotton, 8 quintals of soya beans, 3
quintals of red gram and 1.5 quintals of black gram. In monetary terms , this adivasi farmer
is now getting Rs. One lakh of annual income as a result of land development activity with
total investment cost of Rs.80000 from MNREGA
SAINADH N is an adivasi farmer and has 4 acres of land. Before land development done
under MNREGA , he used to get hardly 3 quintals of cotton from this field . But now he has
got 11 quintals of cotton and above 2 quintals of Chana dal(red gram). In monetary terms, it
implies about Rs.40,000 of additional annual income to this poor adivasi farmer.
The other beneficiaries of land development project in this village are also getting increased
crop yields and corresponding higher annual incomes from their lands . The indirect
benefits of MNREGA project (increased land productivity) and direct income from wage
employment have brought happiness and prosperity in the lives of adivasi farmers of
Pittabongaram .
CASE STUDY-2
Village: NAGAPUR
GP : NAGAPUR
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Mandal: KHANPUR
MNREGA BRINGS EDUCATION & PUCCA HOUSE IN THIS DEPRIVED VILLAGE
BHOSLE SHANKER, aged 65 years, is a farmer and his entire 5 acres of land has been
developed under MNREGA. Under the land development, land levelling, silt application and
boundary trenches were done. As a result, he is getting at least twice of the crop yield from
his land. Like him , there are other farmer beneficiaries whose lands have been developed
under MGNREGA, and they are getting 2-3 times more crop yield. Wheat, soya, cotton,
jowar and vegetables are main crops grown in this village.
PADMA (BC) is a MGNREGA labourer. She and her husband both earn their livelihood only
through wage employment. She is absolutely landless. But, both of them are working hard
as labourers and sending their daughter Harshitha to a private school located in Utnoor,
that is 7 Kms away from this village. She pays about Rs.15000/- as annual fee for her
daughter. She categorically says that had MGNREGA not been there, it wouldn’t have been
possible for them to send their daughter to private school. She is nurturing the dream of
making her daughter an Engineer.
VASANTH SAVDE, a MGNREGA labourer, has two sons and both are studying in 3rd Standard
in a private school. He pays about Rs.10000/- fee for each of his sons. He says that most
households of this village are determined to send their children to private schools, even if it
means very hard labour. He very clearly says that “All this is possible only because of the
180 degrees turnaround in the village economy brought about by effective and corruption
free implementation of MGNREGA.
BHARATHI , aged 25 years, and her husband both are MGNREGA workers . They are sending
two of their children in a private school and paying Rs.30000/- of annual fees for both the
children put together.
RENUKA BAI, 55 years old , is sending two of her sons to private college. One is in 1st year
Degree and other is in final year Degree course . The annual expenditure on the education
of these two boys is about Rs.40000/-. Renuka Bai very categorically says that this
turnaround is possible only due to MGNREGA. She narrated her economic condition before
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MGNREGA and said that she earlier used to send children with a gunny bag and a roti of
bajra and worn out clothes. But today, all children have good clothes, bags, water bottles
and food in their school bags. There can’t be a better evidence of the turnaround in
household economy of these MGNREGA labourers.
SUNITHA PUDARI( 27 years ) and her husband both are MGNREGA labourers. They are
absolutely landless . They are sending both of their children to private school for education
and the annual expenditure is Rs.20000/-.
There were another 15 female labourers who told us that their sons and daughters were
studying in private schools and each spending Rs.20-30 thousand per year on their
education. It has become possible only after the launch of MNREGA .
PADMA is a landless labourer and she and her husband both work as MGNREGA labourers.
Two years ago they constructed a pucca house and MGNREGA wages played a very
important role in that. In last 2-3 years, about 50 households in the village have
constructed pucca houses and MGNREGA has a lot to do with that.
CASE STUDY-3
Village: CHIMMANGUDA
GP : VAIPET
Mandal: INDERVELLI
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LAND DEVELOPMENT UNDER MNREGA MAKES ADIVASI FARMERS PROSPEROUS
JADHAV PHAKIRA is an adivasi farmer . He has 10 acres of land, of which 3 acres have been
developed under MGNREGA. Before land development project, he used to get hardly 2.5
quintals of paddy per acre; but now he is getting about 10 quintals. In other words, about 4
times of income from the same plot of land. In monetary terms , while he was getting about
Rs.15000/- per acre earlier , now he is getting Rs.60000/-. In other words, a net increased
income of Rs.45000/- compared to the previous income when land was not developed.
Now , two of his grand children are studying in a residential private school at Indervelli, and
spending about Rs.40000/- on education of these two children. This adivasi farmer very
categorically says, “Had MGNREGA not been there, we couldn’t even dream of sending our
children to private schools . We are grateful to this scheme, because it has brought huge
economic benefits to our household and village economy.”
Under the land development project , following activities were undertaken in the farmers’
lands:
1. Farm ponds
2. Diversion drains
3. Boundary trenches
4. Stone bunding
Through these activities, with diversion drains the excess of water was drained out. Farm
ponds are used as source of irrigation. With stone bunding , soil erosion was controlled.
With boundary trenches, soil moisture conservation was ensured. In some of the land
development activities, the stone boulder removal was also done with manual labour.
PREM SINGH is another adivasi farmer who has 10 acres of land , of which 5 acres have
been developed under MNREGS project. He used to get hardly 2-3 quintals of cotton from
his entire land, but now he is getting about 50 quintals of cotton from the same land. In
monetary terms, this adivasi farmer is getting an additional annual income of over Rs.1.8
lakh , thanks to land development project implemented under MNREGA.
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RATHOD UTTAM is an adivasi farmer and has 8 acres of land , out of which 2.5 acres of land
was brought under land development project implemented under MNREGA. His crop yield
of jowar has doubled due to land development.
DINESH, an adivasi farmer, has 8 acres of land, from which he used to get hardly 4 quintals
of cotton. But after NREGS works, he is getting over 40 quintals of cotton. In other words, it
is 900 % increase in the yield . And in monetary terms , about Rs 1.4 lakh of annual
additional income from the same plot of land, thanks to NREGA land development
project.
BABU JADHAV is another adivasi farmer whose 10 acres of land was developed under
MNREGA projects . Before this work, he used to get 2 quintals of cotton and another 2
quintals of Arhar dal(pigeon pea). But now, he has got 11 quintals of cotton and 1 quintal of
arhar dal. In monetary terms, this land development work done in his land under MNREGS is
bringing an additional annual income of Rs.30000/- to this poor adivasi farmer.
RUPLA POWAR has 8 acres of land. This entire land was almost fallow and barren before
MNREGS works. But now, he has got about 30 quintals of cotton and 10 quintals of paddy
from the same land. In monetary terms, about 1.4 lakh of annual income has come to this
adivasi farmer,thanks to land development done under MNREGA project.
CASE STUDY-4
Village : GANGAPUR
GP: UTNUR
Mandal : UTNUR
MNREGA BRINGS ALL ROUND DEVELOPMENT IN ADIVASI VILLAGE
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Gangapur , located in Utnur GP of Utnur Mandal in Adilabad district , is an extremely
deprived and backward village . Before the launch of MNREGA in 2006 , Gangapur was
notorious as a naxalite infested village . However , the effective implementation of MNREGS
has completely changed the socio-economic profile of this village .
Before the arrival of MNREGS , there was extreme poverty , chronic hunger and massive
distress migration in this village . Very few children used to go to school . Tonti Ranjana , an
enderly woman and MNREGS labourers, says , “ Before MNREGA , there was very limited
food available here . We used to eat only jowar and maize with garlic chutney . Only once
in a while we used to get non-veg food . But now things have completely changed .Now ,
we are able to eat 3 full meals including pulses , vegetables and milk products too . We are
also eating non-veg food on weekly basis . All children are now going to school . There was
more than 90 per cent of distress migration earlier , but now there is no distress migration
at all . MNREGA wages have also helped many households in building new houses or
improving the old houses. Earlier , women of this village had hardly 2 sarees but now more
than 4-6 sarees . Earlier , it was difficult to give even Rs.20,000 as dowry but now we are
giving more than Rs. one lakh in dowry .”
Land Development under MNREGA
About 120 acres of land in the village used to be virtually barren and fallow . But , the Land
Development taken up under MNREGA has made this entire land cultivable and productive
. Now , farmers are growing various crops in this land .
C . Ganganne, an adivasi farmer and MNREGA labourer , has 5 acres of forest patta land
which was almost barren and he was getting hardly Rs. 2000-3000 of annual income from
the crop yield in this entire plot of 5 acres . But , after levelling of the land under MNREGA
project , this entire plot of 5 acres has become productive and this adivasi farmer got Rs
30,000/ from the cotton crop in his land last year (2013) .
Naide Laxman is another adivasi farmer of Gangapur village who has 5 acres of land which
was giving very little produce . He used to get hardly Rs. 10,000/ worth of cotton from this
field .But now , after levelling of the land under MNREGA , he got about Rs.40,000/ worth
of cotton last year alone (2013) . Moreover , he got about Rs. 20,000/ worth of paddy also .
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Naithan Jungu is also adivasi farmer with 9 acres of land ; of which 4 acre was developed
under MNREGA . Before the land development under MNREGA , he used to get only 15
quintals of cotton ( Rs.60,000) . But after the land development , he got 40 quintals of
cotton ( Rs. 1.6 lakh) from the same land during 2013 . Naithan Jungu says, “ This has
brought economic prosperity in my family .”
Naithan Chitro has 6.5 acres of land which was developed under MNREGA . Earlier , he
used to get not more than 8 quintals of cotton from this land . But after development of the
land , he got 35 quintals of cotton from this plot ( Rs. 1.4 lakh) during 2013 .
The benefits of Land Development Project under MNREGS are not confined only to these
few farmers . There are 25 adivasi farmers of Gangapur who have got similar benefits from
the land development project under MNREGS . All the adivasi beneficiaries of land
development work as MNREGA labourers too . So , MNREGA has given double benefits to
adivasi farmers and brought all round development in this backward adivasi village .
CASE STUDY-5
Village : UTNUR
GP: UTNUR
Mandal : UTNUR
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MNREGA INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH LAND DEVELOPMENT
UTNUR is a deprived village of Adilabad district . Before the launch of MNREGS in 2006 ,
there was usual poverty and chronic hunger in this village too . There were very few
means of livelihood in the village . Therefore ,the distress migration was over 90 per
cent . The usual food would consist of coarse cereals like maize and jowar with garlic
chutney . But after the arrival of MNREGS , there has been significant improvement in
the food security of the poor villagers . Now , they are eating 3 full meals of rice ,
pulses, vegetables and milk products too . Earlier , they used to eat non-veg food only
once in a while , but now they are eating non-veg food every week .
Thanks to MNREGS , distress migration is now a thing of the past . Children are getting
good education . About 60 per cent of the households in this village are sending their
children to private schools , paying Rs.5000-10,000 as annual fee . MNREGS wages have
also helped many households to go for new pucca houses . Earlier, women had hardly
2-3 sarees , but now most of them have dozens of good quality sarees , thanks to
MNREGA wages .
Land Development Project under MNREGA
Pochana is a poor farmer of Utnur village . He has 5 acres of land , of which 4 acre was
lying fallow and barren . From one acre of his land , he was getting some pulses worth
Rs. 5-6 thousand . But thanks to MNREGS , after land development in his plot , he got
12 quintals of cotton worth Rs. 50,000.
Sumitra C. has 2 acres of land which used to give about 10 quintals of paddy earlier .
But after land development under MNREGA , she is getting 15 quintals of paddy from
the same plot .
Ashanna is another poor farmer of Utnur who has benefitted from land development
taken up under MNREGS . He has 4 acres of land which hardly gave any produce . But
after land development , he got soyabean worth Rs.10,000 from that plot .
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G Rajanna is another beneficiary of land development . He has 7 acres of land which
was lying fallow for many years . But after land development under MNREGA , he was
able to get 15 quintals of paddy from his land .
P Narsaiah , a poor farmer of Utnur, has 5 acres of land . Earlier , he was getting only
some pulses for family consumption from this land . But , after the land development
under MNREGA , he got cotton worth Rs.20,000 during 2013 .
There are many more poor farmers of Utnur village who have got double benefits from
MNREGA . MNREGA has not only provided wage employment to these poor farmers ,
but also made their fallow lands productive and remunerative through land
development .