JOIN USMunnur gram panchayat in Mangalore taluk is scripting success story in effective implementation of MGNREGS, under the able leadership of GP President who herself is a job card holder and enthusiastically takes up the work along with others, writes Naina J A.
Mahtama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNRES) has been a lifeline for many in rural India. Economic independence of women and the gram panchayat is boosted by MGNREGS and this has been proved in Munnur Gram Panchayat in Mangalore taluk.
The gram panchayat has taken up several works under the MGNREGS, under the able leadership of Gram Panchayat President Shashikala, who herself is a job card holder.
Speaking to City Herald, she said that, for many people, getting a work within purview of village and to be paid a minimum wage is a big thing. The scheme has resulted in an increase in people’s participation in the developmental works in Gram Panchayat.
“We want at least 100 labourers to complete 100 days of work during the year. As many as 346 labourers have job cards, of which, 274 labourers are regular in taking up jobs under the scheme,” she said and added that an action plan for work worth Rs 35.66 lakh has been prepared for 2012-13.
Stating that the action plan was prepared in the month of October itself in a special grama sabha, she said the special grama sabha was attended by the villagers, where the work to be taken up during the period is discussed and included in the action plan.
This year, about 43 works related to road repair, desilting of tanks, canals and storm water drains will be taken up. The work on Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra is under progress in the gram panchayat premises.
“Women who possess job cards are demanding jobs. At present, we are taking up the work on desilting of a canal which passes through Konaje-Amblamogaru. More than 65 women including myself and five men are working tirelessly on desilting the canal. With the silt filling the canal, there is artificial flood in the region every monsoon, which inundates the farm land, thus incurring loss to the farmers.
Hence, we had decided to take up the work on desilting of the canal before the onset of monsoon,” she said. “I contested the GP election first time last year. It was MGNREGS which helped me to come out of the four walls of the house and take up work outside.
This instilled me confidence which made me to contest the election and I was elected as the President of the Gram Panchayat in December 2011.”
Juliana Miranda, a labourer said: “We were rolling beedis in the past several years. However, we were finding it difficult to fetch even Rs 50 per day. With MGNREGS, we get Rs 155 per day.”
Sixty-five-year- old Yamunakka said that she was working as a farm labourer in the past. “However, there was no work round the year. Under MGNREGS, we get minimum of 100 days work,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kamalaksha said that as the gram panchayats get meagre amount as fund from the government, MGNREGS is an effective scheme to take up developmental works. In 2011-12, as many as 28 job card holders completed 100 days work. “Even the President has worked for 79 days,” he said.
Rather than individual work, the gram panchayat gives priority to public work under MGNREGS, he said.
Panchayat Development Officer Narayana Poojary said: “In the beginning, we had created awareness on the project. Now women are empowered and know the MGNREGS well.”
Shashikala said that as per the Act, a small shed like structure has been constructed in the work site for the labourers to take rest. At the same time, drinking water facility and first aid is kept ready by the Gram Panchayat in the work site.”
The President said a blind labourer Koosappa is also working in the project of desilting the canal. “The gram panchayat saw to it that even a blind person is given employment under the scheme.”
About Gram Panchayat
The gram panchayat has 2,139 households. All the houses have toilets and is free from open defecation. Rainwater harvesting has been effectively implemented at around eight places in the gram panchayat limits.
A rainwater harvesting unit has been installed at the grampanchayat premises. With the recharge of borewells through rainwater harvesting method, the gram panchayat was relieved of supplying water through tankers during this summer, said the President.