MGNREGA is a wonderful economic device to generate employment among the rural population. Stop the programme for a while and its significance would be understood. A large part of the rural population would, once again, fall back into the crude days, when they had nothing to do, especially, during the off season. Moreover, the rural rejuvenation programme would come to a halt. The projects would be left uncared.
In a country like India, programme like MGNREGA finds the best place for its implementation. India is quite relevant for its functioning.
The fault lies, not in MGNREGA, but, in the political chastity and the political will in many states across the country.. In many states, the personal benefits dominate the will to serve the people. Finally, people start blaming the programme. What's more unfortunate is that leaders in the opposition try to play cheap politics by besmearing the beautiful social welfare programme. In recent times, MGNREGA has not been an exception, in becoming a bait in the hands of the politicians, to heap unfair criticisms on the government in power.
The world has place only for sense but not nonsense. As such petty quarrels do not find any place here. To do something noble is difficult but to throw slush on a noble work like MGNREGA is easy.
The fault lies in the lack of political will and lack of effective mechanism to get the programme implemented with finesse. The capability, will and smart work is what is needed to lead the programme, but not to find fault with MNREGA which has proved a great success in some of the Indian states.
The lack of proper leadership and the lack of direction, has resulted in local or ground-level corruption. In many states, the local rural political supporters and government officials, have been devouring a part of the wages to be paid to the workers. In some cases, the workers are left even unpaid. The lack of awareness on the part of the rural masses, has made it difficult to them, to fight against such social evil. They are even threatened against lodging a complaint with the legal authorities.
In some states of India, corruption has eaten away the programme like termites.For instance, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the programme has gone ineffective. But, the state of Andhra Pradesh has become a role-model to states, where MGNREGA has been a victim in the hands of corrupt authorities.
The government of Andhra Pradesh has separated the channel of payments. The weekly wages are paid through post office. However, in such states too, there have been reports that the money is withdrawn and paid by the local supervisor or an agent. However, the fact that the workers receive their full wages despite being paid through an agent, is appreciable.
However. the embezzlement can be weeded out through effective payment modes. In this regard, the wages for MGNREGA can be paid through the account opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
.
It is time all the leaders ( including the opposition) and the governments of those states, where the programme does not function smoothly, joined hands to make the programme a success. The differences among the politicians and the greed for winning the next elections, should not snatch the livelihood of the needy.
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