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"We are on the threshold of launching a truly historic development programme," said Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister for Rural Development, a day before the formal launch of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). In an interview he gave Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, the Minister elaborated how the various facets of the scheme were finalised and outlined how his Ministry planned to go about with its implementation. Excerpts:
The NREGS Act was passed in August 2005. But the formal launch is taking place six months later. There is a feeling, at least in some quarters, that the preparation period was a little too long.
That concern is not justified. The scheme is to be implemented in 200 districts across the country and there were issues such as identification of districts and beneficiaries and formulation of guidelines. We interacted at several levels of the government and with several agencies to set up all these things effectively. Given the importance of all these activities the launch of the programme is on a perfect course and not at all delayed.
In the context of these preparations, what do you think is different about the NREGS from other employment-generation schemes?
The earlier programmes were not covered by law. The agencies providing jobs allotted them when they could. But here, there is a guarantee of work for 100 days. The names of the beneficiaries are enrolled at the gram sabha level, they are given job cards and ensured employment. This should make a fundamental difference to the rural economy.
What is the projected number of beneficiaries?
Our estimation is that over three crore people will benefit from the scheme. The number is significant, but according to me the qualitative impact of the scheme would be even more significant. I expect that the NREGS will ultimately create such positive impact that it will virtually put an end to the migration of the rural poor to urban centres.
What is the estimated cost of the scheme? There has been criticism that the schemes' benefits are not commensurate with its cost.
All this is the talk of anti-rural people who are driven only by urban-oriented concepts of development. I am sure that the scheme will have an all-round positive impact. To start with, the principal thrust of the scheme is to generate employment in areas such as water conservation and water harvesting, drought proofing, afforestation, construction of irrigation canals, renovation of traditional water bodies, land development, flood control and improving rural connectivity to provide all-weather access. In short, the scheme would promote sustainable development. The scheme also envisages a bigger role for post offices in the disbursement and saving of the wages of the beneficiaries. In a sense, this new role could even give a fillip to the post offices, which are facing stiff competition from private services.
Many employment schemes in the past have become dysfunctional on account of misappropriation, embezzlement and corruption. There were even cases where the list of beneficiaries was fabricated to loot large amounts of money. What kind of monitoring mechanisms does the NREGS have?
The four bywords of the scheme are people's participation, strict vigilance, transparency and accountability. In almost all earlier schemes, people's participation was not a key factor. But the NREGS will be essentially driven by gram sabhas, panchayats and other local administrative bodies. At each level we have set up special monitoring agencies. Of course, all this will produce results only if they function properly. That is a challenge the Ministry and the State governments have taken up. You will see the positive results soon.
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