IRMA evaluates MGNREGA's implementation in Sikkim

by Prashant Rupera


Sikkim now needs to adopt mechanism to sustain assets that it has created under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) programme. A research team from country's premier rural management institute - the Institute of Rural Management, Anand ( IRMA) - which evaluated MGNREGA's implementation in the North Eastern state has suggested this to the Sikkim government.

Sikkim is the only state which has bagged three national awards for its exemplary work under MGNREGA.

"Implementation of MGNREGA started in Sikkim from February 2006. The state has already achieved the objective of providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to each rural household opting for it. Having completed around four years of the programme's implementation, the rural management and development department of Sikkim had approached us in early 2010 to do an evaluation of the programme in the state," IRMA's director professor Vivek Bhandari told TOI.

The study done by Bhandari, professor Pratik Modi and professor Ajay Dandekar has suggested that the Sikkim government should set up a cell which can train officials from other states on implementation of MGNREGA. "The state government has already decided to adopt this recommendation," says Dandekar.

The research team found four major types of work implemented under MGNREGA. This included water conservation, land development, plantation and aforestation apart from road connectivity. "The state government has been particularly focusing on creation of durable assets under MGNREGA. In 2009-10 alone, 175 rural footpaths, 132 flood control works, 71 water conservation works, 414 drought proofing and plantation works, 89 micro irrigation channels and 148 land development works were completed," the report states.

The study points out that while positive impact of the assets created under MGNREGA will continue, there is absence of any mechanism to ensure durability and sustainability of the assets created under the programme. "The state administration should start thinking in this direction as the assets created under the programme, in near future will start demanding maintenance in order to continue to provide positive net returns to the community," says Dandekar, adding that they have identified provisions under MGNREGA which can ensure long-term sustainability of the assets.

"There are provisions presently available under the programme whereby a part of the funding can be used for maintaining such assets," adds Dandekar.


Read more: IRMA evaluates MGNREGA's implementation in Sikkim - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/IRMA-evaluates-MGNREGAs-implementation-in-Sikkim/articleshow/7439237.cms#ixzz1DKGLZ3JA