Rural distress easing following good monsoon

Rural distress as a result of two back-to-back drought years has begun to show signs of easing following good monsoon rains and is reflected in the substantial decline in the number of labourers employed under the MNREGA in last two months, a top government official today said.
"Monsoon rainfall has been better so far and therefore area under cultivation is also higher than in past two years, when severe rainfall deficiency hit farmers. As a result the number of workers engaged under various Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) projects has also declined," Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha told PTI.

The Met Department has forecast better than normal rains for the four-month season ending September.
The number of workers and demand for work under MNREGA rises sharply during the time of drought. As the small farmers and peasant move away from agriculture and look for other options to earn their livelihood.
In the first week of June more than 1.37 crore workers were engaged in MNREGA which has come down to about 40 lakh at the start of this week, according to official data.
"This clearly shows that rural distress in the country is easing, but still there are small patches in one or two states which witnessed uneven rainfall. We will continue to provide them all essential support and funds," Sinha added.

He said, in the April-June period this year, the 89 crore person days of employment was generated as against 54 crore person days under the government's flagship rural employment programme last year.

Sinha, however, made it clear that the government would not scale down the works and funds under MNREGA, despite the situation easing in rural areas.
The government had last year increased the number of workdays under MGNREGA from 100 days to 150 days in drought-hit areas.
The objective of MGNREGA is to enhance livelihood security of rural households while creating durable assets and discouraging migration.
The focus of the scheme is on water conservation, water harvesting, drought proofing, land development, flood control and rural connectivity, among others. The scope of the scheme has also been extended from time to time.