Pradhans running NREGA show

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act does not mention the pradhan even once. But today pradhans are running or ruining the show, as the case may be, in enforcing NREGA in the select 200 districts of the country.

This became evident at a public tribunal on NREGA organised in Lucknow this week by NGOs VANI and UPVAN, both networks of 2,000-odd grassroots organisations, the latter exclusively in Uttar Pradesh.

Experts pointed out that this was an unconstitutional development and needs correction through involvement of the entire panchayat rather than the pradhan alone in the enforcement of the law.

The pradhan is seen taking blame mainly for not organising job cards in time, not giving enough cards, giving cards but not giving work, or for not giving allowance.

On the other hand, Pradhans who made submissions at the public tribunal gave expression to some of the angst felt by them about the way NREGA seems to be totally centred on them.

Anand Kumar Singh, a pradhan from Barabanki district for instance, said that not only were half of the pradhans illiterate, none of them were trained by the state.

Besides, the state was yet to issue any guidelines on implementing the Act. For example, no one knew that the money for making job cards and taking pictures of workers was to come from the NREGA funds itself, he said.

Manoj Rai, constitutional expert on Panchayati Raj from NGO PRIA and member of the tribunal in Lucknow, said, "NREGA is the entire panchayat's responsibility and not just of the pradhan. There is no reason why he has been given all the powers as well as all the responsibility, and, of course, all the blame for failure. What is happening now is unconstitutional and will lead to maligning of PRIs."

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What the law says...

1. The gram panchayat (not pradhan) shall be responsible for identification of projects

2. A gram panchayat may take up any project

3. Every gram panchayat shall prepare a development plan

4.The gram panchayat shall allocate employment opportunities among the applicants and ask them to report for work

5. The gram panchayat shall make available all relevant documents including muster rolls. bills, vouchers, etc

6. Applications for work may be submitted in writing either to the gram panchayat (not pradhan)

7. The gram panchayat and programme officer shall be bound to accept valid applications and to issue a dated receipt