Role of gram-panchayath and water user cooperative society (WUCS) in utilization of MGNREGA scheme in Malaprabha command area

Introduction

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) was notified on September 7, 2005. It was started in the first phase in 200 Districts from February 2nd 2006 and then gradually extended to entire country with effect from April 1, 2008. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been launched. It is centrally sponsored right based programme, which legally ensures 100 days employment guarantee to rural job card holder/wage seekers. It also provides to take steps for economic development in rural areas and ensures Social Justice. MGNREGA is being implemented in the state in phased manner since 2006-07. Karnataka state considered on top priority regarding implementation of the act along with creation of assets. The objective of MGNREGA is mainly to creation of durable assets and securing livelihood of rural households which can be facilitated through Convergence of MGNREGA works with schemes available with Panchayaths and other line departments. These resources are not restricted to availability of funds.

Water management in India, challenges and solution:

Since 1985, Ministry of Water Resources has been inspiring farmers "participation in water distribution and management of tertiary system in the projects covered under the Centrally Sponsored Command Area Development Programme. The concept of involvement of farmers in management of the irrigation system has been accepted as a policy of the Government of India and has been included in the National Water Policy adopted in 1987. Provisions made in the National Water Policy of 1987 were as under: "Efforts should be made to involve farmers progressively in various aspects of management of irrigation systems, particularly in water distribution and collection of water rates. Assistance of voluntary agencies should be enlisted in educating the farmers in efficient water-use and water management." Karnataka Promulgated an Ordinance on 7 th June 2000 for amendment of the existing Karnataka Irrigation Act 1957. Recognising the need for sound legal framework for PIM in the country, the Ministry brought out a model act to be adopted by the State Legislatures for enacting new irrigation acts/amending the existing irrigation acts for facilitating PIM. In accordance with the model act eight State Governments, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka; Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have enacted new acts.

MGNREGA scheme was intiated in 2005 in India, as a flagship programme of Government of India. The employment was given to the unemployed, labours of rural and urban people. The wage rate per day was given as Rs. 300 /-per person/day. The scheme was utilized for the employment generation in rural and urban sector. Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), Dharwad has taken up the work of desiltation of canals, jungle clearance and bunding activities through giving information to the officials of WUCS and Gram Panchayath. WALMI, Dharwad has taken up the initiation for convergence of MGNREGA scheme into NRM and Agriculture/ Horticulture, components for reconstruction lining, main canal, Sub canal in the command area of respective villages. CEO, ZP of district and PDO, Gram Panchayath was also involved in the implementation of scheme. and members of WUCS regarding scheme project implementation and management 3. For programme implementation, contact with CEO, ZP of respective district and order and give office order to be given to concerned authority.

Modes of convergence

Objectives of the study 1. To assess the physical and financial progress of the scheme. 2. To assess the impact MGNREGA on socio economic characteristic of beneficiaries 3. To document the number of WUCS utilized the MGNREGA fund in study area 4. To identify the constraints in implementation of MGNREGA scheme.

Methodology

The details were collected from one taluk each in Dharwad district in scheme implemented area. The secondary data has been collected from the concerned Department officials and MGNREGA cell in ZP and Department and published website sources. WUCS started the work on NRM and agri and allied activities and water related works for the cleaning and construction of channel and lining of sub canal and renovation of minor canal for community. MGNREGA scheme was implemented in village Malaprabha command area for the irrigation activity and renovation of canal.

Employment opportunity

MGNREGA scheme was implemented in Karnataka created employment opportunity for men, women and youths in the rural area. The scheme also makes provision for irrigation NRM Agriculture/allied related work for the development activities. The scheme started its implication of income, employment generation activity in rural area. The beneficiaries like WUCS utilized the fund for irrigation, canal clean, silt clearence, jungle clean and renovation of canals in command area. The distributor, canal, sub canal, drainage, reclaimation of waterlogged area, feeder channel clean activities improved by utilization of MGNREGA scheme under NRM components, irrigation activity. The Employment generation activity provided in MGNREGA scheme helped the beneficiaries in support house income and socio-economic status of family. MGNREGA scheme benefitted interns of provided was 11,21,535 man-days in Dharwad district, Alnavar taluk was 45,060 man-days, Annigere was 77,728 mandays, Dharwad was 2,41,318 man-days, Hubli was 1,48,862 man-days, Kalghatagi was 2,82,629 man days, Kundgol was 1,84,692 man days, Navalgund was 1,51,246 man days.

Results

The results were depicted in The beneficiaries have participation of 13.33% in the Gram Panchayaths, 26.67% were associated with Water Users Cooperative Society (WUCs), 40.00% were associated with cooperative societies and 20.00% participated in other organizations without irrigation area. 46.67% of farmers under MGNREGA scheme belonged to nuclear families and 53.33% farmers were lived in joint families.

In the study, male population was 60.00 whereas female population was 40.00% in study area.

The study area is dominated by small and medium families. It indicated 36.67% of families were small (less than 5 members), 43.33% were medium size family (6 and 7 members) and 20.00% families were large families (more than 7 members) in study area.

60.00% of farmers under MGNREGA scheme belonged to agriculture / allied activities and 13.33% beneficiaries were semiskilled labours. In the study, 6.67% were skilled labour, 6.67% beneficiaries whereas 3.33% was unemployed for >6 months in study area. 40.00% of farmer's monthly income was less than Rs.3000 under MGNREGA scheme and 26.67% beneficiary's monthly income was Rs.3001-Rs.5000. 20.00% beneficiary's monthly income was between Rs.5001-Rs.10, 000. 13.33% beneficiary's monthly income was more than Rs.10, 001 and above.

The impact of MGNREGA on socio economic characteristic of beneficiaries

Conclusion and policy implication

In this study MGNREGA scheme was used effectively for irrigation canal management. The scheme was utilized MGNREGA fund for the silt uptake, cleaning weeds, bush and waste material and obstacle in canals. The Gram-Panchayath members and WUCS jointly worked for the scheme in the study area. Water and Land Management institute has taken up initiated and make awareness of MGNREGA scheme utilization to WUCS for utilization in cleaning of canals in Malaprabha command area. PIM also takes a major role in the irrigation management in all WUCS joins hand for the success of the implementation of scheme. The details were collected from Dharwad district in scheme implemented area. Secondary data will be collected from the concerned Department officials and MGNREGA cell in ZP of each district, Department and published sources. The sub canals were silted up and cleaned up on an average of 3.95 Kms in study area per WUCS under this scheme. This study has taken to show the success of MGNREGA and WUCS are main pillars of public domain used the scheme for the management of canals under irrigation system and to achieve the goal of irrigation water from head region to tail end of the farmer's field. The MGNREGA scheme utilized for the cleaning and renovation of canals in the study area about 43.50 km of canal area was cleaned up and jungle cleared by WUCS.

References

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