Take the first, and most major debilitating factor — a profound and widespread lack of awareness. Not only are many within the district ignorant about the existence of such a scheme; not only are those who know about it and want to avail themselves of it in the dark about their entitlements under it; not only are those meant to oversee it like sarpanches, ignorant and untrained — even those labouring on these worksites are clueless about working under the NREGS!

A detailed report on 33 panchayats in Bhawanipatna block in Kalahandi district, filed by a group of 25 volunteers in June, highlighted how this debilitating lack of general information is in direct proportion to the interest the local district administration and gram panchayats take in the project. While some pockets reported satisfactory progress, in other villages even the panchayat offices were found to be locked on most days. Many did not have the facilities to store NREGS documents, much less display them for public viewing.

The confusion of where to go for a job card was widespread, and while the minimum wage was Rs 55 in the area, most men reported that they were getting much less, with the women paid even lower. The leaks that the NAC had hoped to plug in the NREGS were very much in evidence. Reports from other parts of the country six months later, revealed almost the same problems. Not only were the wages paid far lower than the statutory minimum, they were delayed, and despite an entitlement of 100 days under the Scheme, some managed only 10-25 days of work in many districts.

... contd.