Though the Indian economy has achieved a substantial growth rate of 9 percent, the problem of unemployment and poverty in the rural areas of the country continues to be a cause of serious concern. During the last three decades, the rich have become richer and the poor miserably poorer. Even the marginal farmers have become landless labourers. Due to ineffective delivery system and mismanagement of several employment programmes initiated by the Central Government, the poor have not been benefited from them. To provide means of livelihood and reduce the quantum of poverty especially in rural areas, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre enacted a law to enable the poor people in the rural areas to get 100 days employment with legal guarantee. This pro-active measure became a law when the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill was unanimously passed by the Parliament on August 23, 2005 and notified in September, 2005.
The book presents the findings of a pilot study on implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), conducted in four districts--Sitapur, Raebareli, Unnao, and Barabanki--eight blocks, sixteen villages, interviewing 400 beneficiaries (25 per village) on the worksite. Major findings reveal that the beneficiaries, while expressing satisfaction on the new initiatives taken by the Government, demanded increase in wage rates, work site facilities as enshrined in the Act and increase in the number of working days in a financial year. The study also reveals that there is wide appreciation of the NREGA in the rural areas with significant representation of beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. There is need for vigorous identification of job opportunity well in advance and strict monitoring of the implementation process. Creating greater awareness about the scheme through various local medial facilities available in the rural areas adn vigorous efforts to involve women workers is warranted. Though the sample size of the study is small, it reveals interesting findings. It would be necesary to explore all the aspects of implementation process and plug various loopholes.
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgement
1. Introduction
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
3. Profile of Study Area: Uttar Pradesh
4. NREGS : Performance in Uttar Pradesh Macro Level Analysis
5. NREGS : Performance at Village Level Survey Analysis and Interpretation of Beneficiaries Responses
6. Major Findings and Suggestions
Annexures
Selected Bibliography
Index
R.L. Raina, Ph. D. has over 25 years of academic and managerial experience. He has had several prestigious assignments in Educational institutes in US, UK France, Germany and Canada. Reputed organization like the Fulbright Foundation (USA), the British Council (UK), the Max Muller Bhawan (Germany), the ESCP-EAP (France), and the IDRC (Canada) sponsored these assignments. In terms of research, he has authored 2 and edited 9 best selling books, and has made significant contributions (95 research paper in all to date) in several reputed national and international journals: the areas include 'Business Communication, Corporate & Media Relation', TQM', 'IT Applications'. 'HRM' and 'Marketing ' in the Information Sector', He has also presented over 110 papers in national and international conferences/seminars floated by reputed organizations, universities included. He has been heavily involved in consulting and research assignments awarded by organizations like the JSL, Deliver, USA, IDRC, Canada. The Johns Hopkins University/Centre for Communication Programmes, Baltimore, USA, the UP State Electricity Board, Public Affairs section of the US, Department of State and the MHRD (GOL) Dr. Raina is a life member of several professional bodies in the country and holds the unique distinction of having bagged three of the top professional bodies in the country and holds the unique distinction of having bagged three of the top professional honours/awards. Before joining LBSIM, Dr. Raina was Professor, 'Communication' at the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML), where he was also responsible for developing and managing state-of-the-art world class academic infrastructure, including the learning resource centre At IIML, Prof. Raina also successfully initiated and handled activities in area like 'Corporate Communication', Media Relations' Student Affairs, and 'Alumni Affairs.
G.L. Sharma, M.Com., Ph. D from University of Rajasthan, has been in teaching and research for over four decades and is a Professor of Finance and Accounting at this Institute. Dr. G.L. Sharma's area of teaching and research are Accounting and Finance. During 1982-1985 he was a Reader in Finance, Department of Business Administration, Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He also completed a Research Project on "Institutional Financing of Small Scale Industries in Nigeria and special reference to Northern States (A Comparative Study of Nigeria and India)", He has published 6 books including Advanced Cost Accounting. Cost Analysis & Control--A Managerial Approach and Theory & Techniques of Cost Accounting. He has jointly edited three books-- "Corporate Finance: Emerging Options", Contemporary Issues in Business Finance & Taxation" and a book on "Leveraging Human Potential for Excellence". He has contributed large numbers of research articles i leading Journals. Currently, he is working on research project ":Activity Based Costing in Indian Financial Management Association and also Managing Editor of Indian Journal of Finance & Research. He has widely traveled both in India and Abroad.
S.K. Bapai, Ph. D. from Lucknow University has been associated in several research and consultancy projects related to corporate to as well as social sectors for two decades. he has published research papers and articles in professional Journals, newspapers and magazines. He is member of Educational Advisory Board of two professional journals also. He has also provided consultancy as Training Expert under the aegis of Water and Power Consultancy Ltd., a Government of India Undertaking which was responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation of 'UP Sodic Land Reclamation Project---II' (a World Bank assisted project). Presently he is with Lal Bahadur Shastri Research Centre for Public Policy and social Change, a 'Change, a 'Centre of Excellence' of Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi.
