Rural employment guaranteed scheme: A study in Churachandpur district of Manipur

Abstract

Rural employment guarantee programme is an important element for a State like Manipur where employment opportunities are less, there are no big industries and unstainable agriculture production is practiced. Poverty is the main hindrances for the development of the State. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme aims to provide the rural people with short-term employment in which they could get direct wages and longterm employment opportunity for the future if the permissible works are designed acknowledging the needs of the poor. The study was carried out in 2 blocks of Churachandpur district of Manipur namely Tuibuong block and Henglep block. The study focussed on the awareness level of beneficiaries, its livelihood impact and the role of Gram Panchayat (GP) in provisioning and implementation of the programme. The study found that majority of the beneficiaries were aware about their rights under employment guarantee programme except for getting employment within 15 days, getting wages within 15 days of work done and getting unemployment allowance. The programme has enabled the beneficiaries to have two square meals a day, reduce abject poverty and search for other means of work. However, untimely payment of wages is the major problem faced by beneficiaries in both the blocks. Gram Panchayat played an important role in provisioning and implementing the programme in both the selected blocks by registering, issuing job cards, providing employment and payment of wages. Development work was taken up such as water conservation, plantation, horticulture, rural connectivity and flood protection by GP. Nevertheless, better implementation of the programme at each level of governance will further enhance social, environment and economic development of the district.