CONTRACTORS are banned for work under the NREGA, but the survey found that they were in fact involved at 27 per cent of the sample worksites. The worst State in this respect was Jharkhand, where contractors were found at more than half (57 per cent) the sample worksites.

KAMLA DAS, 25, belongs to a landless family in Salba gram panchayat in Chhattisgarh

The NREGA is a piece of new-age legislation which invokes the framework of legal rights to provide employment in rural areas. The rights framework should, ideally, provide an antidote to government irresponsibility in the form of accountability under the law.

NREGA Survey 2008 was conducted in May-June 2008. It covered 10 districts spread over six North Indian States (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh). The sample districts were Araria and Kaimur (Bihar), Surguja (Chhattisgarh), Koderma and Palamau (Jharkhand), Badwani and Sidhi (Madhya Pradesh), Dungarpur and Sirohi (Rajasthan) and Sitapur (Uttar Pradesh).

The NREGA is making a difference to the lives of the rural poor, slowly but surely.

ANTARA BOSE
Jamshedpur, Jan. 6: Gone are the days when the primitive tribes of Musabani block in East Singhbhum used to depend on hunting to earn their livelihood. Now, the Sabars, a backward tribe residing at Joblakocha in the block, are slowly embracing a civilised life.

BAIHATA CHARIALI, Jan 6

Even as the flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme continues to face problems at the implementation level, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, ignoring suggestions by Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other economists, has refused to bring any major change in the scheme.

As General Election draws near, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government plans to showcase its flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme to highlight its social sector achievements.