NREGA benefited marginal farmers, reveals survey

After a report by the government’s auditor (CAG) last month that slammed the UPA’s flagship right to work scheme, a survey by an NGO says that MG-NREGA has been successful in improving quality of land and generating extra income for marginal farmers.

After a report by the government’s auditor (CAG) last month that slammed the UPA’s flagship right to work scheme, a survey by an NGO says that MG-NREGA has been successful in improving quality of land and generating extra income for marginal farmers.

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The survey in six states — Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh — by Sambodhi, a Delhi based NGO is in collaboration with the UNDP and is acknowledged by the ministry of rural development that runs NREGA.

The study, officials said, was commissioned to assess the impact on assets following a decision to allow land development works on individual farms belonging to small and marginal farmers.

Of the surveyed beneficiaries, 85% reported an improvement in land quality and a majority of households noted a 10-15% increase in income post creation of assets through NREGA, the report says.

Interestingly, the study notes that 42% of households who sought jobs under MGNREGA and on whose land work was undertaken did not come back to work under right to work scheme, a trend termed as positive.

“This may suggest that NREGA is in part realising its objective of making small and marginal farmers and other marginalised communities, self reliant,” Jairam Ramesh, rural development minister said.