Idpms - NIRD Report

Chapter I
Background-

Even as the economy progresses at an astounding pace, India is still struggling with
basic social and economic problems like illiteracy, widening gaps between the rich and
poor, poverty and more. Plans to reduce poverty levels and bridge the gaps in
distribution of wealth have been a part of the Government’s policy since India got its
independence. Some of the initial programs concentrated on making the poor self
sufficient with respect to basic necessities like food. Immediately after independence,
making food grains available to all residents at controlled prices was an important part of
poverty reduction programs. This has completely abolished deaths due to hunger. This
is a major accomplishment of the Government of India.

Later many poverty alleviation programmes were brought which address the root cause
for poverty like illiteracy, high population growth rate, high dependence of farmers on
monsoons and outdated techniques to cultivate their lands, good infrastructures and
creation of employment opportunities etc. Poverty reduction has also been an important
part of India’s five-year plans. National Rural Employment Programs, Rural Landless
Employment Guarantee Program, and Jawahar Rojgar Yojna are some of the programs
introduced by the Indian Government.

The current plan aims at reducing the headcount ratio of consumption poverty by 10
percentage points. It is also expected to reduce educated unemployment, increase work
opportunities and increase the real wages for unskilled workers – thus reducing poverty
amongst labor classes

Poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes

Poverty reduction has been an important goal of development policy since the inception
of planning in India. Various antipoverty, employment generation and basic services
programmes have been in operation for decades in India are listed below-
(Ref: website: http:/indiabudget.nic.in )

(a) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Launched in December 2000, PMGSY aims to provide all-weather connectivity to all the
eligible unconnected rural habitations. Bharat Nirman, envisages connectivity by 2009 to
all the habitations with a population of 1000 or more in the plains, and of 500 or more in
the hilly, desert and tribal areas. The systematic upgradation of the existing rural road
network also is an integral component of the scheme, funded mainly from the accruals of
diesel cess in the Central Road Fund, with support of the multilateral funding agencies
and the domestic financial institutions.

(b) Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
IAY aims to provide dwelling units, free of cost, to the Scheduled Castes (SCs),
Scheduled Tribes (STs), and freed bonded labourers, and also the non-SC/ST BPL
families in rural areas. It is funded on a cost-sharing basis in the rates of 75.25 between
the Centre and the States. Under IAY, the ceiling on construction assistance is
Rs.25,000/- per unit in the plains and Rs.27,500/- for hilly/difficult areas; and Rs.

1 Idpms/nrega report/09

12,500/- on upgradation of unserviceable kutcha house to pucca/semi pucca house for
all areas

(c ) Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
SGSY, launched in April, 1999 after restructuring the Integrated Rural Development
Programme and allied schemes, is the only self-employment programme for the rural
poor. The objective is to bring the self employed above the poverty line by providing
them income-generating assets through bank credit and Government subsidy.
.
(d) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
SGRY, launched on September 25, 2001 to provide additional wage employment in the
rural areas, has a cash and food grains component, and the Centre bears 75 per cent
and 100 per cent of the cost of the two with the balance borne by the States/UTs.

(e) National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP)
The NFFWP was launched as a CSS in November 2004 in the 150 most backward
districts to generate additional supplementary wage employment with food security.
States receive food grains under NFFWP free of cost. The focus of the programme is on
works relating to water conservation, drought proofing (including aforestation /tree
plantation), land development, flood-control/protection (including drainage in
waterlogged areas), and rural connectivity in terms of all-weather roads

(f) DPAP, DDP and IWDP
Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) was launched in 1973-74 to tackle the special
problems faced by those areas constantly affected by severe drought conditions. Desert
Development Programme (DDP) was launched in 1977-78 to mitigate the adverse
effects of desertification. Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) has
been under implementation since 1989-90 for the development of wastelands/ degraded
lands. The basis of implementation has been shifted from sectoral to watershed basis
from April 1995.

(g) Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)
In December 1997, the Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP) and the Urban
Wage Employment Programme (UWEP), which are the two special components of the
SJSRY, substituted for various programmes operated earlier for urban poverty
alleviation. The SJSRY is funded on a 75:25 basis between the Centre and the States.

(h) Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY)
VAMBAY, launched in December 2001, facilitates the construction and up-gradation of
dwelling units for the slum dwellers, and provides a healthy and enabling urban
environment through community toilets under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, a component of
the Scheme. The Central Government provides a subsidy of 50 per cent, with the
balance provided by the State Government. Since its inception and up-to December, 31
2005, Rs. 866.16 crore had been released as Central subsidy for the
construction/upgradation of 4,11,478 dwelling units and 64,247 toilet seats under the
Scheme..

Anti-poverty strategy has three broad components: promotion of economic growth;
promotion of human development; and targeted programmes of poverty alleviation to
address multi-dimensional nature of poverty. The various programmes targeted at the


poor have been streamlined and strengthened in recent years, including through the
NREGS.

Economic performance of Karnataka and India in a comparative perspective-

Karnataka came into being as a state of the Union of India on November 1, 1956 as a
result of the merger of five territories viz. four districts of the erstwhile Bombay state,
three districts of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, two districts and one taluk of
the former Madras state, nine districts of the former princely state of Mysore.

Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India in both area and population. Karnataka lies
between 74o and 78o East longitudes and 11o and 18o North latitudes. It is situated on
the western edge of the Deccan plateau and is surrounded by Maharashtra and Goa on
the north, Andhra Pradesh on the east, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the south. On the
west, it opens out on the Arabian Sea.

The state of Karnataka has an area of 191,791 sq. km. and a population of 52.85
million. There are 27 districts, 176 blocks and 29406 villages. The State has population
density of 275 per sq. km. (as against the national average of 312). The decadal growth
rate of the state is 17.51% (against 21.54% for the country) and the population of the
state is growing at a slower rate than the national rate.

It accounts for about 5.8% of India’s land, and about 5.3% of India’s population.
Karnataka contributes to about 5.5% of India’s GDP. Karnataka has an estimated GSDP
of Rs. 118,540 crore (about $25.2 billion equivalent). Karnataka is on track to meet most
of the Millenium development Goals ( MDGs, ) with trend performance better than
required for important MDGs such as poverty reduction, child malnutrition, school
enrollment, infant mortality and access to safe water. Reduction in the discrepancy of
male-to-female literacy is slightly below target, as is improvement in number of births
attended by skilled personnel.

Karnataka is one of India’s fastest growing states. Its state GDP (GSDP) growth rate
picked up from 5.3% in the eighties (below the national average) to 7.3% in the nineties
(the second highest), and at 8.3% in the second half of the nineties (the highest). Growth
in all three sectors of the economy is above the Indian average. During the second half
of the nineties, for example, Karnataka’s agricultural, industrial, and service sectors grew
at average rates of 4.0%, 9.2%, and 10.6% respectively, compared to all-India averages
of 3.6%, 5.0% and 8.7% respectively. Agricultural output increased on the back of
diversification and increases in productivity, industrial growth was led by rapid
manufacturing expansion. Growth in services was high across the board, led by software
exports. During the second half of the 1990s, Karnataka became the third largest
recipient of FDI among major Indian states, and the highest on an income per capita
basis. Karnataka’s good growth record in the nineties was maintained into 2000/01 (with
real growth of 6.7%), but slowed in 2001/02 and 2002/03 on account of drought.

Despite rapid growth in recent years, Karnataka is still a poor state, poorer than the
average for India. According to the now -widely-used Deaton-Dreze adjusted poverty
estimates, poverty in Karnataka in 1999/00 was 25.1% compared to the all-India
average of 22.7% (Table 1). This reflects low average land-holdings, and high reliance
on rain-fed agriculture. However, poverty is falling. Rural poverty in Karnataka fell from


37.9% in 1993/94 to 30.7% in 1999/00, compared to an all India decline from 33% to
26% (see Table 1). Urban poverty fell from 21.4% in 1993/94 to 10.8% in 1999/00
(compared to an all India decline from 18% to 12%). Thus, compared to the all-India
performance, there was a slightly above average reduction in rural areas and a greatly
above average reduction in urban areas.

Table 1 .Headcount ratio of Karnataka and All India in the nineties (% )
RURAL URBAN TOTAL
1999/00 Reduction 1999/00 Reduction 1999/00 Reduction
from from from
1993/94 1993/94 1993/94
Karnataka 30.7 7.2 10.8 10.6 25.1 8.1

All India 26.3 6.7 12.0 5.8 22.7 6.5

Human development. Karnataka’s performance in human development indicators is
improving, though still rather average (Table 2). The nineties saw an eleven percentage
point improvement in literacy, a slow down in population growth, and above-average
improvement in infant mortality. Yet Karnataka has a long way to go to catch up with the
comparator states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and, on the issue of population growth,
Andhra Pradesh. The current proportion of immunized children, at 60% is disappointing
for a middle -tier Indian state like Karnataka. Successfully increasing the rate of
immunized children to the target of 90% will play a major role in reducing the spread of
communicable diseases that are responsive to immunization. HIV prevalence among
STD clinic attendees in Karnataka is about 16% and among women attending antenatal
clinics was 1.13% in 2001. These figures indicate that HIV has crossed over from
subpopulations engaging in high risk behaviors to the general population and it signals
that the epidemic has reached a generalized stage, and could have catastrophic effects
unless successfully and rapidly tackled.

Table 2. Human Development Indicators for Karnataka and All India levels
Population Growth
Infant Mortality Rate (
Literacy Rate(%) (over the last decade
per 1000)
%)
2001 Increase 2001 Reduction 2001 Reduction
since since since
1991 1991 1991
Karnataka 67.0 11.0 17.2 3.9 51.5 13.9

All India 65.4 13.8 21.3 2.6 67.6 10.9

HDI, Karnataka Report

The scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population are 16.2 and 6.6 per cent of the
total population in the state respectively. The percentage of SC population in Gulbarga
is second highest (8.29 %) which is next Bangalore Urban (9.9 %). Raichur, another
sample district for the study has highest percentage of ST population (18%).


Table 3. Literacy rates of SC/STs by sex and region : 1991 and 2001 census

Area GENERAL
SC POPULATIONS ST POPULATION
POPULATION
Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female
Rural 31.42 43.21 19.23 - - 47.69 60.30 34.76
1991 36.0
Urban 59.18 70.05 47.64 74.20 82.04 65.74
Rural 47.25 58.71 35.56 45.3 56.9 33.3 59.33 70.45 48.01
2001
Urban 59.88 69.27 78.32 64.6 74.4 54.3 80.55 86.66 74.12

Literacy rate is less than 50% (i.e 47.25%) in the rural Karnataka as per 2001 census.
With no viable assets, low literacy rate compounds the problem of literacy.

Agriculture Development

Land use pattern is one of the indicators of agriculture development. A high proportion of
cultivable waste land, low irrigation and low cropping intensities may indicate agriculture
backwardness.

Land Utilization details in the selected districts is given below at Table:

(in hectare)
District Hassan Gulbarga Raichur State
Total Geographical area 662602 1610208 835843 19049836
Forest 58775 69089 18167 3070941
Land Not available for
cultivation
a. Non-Agricultural 78236 67827 20563 1335704
b. Barren 30365 63122 20084 787949
Total 108601 130949 40647 2123653
Cultivable waste 14318 11802 10712 419329
Permanent pasture 32943 37409 19816 947158
Trees and groves 6957 1792 13680 301102
Fallow Land 42747 171508 114339 1853696
Others 24598 20210 37789 487351
Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, 2005

Total geographical data is highest in Gulbarga. Even though Gulbarga has highest
fallow land (171508 Ha), proportionate fallow land compared to the total holding is
higher in Raichur (13.68%) as compared to Gulbarga(10.65%) and Hassan (6.45%).
Percentage land not available for cultivation is highest in Hassan (16.39%) as compared
to Gulberga (8.13%) and Raichur(4.86%)


Table 4. Percentage share of district in total production of food grains
District 1995-96 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-2002 2002-03 2003-04

Chitradurga 6.23 2.78 3.37 3.62 3.12 2.19
Gulbarga 6.72 7.79 6.90 7.48 10.39 10.44
Raichur 9.61 6.79 6.01 5.86 6.53 5.59
Hassan 3.98 4.23 4.19 4.71 3.92 3.23
STATE 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Gulberga is steadily increasing in its’ percentage share of food grains while share is
decreasing in Raichur. However Hassan is more or less maintaining the same standard .

Table 5. Different crops and area grown-- (in Ha)
District Hassan Gulbarga Raichur State
Paddy 39533 65687 79002 1073899
Ragi 142538 0 0 998266
Jowar 5805 292954 160377 1698177
Bajra 0 72378 69564 318745
Maize 21919 2568 486 618173
Wheat 0 17523 2584 231994
Total 37051 655009 64353 1874328
pulse(Gram,
Tur and
others)
Groundnut 944 60947 36534 817243
Cotton 169 17295 31965 316674

Area under paddy is significantly high in all the three districts. While paddy is being
grown in Hassan traditionally, its’ production picked up in the recent decades in Raichur
and Gulbarga ever since the canal irrigation started. Apart from paddy, Ragi is being
grown as a food crop in Hassan and Jowar and Bajra in other two districts.

Table 6.Per capita Food Grains Production(in Kgs)
District 1995-96 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-2002 2002-03 2003-04
Chitradurga 219.76 181.75 244.70 207.25 137.32 94.73
Gulbarga 200.16 245.82 242.18 207.61 221.18 218.88
Raichur 310.92 406.35 399.47 305.20 260.91 219.62
Hassan 202.31 241.93 266.83 237.53 151.77 123.06
STATE 172.77 186.96 207.83 164.56 126.09 124.16


In both Gulbarga(218.88 kg) and Raichur (219.62 kg), per capita food production is
higher as compared to state average of 124.18kg while per capita food production in
Hassan is 123.06 Kg which is slightly less than state average in the year 2003-04.
However, in all the three districts, per capita food production is decreasing with the
passing year.

Land records. About 5 million farmers a year request the government for a copy of or
change in their land records. Karnataka has now computerized its 20 million rural land
records. Whereas land record issuance took 3-30 days under the manual system it is
now done immediately.

Karnataka delivered the second highest agricultural growth rate among all states in India
in the nineties: 4.4% per annum. However, the negative agricultural growth experienced
in 2001/02 and 2002/03 has made apparent the state’s susceptibility to low rainfall, and
the consequent vulnerability of its rural population. Karnataka in fact has the second
largest arid area of any state after Rajasthan. Only 25% of Karnataka’s farmland is
irrigated compared to an average of 39% for all-India. .

Both the land holding and literacy play a key roles in welfare of any community. It is well
known fact that these segment of the population are deprived of assets. Despite the
special efforts of the government, the low literacy among the SC and STs are of grave
concerns.

Table 7. Distribution of operational holdings and areas for different social groups in
Karnataka :2001
(per cent)
Size Scheduled Scheduled Tribes Others Total
Class Castes
No of Area No of Area No of Area No of Area
Holdings Holdings Holdings Holdings
Marginal 52.13 19.70 40.84 12.00 45.41 11.40 45.94 12.20
small 30.13 33.10 30.89 25.30 26.28 21.10 26.98 22.40
Semi 13.73 27.70 19.37 29.60 18.26 27.90 17.79 28.00
Medium
Medium 3.65 16.00 7.85 25.30 8.65 28.30 8.03 27.00
Large 0.36 3.50 1.05 7.70 1.40 11.40 1.26 10.50
All sizes 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

It can be noticed from the above table that about 72.92% of the farmers are small and
marginal farmers which accounts for 34.60% of the total cultivable area which means for
many of these farmers can’t sustain only on land holding for their livelihood. It is further
noticed that majority of the belong to lower castes like SC/STs. It is important in this
context to create an alternate employment with in the villages such that they do not
migrate to nearby cities in search of employment leaving behind their small piece of
land , cattle and elderly people at home.


NREGA Study

NIRD (National Institute of Rural Development), Hyderabad has entrusted IDPMS to
conduct the study on ‘Planning and Implementation of NREGA in Karnataka’. IDPMS
has been asked to make study in three districts namely Hassan, Raichur and Gulbarga.
Details of methodology, brief descriptions about the selected districts, analysis and
important findings of the study were explained below--

Methodology-

The Scheme is introduced in the state during the year 2006. In the first phase, six
districts viz.Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Davanagere and Chitradurga were included in the
scheme. With effect from April 2007, Bellary, Belgaum, Chikmagalur,Hassan, Shimoga
and Kodagu are included in the second phase. Then During October 2007, the
remaining 18 districts were brought under the fold of NREGA. Two districts viz. Raichur,
Gulbarga which belong to backward most districts in the state were selected to study the
impact of NREGA. Both these districts were part of NREGA from the first phase itself.
Besides Hassan district also was selected for the study which is in the southern part of
the state. Hassan is relatively forward district is included under NREGA during the
second phase. From each of the three districts, two taluks ( blocks) are selected. The
selection of taluks were done in consultation with district officials of the respective ZP.
Selections are mainly done considering the NREGA work progress as well as the
distance of the block from the district headquarters. From each of these six taluks, one
Gram Panchayat was selected as per the choice of the programme officers of the
concerned Taluk as shown in the table below—

Table 8: Sample Districts, Taluks and Gram Panchayats.
District Taluk GP Village
Hassan Marakuli Nagenahalli
Hassan
Belur Yalahanka Yalahanka, Bhovi
Raichur Gunjalli Gunjalli
Raichur
Manvi Madlapura Madlapura
Gulbarga Kinni(Sadak) Kinni(Sadak)
Gulbarga
Afzalpura Mashala Mashala

Selection of Sample Household and nature of data collected-
Different types of data are collected. Firstly, data were collected from about 30 laboures
who worked in NREGA through structured questionnaire. The information collected
included mainly the awareness about provisions of NREGA like wages, other basic
facilities at work site, implementation procedures and the employment generated etc.
Apart from this, about 30 farmers in that village were interviewed mainly to find out about
the awareness and utility of the NREGA, impact of the NREGA on wages as well as
assets created in the villages. Household enumeration with about 100 households were
conducted mainly to find out about the socioeconomic status of the village as well as
their awareness about NREGA.

Further information was collected from the officials and elected representatives at
District, Taluk and Panchayat level through structured questionnaire.


Table 9: Number of sample Household in the Survey—
District Taluks Numbers
REGS workers 30
Hassan Farmers 30
Households 98
Hassan
REGS workers 31
Belur Farmers 31
Households 82
REGS workers 11
Raichur Farmers 36
Households 103
Raichur
REGS workers 36
Manvi Farmers 11
Households 100
REGS workers 27
Gulberga Farmers 27
Households 100
Gulberga
REGS workers 31
Afzalpur Farmers 31
Households 59

Chapter II
Institutional Arrangements and Profiles of the Study Area

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) came to be enacted by
Government of India in September 2005 following which the Government of Karnataka
has been implementing the scheme under the said Act in phases since February 2006.
The district covered in the first phase are Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Davanagere and
Chitradurga respectively while those covered under second phase with effect from April
2007 are Bellary, Belgaum, Chikamagalur, Hassan, Shimoga and Kodagu. During April
2008, the remaining 18 districts have been brought under NREGA for the purpose of
implementing the Employment Guarantee Scheme.

NREG Act envisages collaborative partnership between the Central Government, the
State governments, the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) and the local community.
Broadly, the main implementation activities are at the village and Block/Taluk levels,
while coordination activities are mainly at the Block/Taluk levels. Planning, supervision
and monitoring take place at all levels (Village/Taluk/Distric and State). At each level, the
concerned authorities are accountable to the community. The Grama Sabha is the
statutorily mandated institutional mechanisms for community participation. The overall
responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the scheme as per the NREGA lies on
the State Employment Guarantee Council (SEGC) at the state level, District Programme
Coordinaor (DPC) at district level, the Programme Officer(PO) at the Block/Taluk level
and Grama Panchayat at the grass root level. The Gram Panchayat is responsible for
planning of works,. Registering households, issuing job cards, allocating employment,
executing the works and monitoring the implementation of the scheme at the village
level.


The Information, Education Communication (IEC) activities for all the districts at different
phases have been organized. The Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development,
Mysore is the main organization entrusted with the responsibility of training the officials
and non-officials of PRIs. The National Institution of Rural Development, Hyderabad is
also involved to train the personal. Besides, in some districts, local NGOs have been
involved for social mobilization and awareness building. Other instruments used are
posters/pamphlets, display on walls.( Ref: RDPR, Karnataka)

Profiles of Selected Districts

The study area has several basic information like demographic, spatial and other useful
indicators which helps in knowing the dissimilarities among the three selected districts as
shown in the Table 10 Gulbarga has got larger geographical area as compared to
Raichur and Hassan. Gulbarga also has a higher population but density is low as
compared to other two districts. Sex Ratio and literacy levels are higher in Hassan
which is also indication of more forwardness.

Table 10: Districts at a Glance
Gulbarga Raichur Hassan
No of Taluks 10 5 8
Hoblies 48 37 38
Villages 1378 878 2552
Grama Panchayath 336 165 259
Towns/Urban Agglomeration 17 8 12
Municipalities / Corporations 11 6 8
Per Capita Income (1998-99)(Rs) 11,078 9,866 10,859
Employment Exchanges (as on
2 1 1
31.3.2001)
Police Stations (2000-2001) 50 23 27
Fire Stations (2000-2001) 5 3 4
Area (Sq. Kms) 16,224 5,559 6,814
Population - Male 1,591,379 832,352 858,623
Population - Female 1,533,479 815,860 862,696
Density 193 241 253
Sex Ratio (No. of females per 1000
964 980 1,005
males)
Actual rainfall for the year 2000 (mm) 805 640 1,100
Number of Factories (as on 31-3-2001) 129 236 45
Banks 174 94 166
Post Offices 623 279 421
Telephone Exchanges 142 60 94
Literacy Rate (%) 50.65 49.54 68.75
Source: District at a Glance, GOK


The brief description of the districts-

Gulbarga:

Gulbarga district is one of the three districts that were transferred from Hyderabad to
Karnataka state at the time of re-organization of the state in 1956. It is located in the
Northern part of the state and lies between North latitude 17° 10 and 17° 45 and
between east longitude 76° 10 and 77° 45’ The District is a biggest district in the state
covering 8.49% of the area and 5.9 present of population of the state. Gulbarga district
has a sizable part of Scheduled Caste Population. It is 23% of the total population of the
district. It is ranked 3rd in the state in respect of this next to Kolar and Chamraj nagar.

In recent years a High Power Committee(popularly known as Nanjundappa Committee)
was constituted by the govt. of Karnataka to look into the problem of regional
imbalances in the state. The committee, on the basis of various socio-economic
indicators assessed the development of 175 talukas in the state and has identified nine
taluks among the ten talukas in Gulbarga district as the most backward taluks.

Afzalpur (one of the most backward taluk ) and Gulbarga taluks were selected for the
study.

The climate of the district is generally dry and healthy with temperature ranging from 5c
to 45c and an annual rainfall of about 750mm. The entire district is situated in Deccan
Plateau and the general elevation ranges from 300 to 750 meters above MSL .

Two main river , Krishna and Bhima , flow in the district . The predominant type of soil in
the district is black soil . The district has a large number of tanks which in addition to the
river irrigate the land . The Upper Krishna Project is major irrigational venture in the
district . Jowar, groundnut , rice , and pulses are the main crops. Sugarcane and cotton
are the two commercial crops produced in the district. Apart from these, horticulture
crops like lemon, papaya and mango are also grown.

RAICHUR

The District of Raichur was a part of the Hyderabad State till the re-organisation of State
on 1st November 1956.

The district is bounded on the North by the district of Gulberga, on the West by the
districts of Bijapur and Dharwar, on the East by the district of Mababoobnagar of Andhra
Pradesh, and on the South are the districts of Kurnool also of Andhra Pradesh, and
Bellary. The two rivers, the Krishna and the Tungabhadra from the entire North and
Southern boundaries of the district.

The climate of the district is characterised by dryness for the major part of the year and a
very hot summer. The low and highly variable rainfall renders the district liable to
drought. The data of this observatory may be taken as representative of the conditions
in the district. December is the coldest month with the mean daily maximum temperature
at 29.3 Degree C. (84.8 F) and the mean daily minimum at 17.7C (63.9F) The nights are
generally cool in the season, but day temperatures sometimes reach 35 to 38 Degree C.


The geographical area of the district, according to the Central statistical organization of
the Government of India, is 14,013 Sq Kilometers The population of the district
according the 2001 census, was 1,648,212 . In terms of area, the district occupies the
third place among the districts of the State, while in respect of population it occupies the
tenth place. It accounts for 7.36 percent of the total area and 4.6 percent of the total
population of the State in 1961; the density of population then worked out to 202.51 per
square mile or 77 per square kilometer and this was much below the State average,
which was 319 per square mile or 123 per square kilometer, and the lowest next only to
North Kanara district.

The literacy in the district is considerably low with only 49.54% . The female literacy is
still low which is only 36.84%.

HASSAN

Lying between 12° 13´ and 13° 33´ North latitudes and 75° 33´ and 76°38´ East
longitude, Hassan district has a total area of 6826.15 km². It is divided into 8 taluks, 38
hoblies & 2369 villages. The geography is mixed with the malnad or mountainous region
to the west and south west called Bisle Ghat and the maidan or planis regions in the
north, south and east. There are some areas of degraded forest ranges in central portion
of the district. Coffee, Black Pepper, Potato, Paddy and Sugarcane are the major
agricultural crops

The general level of Hassan district is it slopes with the course of Hemavathi river from
the western ghat ranges towards the bed of Cauvery river near Hampapura in the south
east. Its chief tributary is Yagachi from Belur taluq which joins it near Gorur. Hemavathi
passes through Holenarsipur taluq in a southerly direction and joins with Cauvery river
near Hampapura close to the border of Hassan district. Hassan and Belur stands around
3,084 and 3,150 feet (960 m) above the sea level respectively.

As per the 2001 census the population of Hassan district is 17,21,669. The percentage
of rural and urban population to the total population of the district is 82.31 and 17.69
respectively.

People’s perceptions and Overall performance

NREGA is just not about income and employment generation. Apart from providing
wages for the work done, it is intended to several other indirect benefits to the workers
and community like arresting or minimizing distress migration, using the potential of
underemployed men and women who are unskilled, asset creation in the village and
above all ecological regeneration of the villages. NREGA has also huge potential of
reviving the economy of Indian villages if it is properly implemented. By this, it is
envisaged to have land development, regenerating the water bodies, recharging the
ground water and finally the water available for both consumption and productive
purposes.


For this to happen, the Scheme is expected to improve the awareness level of the
people about the NREGA and other development programmes. It is also expected to
empower the people to demand services from Gram Panchayat.

The overall performance of each district is measured by combining several indicators.
They are broadly grouped into nine categories viz. general awareness like job cards,
seeking employment, income and employment gains, duration of employment, display of
information, worksite facilities, peoples’ participation in Gram sabha and Social Audit and
perceptions of workers.

The study was conducted through structured questionnaires. Separate questionnaire
was designed for village enumeration, schedule for REGS workers and for farmers. The
important findings of the survey is given below -

A. VILLAGE ENUMERATION

It was decided to do a household survey in each of the selected Grama Panchayath covering the
socio economic status like caste, literacy status, land holding, income etc and brief information
like their status of job card applied and owned, and wages earned if they had worked under
NREGS and their over all perceptions on the NREGS.

Summary of the compilation of the village enumeration data is as follows-

Table 11: Social Status-Caste

Kinnisadak Mashala Gunjalli Madlapura Nagahalli Yalahanka
GP(N=100) GP(N=59) GP(N=100) GP(N=100) GP(N=98) GP(N=82)
No answer 1(1%) 1(1.7%) 5 2 1(1.2%)
SC 13(13%) 5(8.5%) 23 29 8(8.2%) 78(95.5%)
ST 32(32%) 1(1.7%) 47 45 2(2%)
OBC 52(52%) 46(78%) 17 15 85(86.7%) 3(3.7%)
OC 2(2%) 6(10.2%) 11 9 3(3.1%)

It is seen from the above table that OBC constituted a major group in Kinnisadak (52%),
Mashala (78%) and Naganahalli (86.7%) panchayaths. In remaining three districts SC/
STs formed a major group Viz: Gunjalli(70%), Madlapura(74%) and Yalahanka(95.5%).

Table 12: Literacy Status

No 1(1.0%) 2(3.4%) 4(3.9%) 1(1.0%)
answer/Blank-
Illierate - 1 29(29%) 32(54.2%) 86(83.5%) 88(88%) 65(66.4%) 68(82.9%)
Primary - 2 45(45%) 23(39%) 3(2.9%) 7(7.0%) 23(23.5%) 11(13.4%)
High School-3 19(19%) 1(1.7%) 3(2.9%) 3(3.0%) 8(8.2%) 2(2.4%)
Above high 6(6%) 1(1.7%) 7(6.8%) 1(1.0%)
school 2(2.0%) 1(1.2%)


From the sample household survey in about 100 households, in both Gunjalli and
Madlapura of Raichur district, proportions of SC/ST population are 70% and 74%
respectively. Similarly, in Bhovi village of Yalahanka Panchayath, 97.5% of the
population belong to ST population of Bovi community. Also illiteracy among the house
hold survey in these three panchayats seems to be highest to the extent of 83 to 88%.
Added to social backwardness and high percentage of illiteracy, household belonging to
landless or small holding (less than 2.5 acres) constitute the bulk of the population (64 %
to 86%).

Table 13: Land holding status

GP(N=100) GP(N=59) GP(N=103 GP(N=100 GP(N=98) GP(N=82)
) )
Landless -1 14 23(39%) 39(37.9%) 34 3(3.1%) 8(9.8%)
Less than 34 6(10.2%) 2(1.9%) 13 28(28.6%) 9(11.0%)
one acre -2
1.01-2.5 21 12(20.3%) 25(24.3%) 36 61(62.2%) 53(64.6%)
acres -3
2.51-5.0 25 16(27.1%) 25(24.3%) 8 5(5.1%) 10(12.2%)
acres -4
2.51-5.0 1 1(1.7%) 5(4.9%) 4 1(1.0%) 2(2.4%)
acres -4
5.01-10.0 5 1(1.7%) 7(6.8%) 5
acres -5
10.1- acres 7
and above -6

It is observed from the above table that more than 90% of the household interviewed is
having less than 2.5 acres of land which means they can not sustain the livelihood only
on the land. In such cases families who are unskilled will have to depend on their
physical work and during the critical part of the year i.e summer when they do not get
any employment locally will migrate to faraway places in search of wage works.

Table 14: Economic Status (Annual income)

No 1 15(25.4%) 2(1.9%) 1
answer/Blank
-0
<Rs.5000 - 1 19 13(22.0%) 21(20.4%) 22 59(60.2%) 33(40.2%)
Rs.5001- 36 20(33.9%) 31(30.4%) 46 33(33.7%) 33(40.2%)
10000 -2
Rs.5001- 25 4(6.8%) 39(37.9%) 23 2(2.0%) 7(8.5%)
15,000 -3
80 62.8 88.7 91 95.9 88.9
Rs.15001- 11 5(8.5%) 5(4.9%) 4 2(2.0%) 3(3.7%)
20000 -4
Rs.20001- 1 2(3.4%) 1(1.0%) 2(2.4%)


25000 -5
Rs25001- 2 2(1.9%) 1 2(2.4%)
40000 -6
Rs.40001- 1(1.0%) 1 1(1.0%) 1(1.2%)
60000 -7
>Rs.60001-- 5 1(1.0%) 2 1(1.0%) 1(1.2%)
8

Most of them have less than 2-2.5 acres of land and depend on agriculture and also work as
agriculture labourers. More than 80 % of the families are having an annual income of less than
Rs. 40,000/.

Table 15: Household registration for NREGS


Whether the household was Registered under NREGS

No answer 2 8(13.6%) 2 2(1.9%) 1(1.0%)
Yes 23 51(86.4%) 71 67(68.9%) 69(70.4%) 57(69.5%)
No 75 30 31(29.1%) 28(28.6%) 25(30.5%)

Position of the Job card
No answer 16 6(10.2%) 3(2.9%) 5(5%) 27(27.6%) 1(1.2%)
Yes 10 53(89.8%) 64(62.1%) 64(64%) 61(62.2%) 52(63.4%)
No 74 36(35.0%) 31(31%) 10(10.2%) 29(35.4%)

Except in Kinni(sadak) Panchayt of Gulberga district, in all other panchayats, 68.9 to 86.4% of
the households have registered themselves under NREGS. Almost 62 to 69% of them applied
own the job cards in these panchayaths.

B. REGS WORKERS SCHEDULES
Information was collected from workers who worked in scheme. Even though, it was
decided to seek information from 30 REGS workers, number is less in Gunjalli
Panchayath.

Table 16: Awareness of Entitlements under NREGA-

GP(N=27) GP(N=31 GP(N=11 GP(N=36) GP(N=30 GP(N=31)
) ) )
Maximum number of days 18(66.67% 31(100) 2(18.18) 4(11.11) 10(30.0) 7(29.17)
of guaranteed employment )
(100 days)
Unemployment allowance 1(4.00) 9(29%) 2(18.18) 1(3.00) 3(10.00) 0
(Rs.______ )


Wages to be paid if work is 0 0 0 0 0 0
given beyond 5 kms
Minimum wages 24(88.89) 26(83.87) 3(27.27) 13(36.11) 19(63.33) 8(25.80)
(Rs.______ )
Time limit for providing 17(62.96) 31(100.0) 1(9.00) 2(5.56) 11(36.67) 21(67.74)
employment after
submission of application
(15 days)
Time limit for payment of 17(62.96) 27(87.11) 1(9.00) 3(8.33) 16(53.33) 25(80.65)
wages (15 days)

Except for the knowledge about 100 days guaranteed employment, awareness about
remaining entitlements is very low across all the three districts. Awareness about
entitlements like extra wages to be paid if the work is given beyond 5kms, is nil among
workers. One of the reason told by some officials is that question of extra wages
beyond 5 kms does not arise as they always worked within 5 kms, in their own gram
panchayath. If we go by districts, overall awareness about the entitlement is better in
Gulbarga as compared to other two districts.

Table 17: Awareness regarding social audit and VMC

Aware of social 6(22..2%) 20(66.67%) 0 1(3.3%) 8(26.67%) 1(3.2%)
audit
Aware of VMC 11(40.74%) 15(48.39%) 1(9%) 0 1(3.3%) 1(3.3%)
Major Sources of information
i. Gram panchayat 23(85.19%) 25((80.65%) 6(54.55%) 14(38.89% 25((83.33%) 26(83.87%)
)
ii. Officials 0 1(3.2%) 0 1(3.3%) 0 0
iii.Newspaper 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iv. Radio and TV 0 0 0 0 0 0
v.NGO 0 0 0 0 0 0
vi. Friends and 0 0 5(45.45%) 16(44.44% 0 1(3.3%)
relatives )
vii. NREGA 0 0 0 0 1(3.3%) 2(6.6%)
campaign
viii. Door to door 0 0 0 0 0 0
survey
ix. Not applicable 0 0 0 0 0 0

As per the discussion with the people, social audit is conducted in Mashal Gram
Panchayath. In other places people whom we have spoken to do not have any idea
about social audits. In Hassan district, officials admitted that neither they have clear
idea about how to go about the social audits nor they have conducted social audits /
facilitated to conduct. They expressed the need for the training in this regard. The above
survey findings also confirm the lack of knowledge about the social audits and VMCs.
Highest awareness about the Social audit and VMCs is in Mashal Grampanchayat of
Gulbarga districts which are 66.67% and 48.39% respectively.


More than 80% of the workers expressed that they got information on NREGA through
Panchayat secretary/sarapanch in both Gulbarga and Hassan districts. In Raichur, in
both Gunjalli and Madlapur Panchayat, about 45% of the workers said that they got the
information from friends and relatives apart from Gram Panchayat Secretary/Sarapanch.

Table 18:Awareness about complaints to be given regarding job card-
1. Awareness about the complaints
i.a. Job cards are not given: 22(81.5%) 29(93.5%) 4(36.4%) 11(30.6%) 3(10%) 2(6.5%)
i.b officials to be contacted 6(22.2%) 6(19.4%) 0 0 2(6.1%) 2(6.5%)
ii. Work is not given within 20(74.1%) 28(90.3%) 0 2(5.6%) 2(6.7%) 1(3.2%)
15 days:
ii.b officials to be contacted 3(9.7%) 0 0 0 0 1(3.2%)
iii. Wages are not paid 19(70.4%) 27(87.1%) 0 1(2.8%) 2(6.7%) 2(6.5%)
within 15 days:
iii.c officials to be contacted 1(3.7%) 4(12.9%) 0 0 0 1(3.2%)
iv. Wage slips are not given: 8(29.6%) 15(48.4%) 0 1(2.8%) 2(6.7%) 2(6.5%)
v. Officials to be contacted 5(18.5%) 2(6.5%) 0 0 0 1(3.2)
for complaint
2.Registration of job cards
a. Male 15(55.6%) 26(83.9%) 10(90.9%) 21(58.3%) 13(43.3%) 19(61.3%)
b.Female 12(44.4%) 5(16.1%) 1(9.1%) 15(41.7%) 17(56.7%) 12(38.7%)
3. Job card lies generally with
i. Sarapanch 10(37%) 6(19.4%) 2(6.5%)
ii.Technical Assistant 1(9.1%) 4(11.1%) 2(6.7%)
iii. Panchayat Secretay 10(37%) 23(74.2%) 7(63.6%) 24(66.7%) 5(6.7%) 6(19.4%)
iv.Contractor 6(22.2%) 3(27.3%) 3(8.3%)
v. Mate 1(3.2%) 3(8.3%) 2(6.7%)
vi. GRS 2(6.7%)
vii. Others 1(3.7%) 1(3.2%) 2(5.6%) 19(63.3%) 23(74.2%)
vii. Does not know
4. Expenditure incurred while obtaining job card
i. For photo 16(59.3%) 20(64.5%) 7(63.6%) 26(72.2%) 4(13.3%) 0
ii. For bank account 11(40.7%) 11(35.5%) 4(36.4%) 10(27.8%) 26(86.7%) 31(100%)
5. Can you get jobs without 4(14.8%) 0 1(9,1%) 20(55.6%) 15(50%) 27(87.1%)
job card?
6. Can you get jobs without 5(18.5%) 1(3.2%) 2(18.2%) 12(33.3%) 17(56.7%) 25(80.6%)
application?

Workers from Kinnisadak and Mashal gram panchayath from Gulbarga district are
moderately aware about the provision of complaining if the job cards are not issued.
However, even in that district, awareness about knowledge regarding officials to be
contacted is less than 20%. From the group discussion, it was clear that no one has so
far ever given any complaint to any officials even though they have so many grievances.

Here are few observations made regarding job cards during the study-

1. It was observed that only one third of the people who apply for job cards actually
sought for Job under NREGA. The reasons for this poor turn out are as follows-


(i) Some of them who really wanted the job, neither know that they had to apply and get
their job nor local officials told them. This was expressed in Madlapur grama panchyath
of Raichur district.

(ii) Large many people applied for job card like they apply for Ration cards /voters ID
card. By mere having the card and doing some work, they thought they would get the
higher wages from the government. Some people also told that this may be useful to get
some government benefits.

(iii)There are yet another category who would go to near by city, mostly district places
where they get much higher wages. They work in construction / granite quarry / coffee
plantations.

(iv) There is an understanding between local contractors and officials where in
contractors gets the work done and works are adjusted in the job cards belonging to his
people.This was observed in Madlapura Gram Panchayat when team visited. Most of the
workers who were on work site did not know about job cards. Another pity thing is that
about half of them ( 8 out of 15) were young boys of 14-15 year s of age. They said that
payments were made through cash on weekly basis by the contractor ( who claim
himself as mate) at the rate of Rs.100/day. When interacted with the mate, he said that
to get the NREGA money for the work, it will take more than two months for which no
worker is willing to work. Therefore, they are somehow managing to get work done by
making the advance payment to the workers at higher rates. Add to all these, officials
were saying that single JE( Junior Engineer) is responsible for many worksites, it is
practically impossible to settle the bill within stipulated time. All these are oral
expressions given by various people but to get the exact information, expenditure
tracking has to be done case by case, which was beyond the scope of this study.

Another important thing observed in Madlapur panchayat is that farm ponds were
constructed on an individual farmers field which is not on the watershed principle. Farm
pond which was built is near a bore well and at best it will be used as a water storage
tank to irrigate the surrounding paddy field.

Majority of the workers from Gulbarga and Raichur (59.3% to 73.2%) told that they
spend Rs.30-40/- per card for taking the photo. In Hassan district, workers had to pay
Rs. 100/- per card as a deposit for opening an account.

Job cards generally lie with sarapanch/Panchayath secretary or contractors. In some of
the Panchayats, job card was issued and made them available to the workers on the
worksite when the survey team went. In some panchayaths like Belur, Panchayat
secretary justified the need for keeping the job cards in the panchayath office to avoid
loosing/misplacing the job cards by workers.


Table: 19 Application for work and time taken to get employment


Awareness about application for REGS work
Yes 5(18.5%) 1(3.2%) 2(18.2%) 12(33.33%) 17(56.7%) 25(80.6%)
No 22(81.5%) 30(96.8%) 9(81.8%) 24(66.7%) 13(43.3%) 6(19.45)

Duration taken to get employment after applying
0-No answer/ Blank 1(3.7%) 1(9.1%) 2(6.6%) 4(13.3%)
1-Immediately 13(48.1%) 12(38.7%) 1(9.1%) 2(5.6%) 3(9.7%)
2-Less than a week 5(18.5%) 8(25.8%) 2(18.2%) 1(2.8%) 2(6.7%) 2(6.5%)
3.7-10 days 2(7.4%) 5(16.1%) 0 3(8.3%) 8(26.7%) 11(35.5%)
4.11-15 days 5(18.5%) 5(16.1%) 6(54.5%) 19(52.8%)
5-More than 15 days 1(3.2%) 1(9.1%) 1(2.8%) 4(13.3%) 2(6.5%)
6-Not given but got 1(3.7%)
work 8(22.2%) 12(40.0%) 13(41.9%)

Except in Hassan district awareness about applying for employment is low. It is mostly
supply driven rather than them demanding for the work. Majority of the workers during
the personal interaction said that they will work whenever work is given by panchayath.
Answers in the above table mostly refer to duration between the time Panchayat
secretary /other officials making villagers apply for a certain work and give the work.
Whomever they approach will get the employment and the remaining who equally
deserve the employment and willing to work are left behind because of want of
information. This is expressed during the personal interview and group discussions.

Table 20: Utilization of NREGS wages by workers

Gulberga Raichur Hassan
GPs Kinnisadak Mashal Gunjalli Madalapura Marakuli Yalahanka
Household 24(88.9%) 22(71%) 3(25.4%) 17(47.2%) 26(86.67%) 29(93.54%)
purpose
School fees 2(6.6%) 1(3.3%)
No use /Not 3(25.4%) 1(3.3%)
satisfied
Not answered 3(11.1%) 9(29%) 5(45.5%) 17(47.2%) 2(6.6%) 2(6.5%)

Majority of the workers (71% to 93.54%) are using the wage money for household
purposes both in Gulbarga and Hassan districts. However, in both the panchayat viz
Gunjalli and Madalapura, significant number of workers’ family ( 45.5 to 47.2%) did not
answer and they did not know how the money was being spent. In Gunjalli Panchayat (
25.4%), people expressed the dissatisfaction about the wages and measurement of
work. When we visited the site, which was selected for the desilting, workers refused to
work as the soil was very hard and silt removed had to be physically lifted on the one
side of the tank bund which was very high. In this case, Gram panchayat Secretary
/officials were following the older measurement rate and did not know the revised rates.


Table 21: Details on Wage payment-

Wage slip given - Nil Nil Nil 2(6.7%) Nil
Mode of 8(29.6%) 2(6.5%) 2(18.2%) 2(5.6%) 2(6.7%) Nil
Payment No
answer
Post 4(14.8%) Nil 2(18.2%) 5(13.9%) Nil Nil
Office
Cash 3(11.1%) 3(9.7%) 3(27.3%) 12(33.3%) Nil 9(29%)

Bank 19(70.4%) 26(83.9%) 4(36.4%) 17(47.2%) 28(93.3%) 22(71%)

Duration 0-7 days 3(11.11%) 2(6.5%) 4(36.36%) 16(44.44%) 1(3.3%) 13(41.94%)
taken for 15days 20(74%) 29(93.5%) 4(36.36%) 14(38.89%) 20(66.67%) 14(45.16%)
the 15-30 2(7.4%) 0 0 4(11.11%) 9(30%) 4(12.90%)
payment >30days 2 0 3(27.27%) 2(5.6%) 0 0

Wage slip is not given in all gram panchayaths across three districts. In
Kinnisadak and Mashal gram panchayat of Gulberga district and Marakuli
gramapanchayat of Hassan district, more than 80% of the payment is done
through Bank/post office. In Raichur district and Yalahanka Panchayat of
Hassan district 27.3 to 33.3% of the workers said that they got wages by cash.
Similarly, in all these places, 36.6 to 44.4% workers said that they got their
wages within a week’s time. Currently, in our experience on an average, time
taken for earliest payment by following normal procedures is 15 days. These
cases pose many questions regarding the reliability of the payment. In one of the
Panchayath, they said that payments were made through cash on weekly basis by the
contractor ( who claim himself as mate) at the rate of Rs.100/day. When interacted with
the mate, he said that to get the NREGA money for the work, it will take more than two
months for which no worker is willing to work. They pay an advance money to workers
on a weekly basis and claim the money from the government later.

Table 22:Total number of days worked under NREGA as per the job card-
No. of Kinnisadak Mashal Gunjalli Madalapura Marakuli Yalahanka
days
1-10 5(22.72%) 1(3.7%) 3(100%) 2(6.5%)
11-20 9(40.91%) 4(14.81%) 2(50%) 2(8%) 6(19.35%)
21-30 1(4.5%) 4(14.81%) 2(50%) 5(20%) 7(22.58%)
31-40 2(9%) 7(25.93%) 4(16%) 8(25.81%)
41-50 1(3.7%) 2(8%) 6(19.35%)
77.13 62.95 100 52 93.59
51-60 5(20%) 1(3.25%)
61-70 2(7.4%) 4(16%)
71-80 3(13.64%) 5(18.52%) 1(4%)
81-90 4(14.81%)
91-100 2(9%) 4(14.81%) 2(8%) 1(3.25%)
Total 22 27 4 3 25 31


When we visited the work site / doing village households, some of them did not
possess the job card with them. Many of them said they normally do not bring
the job card to the work site. Also, some of them carried job card but nothing
is being entered there. The figures in the above table do represent only those
workers who had job cards in their hand/house as well as some entries being
done on the card. For example, in Madlapura, many workers on work site did
not have job cards and those who had, entries were not done. It is seen from
the above table that, less than 10% of the workers have completed 100 days of
employment in all the panchayaths except in Mashal. Percentage of workers
family who completed less than 50 days range from 62.95% in Mashal to 93.59%
in Yalahanka.

Table 23: Facility provided at worksite for workers-

Drinking water 25(92.6%) 28(90.3%) Nil 2(5.6%) 23(76.7%) 25(80.6%)
Cresche 13(48.1%) 16(16.6%) Nil Nil Nil Nil
First aid kit 17(63%) 25(80.6%) Nil Nil 11(36.7%) Nil
Shade 17(63%) 25(80.6%) Nil Nil 11(36.7%) Nil

Other than the drinking water facility , most of the facilities like Creshe, first aid kit and
shade is very poor. Even among the people who said they have facility to take care of
their children are the women who are working in forest nursery where they have ample
shade and few buildings where they can leave their young ones. In one of the
panchayath ( Gunjalli ) villagers and GP members expressed their dissatisfaction about
the substandard quality materials like drinking water pot and other agriculture
implements. ( As the GPs did not purchase the materials, it was centrally purchased at
taluk level and supplied to all GPs ). The drinking water pot was of low quality plastics,
which would be quite unfit to use for drinking water purposes given the summer
temperature of the region.

Table 24: Awareness about Selection of works

Awareness 19(70.4%) 30(96.8%) 1(9.1%) 1(35%) 11(36.7%) 6(19.4%)
about type of
works
Grama Sabha 23(85.2%) 29(93.5%) 2(18.2%) 9(25%) 15(50%) 21(67.7%)
for selection of
works
Participation of 4(14.8%) 5(16.1%) 1(9.1%) Nil 3(10%) 2(6.4%)
self
Awareness 16(59.3%) 30(96.8%) 2(18.2%) Nil 4(13.3%) 1(3.2%)


about social
audit conducted
Participation of 5(18.5%) 16(51.6%) 1(9.3%) Nil 1(3.3%) Nil
self in social
audit
REGS GP 20(74.97%) 22(70.97%) 2(18.18%) 5(15.6%) 5(15.6%) 2(6.5%)
info Work 1((3.3%) 4(13.33%) 6((54.55%) 10(31.25%) 14(46.67%) 10(33.33%)
display site
Don’t - - - - -
know

Workers in Gulbarga district have a better knowledge about the type of works and select
ion of works (70.4% to 96.8%) while awareness in other districts is low ( 9.1% to 36.4%).
However, their own participation in the Grama Sabha while selection of different works
takes place is poor. It was observed that Social audit is being conducted in Gulbarga
and significant number of workers do have knowledge about social audit. But even in
this district, workers’ participation in the social audit process is very low across all
Grampanchayath except in Mashal Gram Panchayat of Afzalpur taluk of Gulbarga.

In all the Grama Panchayth visited, REGS information is displayed on the walls. But
workers knowledge about them is poor which could be partly due to illiteracy. Also
about 50% of them interviewed are women who are generally not so much mobile
where they might not have come to GP and observed them. In many work sites, it was
observed during the visit that there is no display of information.

Table 25: Opinion about the work by REGS workers

Quality Of The work
Very Good 17(81%) 11(64.7%) 2(6.1%)
23(76.7%) 14(48.3%)
Good 3(14.3%) 5(29.4%) 14(42.4%)
4(36.36%) 7(23.3%) 13(44.8%)
Average 1(5.9%) 1(3%)
1(3.4%)
Not good 13(39.4%)
5(45.45%) 1(3.4%)
Don’t know 1(4.8%) 2(18.18%) 3(9.1%)
Durability
Durable 18(85.7%) 12(70.6%) 6(18.2%) 24(80.0%) 80.0
Not durable 2(9.5%) 4(23.5%) 2(22.3%) 12(36.4%) 5(16.7%) 16.7
Can’t say 1(4.8%) 1(5.9%) 7(77.8%) 15(45.5%) 1(3.3%) 3.3
Usefulness
Useful 18(85.7%) 14(82.4) 1(11.1%) 5(15.2%) 27(90.0%) 23(79.3%)
Not useful 2(9.5%) 2(9.5%) 3(33.3%) 11(33.3%) 3(10%) 6(20.7%)
Can’t say 1(4.8%) 1(5.9%) 5(55.6%) 17(51.5%)

From the above table, it can be inferred that workers perception about the quality,
durability and usefulness about the work in the villages are quite positive in Gulbarga
and Hassan district. However, in both Gunjalli and Madlapur grama Panchayath, more


than 50% of the workers expressed dissatisfaction and unsure about the quality,
durability and usefulness of the work.

Table 26: Opinion of workers on Impact of REGS about migration.

No 5(18.5%) 6(19.4%) 4(13.3%)
answer/Blank 0 4(11.1%)
Cnsiderably 17(63%) 19(61.3%) 0 5(13.9%) 2(6.7%) 3(9.7%)
Moderately 3(11.1%) 4(12.9%) 6(30%) 16(51.6%)
2(18.2%) 1(2.8%)
No effect 2(7.4%) 2(6.4%) 12(32.3%)
9(81.8%) 25(72.2%)
Not applicable 19(63.3%)

Except in Gulbarga, in other two districts, majority of workers expressed that REGS has only
moderate effect or no effect on migration. In Mashal panchayath of Gulbarga, people used to
migrate to the neighbouring Maharashtra for three months during summer. Workers said that as
they get the employment, they could stay back in their villages. In Marakuli Panchayath,
historically there was no distress migration as enough employment is available locally through out
the year. Therefore the question of migration in this panchayath is not relevant. In Raichur and
Gulbarga taluks, workers are getting lot of employment in factories, granite quarries etc as they
are nearby to district places. Workers, especially men are depending on these works as they get
higher wages in these places and it was told that women in the family are encouraged to work
under REGS. In Yalahanka Panchayath of Hassan district, most of them belong to Bhovi (SC)
community, who will work in coffee estate on a contract basis. As the NREGS work is just started
six months ago here, it is very premature to draw any conclusion about the migration. However,
people said that if they get hire wages than coffee estate, they will stay back.

IMPACT of NREGS works on Agriculture productivity in the villages

Agriculture wage rate has increased in last three years in these districts. But there is a very little
evidence about the significant impact of NREGS on various aspects of agriculture like labour
demand and supply, wage rates and cost of cultivation. In one of the village called Madlapura,
there was steep demand for agriculture labours as they started getting Tungabhdra canal water
for irrigation. Because of this, farmers started growing paddy in two seasons and until end of
February, there is demand for harvesting of paddy. Because of this, agriculture labour rate has
gone up.

In places like Marakuli panchayath of Hassan, due to desilting of tank and tank repair, farmers
took second crop of paddy in about 80 acres. Farmers of both Mashal and Yalahanka Panchayat,
said yet another major benefits they got is enough water for their cattle. However, they felt it
had no impact on wage rate or cost of cultivation.

Only exception to this is Mashal gramapanchayath of Afzalpur taluk where there was significant
improvement in the ground water level. Bore wells and open wells which were completely dried
up got rejuvenated and farmers could irrigate tur crops at critical stages of the crop growth which
also enhanced their productivity. In this village, few farmers who had their land near the tank said
that yield of bengal gram and tur has increased to the extent of 3 bags/acre( 150 kg approx).
This is possible as farmers could irrigate their land during the critical stage of the crop growth.
Farmers who had farm pond dug near by their farm said that apart from increase in the water


table, they could use pond water for pesticide spray which in turn saved them lifting the water
from far away places for spraying purpose.

Table 27: Impact of NREGS on Agriculture

Kinnisadak Mashal Gunjalli Madhalapura Marakuli Yalahanka
02. Increased water 19 30
04. Agriculture 4 6
activities in summer
05. Drinking water 30 20
for cattle
07. Crop yield 8
increase
08. Not significant 1
10. Second crop 10
more yield

Forest seedlings are planted on roadside as well as on waste land. This work is just completed
six months prior to the study and villagers have not started getting benefits like fodder for sheep,
fuel for household , shade etc.

Table 28: Knowledge of farmers about Various activities taken up under NREGS
and impact of the in the villages

Awareness of eight categories of work
No answer 16(84.2%) 2(6.7%) 2(11.1%)
Yes 1(5.3%) 29(100%) 5(16.7%) 1(3.3%) 12(66.7%) 4(20%)
No 2(10.5%) 23(76.7%) 29(96.7%) 4(22.2%) 16(80%)

Impact of water harvesting
No impact 1 1(5%) 4(20.0%)
Moderate 1(4.5%)
Impact
Significant 1 29(100%) 1(4.5%) 18(100%) 12(60.0%)
positive
Impact
Can't say 17 9(40.9%) 19(65%) 4(20.0%)
Not applicable 11(50%) 10(30%)
to this village
Impact of Afforestation
No impact 5 6 13
Moderate 10
Impact
Significant 10 9
positive
Impact
Can't say 5 15 13
Not applicable 19 4 18(100%) 20(100%)
to this village
Impact on Land development


No impact 4 3 5
Moderate 10 10
Impact
Significant 10 10
positive
Impact
Can't say 5 5 5
Not applicable 1
to this village
Impact on Irrigation and canals
No impact 1 1
Moderate 5 1
Impact
Significant 19 1
positive
Impact
Can't say **19 4 9 6
Not applicable 11 NA NA
to this village

Except in Mashal Panchayat of Gulbarga anf Marakuli Panchayt of Hassan district all other
places, people’s awareness about eight different categories are very poor. It is obvious people
get to know about them because of the excellent works being done and an active participation of
elected panchayath representatives.

Table 29:Impact of NREGS on Agriculture wages-

Average wages for male before and after NREGS
MIN MAX
Before After Before After
Mashal 34.65 70.34 58.45 110.86
Madlapura 87 87 110.67 111
Gunjalli 77.53 92.14 116.15 107.31
Marakuli 94.23 94.23 95 105
Yalahanka 77 87 57.11 98.5

Average wages for female before and after
NREGS
MIN MAX
Before After Before After
Mashal 28.5 35 32.58 54.3
Madlapura 59.33 60 84.7 84.7
Gunjalli 45.8 45 84.2 87.17
Marakuli 67.3 67.3 75 95
Yalahanka 55 59 57.1 73.24


As par as the agriculture wages is concerned, only in Mashal grama Panchayath, there
is a significant difference in the wages of both male and female workers after the
intervention of the NREGS. Average range of wages for men in this grama panchayath
is 34.65 to 58.45 before the NREGS and it shoot upto 70.34 to 110.86. Similarly,
maximum wages for women went upto Rs. 54.3 after the NREGS. However, the women
wage rate is still low compared to state average. In one of the nearby Grama Panchayat,
men said that as wages for women is higher in NREGS than what otherwise get locally,
they prefer to send their women folk from their families while men can earn higher wages
in nearby town/city for construction works.

Chapter IV

Info from officials and its’ analysis ( To be collected)

Chapter V

Conclusions and Policy Implications

Karnataka is one of India’s fastest growing states. Its state GDP (GSDP) growth rate
picked up from 5.3% in the eighties (below the national average) to 7.3% in the nineties
(the second highest), and at 8.3% in the second half of the nineties (the highest).
Karnataka’s good growth record in the nineties was maintained into 2000/01 (with real
growth of 6.7%), but slowed in 2001/02 and 2002/03 on account of drought.

Despite rapid growth in recent years, Karnataka is still a poor state, poorer than the
average for India. According to the now -widely-used Deaton-Dreze adjusted poverty
estimates, poverty in Karnataka in 1999/00 was 25.1% compared to the all-India
average of 22.7% (Table 1). This reflects low average land-holdings, and high reliance
on rain-fed agriculture. However, poverty is falling. Rural poverty in Karnataka fell from
37.9% in 1993/94 to 30.7% in 1999/00, compared to an all India decline from 33% to
26%.Urban poverty fell from 21.4% in 1993/94 to 10.8% in 1999/00 (compared to an all
India decline from 18% to 12%). Thus, compared to the all-India performance, there was
a slightly above average reduction in rural areas and a greatly above average reduction
in urban areas.

NREGS in Karnataka is not only needed to give the meaning employment for the rural poor, and
arrest distress migration in some of the backward districts. Most importantly, scope for the asset
creation within the villages is boon for the entire village. Important findings and recommendations
of the study are summarized as follows-

Awareness

Except for the knowledge about 100 days guaranteed employment, awareness about
remaining entitlements is very low across all the three districts. Awareness about
entitlements like extra wages to be paid if the work is given beyond 5kms, is nil among
workers. Awareness about the social audit and village monitoring committee is not


sufficient. In some places officials themselves are not clear idea about how to go about
the social audits nor they have conducted social audits / facilitated to conduct. There is a
need for the training in this regard.

In all the Grama Panchayth visited, REGS information is displayed on the walls. But
workers knowledge about them is poor which could be partly due to illiteracy. Also
about 50% of them interviewed are women who are generally not so much mobile
where they might not have come to GP. In such cases, innovative methods to reach
these target audiences are though apart from the display on the walls of panchayath.

Registration and issue of Job cards

Some of them who really wanted the job, neither know that they had to apply and get
their job nor local officials told them. Awareness about seeking employment is poor.
Employment in most of the villages are supply driven rather than demand driven

There is a need to have a separate intensive awareness campaigns with innovative
methods like street play, attractive awareness materials, film show etc may be needed
such that message remain with the people.

During the visit, in few cases it is noticed that, single members’ name appeared in two
job cards For example: If mother-in-law and husband are having separate job cards,
daughter in law’s name appear in both the cards. There is a need to conduct a separate
fresh survey to update new people who are not included as well as eliminate
duplication. There is also a need to make a separate list of people/families who regularly
go on migration to far away places and also special focus is needed to bring them into
REGS fold.

Capacity Building-

Many times, workers do not have a clarity on how much wages they are entitled for
certain number of days’ work. The amount mentioned in the pass book and what they
say does not match. Clarity about measurement of piece work is needed for both
workers and officials. This will bring mutual trust and respect among the workers
and officials and people are empowered to join these works for the betterment of
their village.

Repeated training for all the elected representatives and concerned officials are
needed for them to execute the work effectively.

Implementation Process:-

Even though, excellent work is being done in many cases, it is more seen as asset
creation/target reaching/ etc. In the bargain, social empowerment is being slightly
sidelined. In this process, involving people who are in dire need of employment is
ignored.


One of the discouraging factor for some of the deserving people opting out of NREGS is
delayed payment. Speedy mechanisms like use of IT in measurement may be thought
of. Also, it should be seen that there are enough number of staff to make measurement
and certify the works.

Many times stringent rules will hamper the progress of the work. For example, in case of
forest nursery, by the time they get trained in various aspects of the nursery
management, their period of 100 days would be over. To get another batch and train
them would require time and effort. Moreover, women who are very nearby to the
nursery site would be ideal. Depending on the need and appropriateness, the 100 days’
duration may be relaxed.

Transparency Measures

Both elected representatives and officials need to be thorough with the process
of social audits and VMCs. Also these social audit needs to be conducted
regularly involving all the stake holders.


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