National Rural Employment Guarantee Act NREGA for Water Management 30 th October, 2009 Dr. Rita Sharma Secretary to Government of India Ministry of Rural Development
NREGA objective supplement wage-employment employment opportunities in rural areas provide a safety net to rural poor create sustainable rural livelihoods through rejuvenation of natural resource base land, water, forests Strengthen grassroot democratic processes and infuse transparency and accountability in rural governance
Unique Features of NREGA Provides 100 days of legally guaranteed wage-employment employment in a year to every rural household creates legal entitlements Employment is generated by undertaking community & private works in rural areas Highest Priority to Water Conservation in Choice of Works Nature of works undertaken is such that it leads to creation of Green Jobs
Informing People of their Rights
Registration
Village level Worker Making a Job Card
Workers with Job Cards
Job Card Holders
Scale of Implementation Employment provided to 4.5 cr households in 2008-09, 09, In 2009-10 estimated 5.5 cr. 52% workers are women Expenditure incurred in 2008-09 09 was over Rs. 27,250 cr. In 2009-10 estimated Rs.. 50,000 cr. Employment per HH was 48 days in 08-09, 09, in 2009-10 estimated 65 days Average wage rate Rs.. 84 per day in 08-09, 09, in 2009-10 (Sept) Rs.. 89 25 lakh works undertaken in 09-10 in 619 districts
NREGA: Positive Trends Increase in Agriculture Minimum Wages and wage earned per day and annual income. Bargaining power of labour has increased Earnings per HH has increased from Rs 2795 in 2006-07 to Rs 3150 in 2007-08 to Rs 4060 in 2008-09 and estimated Rs 5500 in the current year Financial Inclusion: About 8 crore accounts opened Distress migration has reduced in many parts Green Jobs created as nearly 70% works relate to water conservation, water-harvesting, restoration, renovation and desilting of water bodies, drought-proofing, plantation & afforestation Productivity effects of NREGA reported - Improvement in ground water - Improved agricultural productivity & cropping intensity - Livelihood diversification in rural areas 10
Women in Rainfed Areas
Plantation Works
Tree Plantation
Training and Capacity Building
Wage Payment through Post office
Wage Payment through Smart Card
Highest Priority to Water Conservation in Choice of Works under NREGA: Financial Year 2009-10 Flood Control and Protection 8% 6% 10% 3% 23% Water Conservation and Water Harvesting Provision of Irrigation facility to Land Owned by SC/ST/BPL/ IAY Beneficiaries Rural Connectivity 1% Land Development Others 14% 19% Drought Proofing (Afforestation & Plantation) Micro Irrigation Works 17% Renovation of Traditional Water bodies
Works under NREGA in 3 years 2006-07 07 to 2008-09 09 Type of Work Number of total works Total Expenditure Benefit Created (in million units) Water Conservation and Water Harvesting 9.08 lakh Rs. 14,600 cr. 251 Cu Mt. Renovation of Traditional Water bodies 3.38 lakh Rs. 7,000 cr. 272 Cu Mt Micro Irrigation Works 2.20 lakh Rs. 2600 cr. 0.1 Km Provision of Irrigation facility on Private Lands 7.66 lakh Rs. 3000 cr. 0.2 Hectare Drought Proofing (Afforestation) 2.72 lakh Rs. 4000 cr. 1 Hectare Land Development 6.40 lakh Rs. 4700 cr. 2 Hectare Rural Connectivity 7.11 lakh Rs. 16,400 cr. 1 Km 18
Nature of Works Water based» Water conservation» Water harvesting» Micro and minor irrigation works» Provision of irrigation facilities» Desilting of tanks» Renovation of traditional water bodies» Flood control and protection works Land based» Land development Forest/ Agro-Forestry» Afforestation» Horticulture Infrastructure» Rural roads
Nature of Works (As per Schedule I of NREG Act) Community Lands Water conservation Water harvesting Drought proofing Plantation & Afforestation Renovation of water bodies Desilting of tanks & canals Land Development Flood control measures Rural connectivity Private Lands On land owned by SC/ST/IAY/Land Reform beneficiaries, BPL/ Small & Marginal Farmers Irrigation facilities (dug-wells, farm ponds, recharge structures) Plantation Horticulture
Dug Well, Madhya Pradesh
Pond, Madhya Pradesh
Water Conservation
Desilting of Irrigation Channel
Convergence with NREGA Large public investments are being made under NREGA. Need for dovetailing these investments for establishing synergy, enhance economic opportunities and create conditions for sustainable development. Detailed guidelines for convergence between NREGA and MoWR schemes issued 115 districts for piloting convergence identified.
Convergence of Programmes of Ministry of Water Resources with NREGS for effective Water conservation and efficient Water use Artificial Recharge of Ground Water through Dug well Repair, Renovation and Restoration of water bodies directly linked to Agriculture/ Aquaculture Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme Flood Management Programme Farmer s Participation Action Research Programme Command Area Development & Water Management Programme Value Addition: The work of Canal plantation and Canal fair weather road may be carried out under NREGA as value addition. 27
Inter-Sectoral Convergence for creation of Durable Productive Assets From mere wage employment to sustainable rural livelihoods From unskilled to skilled labour through knowledge & technology input, training & capacity building in productivity increases, water-use efficiency, drip irrigation, zero- tillage, SRIs, more crop per drop Significant productivity increases could be stimulated by NREGA on holdings of small and marginal farmers in rainfed areas
NREGA Water Management Supply Side Management * rain-water harvesting * ground-water recharge * maximizing surface water use for recharge Demand Side Management * efficient on-farm water management * promoting water-saving technologies (drip) * suitable cropping patterns (SRI) * promoting conjunctive use * community/ group dynamics for equitable distribution Water Management is as much organizational and social as it is technical
Vulnerabilities of Rural Poor Livelihoods of rural poor based on natural resources Land, Water, Biodiversity Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forest Produce Two-thirds of households derive income directly from natural sources Natural resources are threatened by stresses Biotic & Abiotic Climate Change -- an additional stress Poor are most vulnerable to Climate Change Poor are first and worst affected least contributed to it Agriculture & natural resource based livelihoods at immediate risk Rural poor do not have resources to cope
Impacts of Climate Change 1. Climate variability; inter-annual and intra-seasonal variations in rainfall, droughts and floods. 2. Long-term Climate change; Changes in temperature, rainfall, droughts, floods, increase in extreme events 3. Greater water stress 4. Degradation of resources
NREGA Poverty Alleviation Programme yields Co-benefits of Adaptation to Climate Change Coping with increasing water stress water conservation/ rainwater harvesting increased irrigation enhancing water-use efficiency land development leading to improvementi in soil water-holding capacity / reduction in soil erosion Coping with extreme events employment Security - Income during non- agricultural seasons forestry & horticultural incomes drought proofing & flood protection
NREGA Poverty Alleviation Programme yields Co-benefits of Mitigation Carbon sequestration Land development; soil conservation Tree planting activities Afforestation & Horticulture
Convergence for augmenting productivity & sustainable development Joint Convergence Guidelines issued with ICAR MoEF MoWR PMGSY SGSY DoLR Agriculture 115 Pilot districts in 23 States have been identified by MoEF, MoWR and ICAR for pilot projects. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal initiated convergence plan in Pilot districts.
NREGA: Reducing Vulnerabilities Resilience is in-built in NREGA activities as they lead to Food security Livelihood security Water security Ecological Security Flood risk reduction Focus on rural communities and resource base NREGA Works are likely to improve resilience and adaptive capacity of the production systems, farmers and communities NREGA programs need to be assessed for their ability to build resilience, reduce vulnerability of production systems and communities
Water pond for orchards, Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir
Construction of Pond, Chhattisgarh
Earthen Dam, Jharkhand Vill:Pindrabad Est cost: 1,30,000.00 Earthen Dam, Jharkhand
After restoration Water Conservation Tank, Andhra Pradesh
Thank You