Topic– Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
1) Data manipulation in the MGNREGA is leading to gross violations in its implementation. Analyze.(250 words)
Why this question
MGNREGA has been one of the most successful poverty reduction and employment generation schemes of modern India. Its significance increases in the wake of growing urban-rural disparity and distress migration. The scheme has however been criticized on various accounts and it is vital to analyze how it’s implementation is being affected by data manipulation.
Directive word
Analyze-here we have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts, and present them as a whole in a summary.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to dig deep into the working of the MGNREGA and bring out the data manipulation experienced by it and how it affects the programme implementation.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- write a few introductory lines about the MGNREGA. E.g mention about the nature, aims of the scheme and when it was started.
Body-
- Discuss the data manipulation under the programme. E.g
- The MGNREGA is a demand-driven programme, i.e., work must be provided within 15 days of demanding work failing which the Centre must pay an unemployment allowance (UA). A UA report is generated but rarely implemented.
- Numerous ground reports across the country suggest that because of a funds crunch, field functionaries do not even enter the work demanded by labourers in the MGNREGA Management Information System (MIS). This is information suppression at the source.
- Lack of offline alternatives to capture work demand from labourers means that data on the MIS are being treated as the gospel truth.
- Be that as it may, even this under-registered demand is being dishonoured by the government. Although work demand data (in person days) and employment-generated data are available at a panchayat level, aggregate data at the national level are only presented for employment generated.
- Thus, under-registered national demand is captured but intentionally not reported. By doing this, the Central government is trying to hide its violation of the extent of under-provision of work.
- delay by the Central government (called stage 2 delays) is captured in the system, it is intentionally suppressed to avoid paying delay compensation — another violation of the Act.
- Discuss how data manipulation affects implementation of the scheme. E.g
- Delays in payments, and unmet demand for work affects livelihood etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
