National Seminar on "Dynamics of Development and Discontent" 27th - 28th September - 2013, Tufanganj Mahavidyalaya, Tufanganj, Coochbehar . Abstract Empowerment of Rural People Through MGNREGA with Special Emphasis to Women in Morigaon, Assam Dr Utpal Kumar. De* Inclusive development and welfare of people across communities and gender has become an important issue in recent time. Because of failure of several top down approaches to percolate the development activities undertaken at the upper level towards the bottom lair the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution has been introduced in India to empower people to participate increasingly in their own developmental activities through local self government. Further, it is extended through the people's participation in recently launched MGNREGA programme, where people across socio-economic groups can take part. Special provisions have been kept to have better working conditions for women and thus to encourage them to be involved in various activities under it and also in the decision making process. It is presumed to improve the standard of living of the rural people through their empowerment economically, socially and politically. The current paper tries to examine the process of participation and level of empowerment (using various indicators), especially of women through their participation in MGNREGA activities in Morigaon district of Assam after it is lunched in 2006. The analysis is made on the basis of primary data collected from 600 respondents (300 participants and 300 non-participants) in 2012 on various socio- economic characteristics and its economic, social and political impacts on them. 01 * Department of Economics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Email: [email protected] National Seminar on "Dynamics of Development and Discontent" 27th - 28th September - 2013, Tufanganj Mahavidyalaya, Tufanganj, Coochbehar . Abstract MRGNERG; Opportunity and Challenge Nivedita Mishra Thapliyal* Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) initiated in 2006 is considered to be a landmark event in the history of poverty reduction strategies in India. The scheme intends to provide employment to the rural poor during the lean agricultural season. In addition to providing income when no work is available, the programme also aims to create village assets and bring about inclusive and sustainable development. Further, the attempt has been made in providing adequate employment to women at equal wages. The programme involves one third of women as worker. The programme has not only reduced the migration by providing additional income during lean season but also provided food security and improved infrastructure development in the rural areas. There are certain anomalies which require to be taken care off to best implement the programme. 02 * Jr. Project Consultant, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun National Seminar on "Dynamics of Development and Discontent" 27th - 28th September - 2013, Tufanganj Mahavidyalaya, Tufanganj, Coochbehar . Abstract Employment Guarantee Act and Neo-liberal Governmentality in India Dr. Dayabati Roy* It seems to be a truism that inequity, identity and opposition are the inherent features of socially uneven societies. But the question is whether or how these features are (re)constructed, obscured and/or becoming marked against the backdrop of neo-liberal reforms. The paper seeks to explore the socio-political processes by which this inequity is taking new shape and recreating confrontation, conflict and social change in consequences of implementation of poverty alleviation programmes like MGNREGA in the rural setting of West Bengal. Drawing upon the findings of qualitative field survey conducted in southern parts of rural West Bengal, specifically in Singur, in the period of 2010-2011, the paper reveals a new pattern of politics is emerging at the margin as part of neoliberal governmentality. While the state agencies along with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and political parties, tries to intervene in the poverty alleviation programmes aimed at to level the inequity in line of globalized notion of governance, the governed citizens, in response, do conceive, perceive and redefine the issues of social justice in a newer way. 03 * Centre for Global South Asian Studies, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Email; [email protected] National Seminar on "Dynamics of Development and Discontent" 27th - 28th September - 2013, Tufanganj Mahavidyalaya, Tufanganj, Coochbehar . Abstract Guarantee of 100 days Work under NREGA : A Violation of Human Rights and Wrong Step of Drainage of Public Money Harasankar Adhikari* Indian Constitution ensures equal opportunities for all regardless of race, caste and other parameters. The Govt. Policy has been aimed to determine the same. But after 67 years of Independence it is only a paper made guarantee and each day the difference between rich and poor is increasing. The various political parties are taking it as an opportunity to acquire the captive vote. Their struggle for vote has been the prime issue for which they are creating gap between man to man. There were so many policy and programme undertaken since its Independence to narrow the gap between poor and rich aimed to ensure the equal opportunities to all. But unfortunately perhaps no such initiative had been succeeded because of its wrong root. Like that Guarantee of 100 days work for below poverty line was a recent. Being a citizen of Indian why a poor people would get a job for only 100 days in a year and why he or she does not deserve for 365 days. Secondly the distribution pattern had also been much politicalized where the needy one was out of this opportunity. Thirdly the work assigned under the scheme was drainage of public money unfruitfully which might generate alternative earning for rest 265 days of a year. The present paper would discuss the above issue critically through case study in a Panchayat of East Midnapore district of West Bengal. The ultimate result has been reflected as a violation of human rights generated by the Govt. policy and misuse of voting rights only to fulfill the political gain. 04 * Professionally trained social worker associated with development works in West Bengal. Email;[email protected] National Seminar on "Dynamics of Development and Discontent" 27th - 28th September - 2013, Tufanganj Mahavidyalaya, Tufanganj, Coochbehar . Abstract Social Audit in MGNREGA Through a Decentralized Participatory Institutional Framework : the Case of Odisha Bishnu Prasad Mohapatra* Social Audit in the recent development scenario has conceived as a key instrument of social accountability. Eventually, the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in India, for providing alternative livelihoods to the rural poor has widely recognised essence of 'social audit' for ensuring accountability and transparency in implementation process. MGNREGA, which was implemented through legislation in 2005, is believed to have potential for addressing income needs and unemployment problems in rural India, if transparency in implementation would be maintained through an appropriate institutional mechanism. Keeping this in mind, the transparency and public accountability rules have been framed as a part of MGNREGA. Social audit is a process whereby government programs are monitored directly by the people concerned. The process has the potentiality to implement development programs more effectively within a prescribed institutional framework. Taking the cognizance from the fact, the provision included in MGNREGA with an objective to foreground accountability through a decentralised participatory institutional framework. Under such provision, powers have been vested to local self-governing institutions (LSGI) for ensuring accountability in each stage of implementation, by organizing 'Gram Sabha'(village assembly). Gram Sabha under the banner of 'Social Audit Forum/Committee' is empowered to organize village level meetings as public hearing through a well designed activity plan. However, organisation of such process in a diversified socio-cultural and political scenario and within so called decentralised institutional framework (local self-governing institution framework) has faced stiff challenges in India. In the case of Odisha, implementation of Social Audit in MGNREGA by local self governing institutions have propounded the saga of people's participation in the development programs, notwithstanding bottlenecks lies in implementation of this process. Considering the important macro and micro level development, the present paper has attempted to provide an analytical glimpse of the implementation of Social Audit in Odisha with reference to MGNREGA while highlighting the current institutional arrangements and challenges faced by the local self governing institutions in organizing such a gigantic task. The analysis of the study is based on field level evidences in some tribal districts in Odisha (Sundargarh and Korapaut) with providing macro level data available at the District and State level agencies. The paper highlights the three broad dimensions of Social Audit i.e. historical perspective, Current implementation & institutional arrangements and impact with necessary policy prescriptions. The paper concludes with a set of policy recommendations based on findings and keeping the current institutional arrangements at the bottom