Section - Ii Chapter Vii

SECTION - II CHAPTER VII Research Methodology and Schedule 7.1 Objectives of conducting survey. 7.2 Assumptions before conducting the survey. 7.3 Research Methodology. 7.4 Nature of Schedule used. 214 CHAPTER - VII RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SCHEDULE 7.1 OBJECTIVES OF CONDUCTING SURVEY The survey was carried out to study the administration and functioning of the EGS and its impact on the beneficiaries. Following questions were raised for the purpose of acquiring the ascertained objectives from the survey by way of the schedule 1. What is the personal profile of the labourers involved in EGS work? This includes : a) Their educational level. b) Their social category c) Type of family d) Number of children e) Total family size f) Gender-wise classification g) Age groups of labourers involved. 2. What are the agencies implementing EGS works and what is the percentage of these agencies in the implementation? 3. What are the various types of works executed under the EGS? 4. What is the nature of the requirement of work i.e. whether the work is required in seasonal or perennial basis? 215 5. What is the regularity of taking attendance on the worksite? 6. How soon is the EGS work given from the date of registration? 7. Is unemployment allowance available if the work is not provided within the stipulated period? 8. Are the labourers aware of their entitlement to get unemployment allowance if the work is not provided within the stipulated period? 9. What is the maximum daily wage rate under the EGS i.e. what is the wage rate under the scheme? 10. In what form are the wages paid to the labourers? 11.What is the satisfaction level of the labourers regarding the wages paid? 12.What is the trend of the labourers regarding the EGS work as compared to farm work? 13. W hat is periodicity of work availability? 14. What is the periodicity of receiving wages for the works? 15.How much is the duration of work in a day on the EGS worksite? 16.How much is the distance of worksite from the village / home of the labourers? 17. What is the level of absenteeism of labourers? 18. What is the regularity of visits by Junior Engineer / Supervisors to the worksite? 19. What is the regularity of work measurement? 216 20.What is the satisfaction level of the labourers regarding the work measurement? 21.What is the regularity of visits made by the Vigilance Committee / Vigilance Squad? 22.Are orientation or training programme arranged by Non-Government Organizations or social workers? 23.What are the different facilities and amenities available to the labourers at the worksite? 24. Are any special facilities available to the women labourers? 25.What is the level of awareness among the labourers regarding the facilities and amenities at the worksite? 26. What is the economic standing of the labourers involved in the EGS work? 27.What are the other income sources of the labourers involved in EGS work? 28. Which are the methods adopted by the labourers for saving purpose? 29. What are the habits of the labourers regarding entertainment such as reading newspapers, watching television, listening to the radio, etc.? 30. What are the adverse habits of the labourers such as consumption of bidi, cigarettes, tobacco, etc.? 217 31. What is the perception of the labourers regarding the EGS work? This includes : a) Is EGS work helpful for the education of children? b) Does EGS create productive public assets in the villages? c) Are the EGS assets properly used or are they misused? d) Is the EGS work programme beneficial to the society? e) Does EGS help in providing gainful employment to the rural society? 7.2 ASSUMPTIONS BEFORE CONDUCTING THE SURVEY The survey was carried out in Akole and Pathardi tehsil during the early months of year 2004. There were certain assumptions before conducting the actual survey. This includes : 1. Two tehsils were selected for the study i.e. Akole tehsil and Pathardi tehsil of the Ahmednagar district. The Ahmednagar district has 14 tehsils but only above two tehsils was selected for the study. These two tehsils are considered as representative of the Ahmednagar district. 2. The EGS worksites selected for the survey have been assumed to be representative of all the worksites involved in the EGS and conclusions drawn would be valid for all the works involved in the EGS. 218 3. There are various Government agencies, involved in implementing the EGS work. It is assumed that all these agencies are equally important and equal weightage has been given to them while conducting the survey. 4. The thesis includes the study of the EGS in Maharashtra State for the period of 1990 - 1991 to 1999 - 2000. However, the actual survey is carried out in the year 2004. It is assumed that, the conclusions drawn from the survey are valid for the period considered under the study and thereafter. 7.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY SAMPLE DESIGN Geographical Area The study is carried out in Ahmednagar district. The Ahmednagar district is one of the largest districts of Maharashtra in terms of area covered. There are fourteen tehsils in Ahmednagar district. For the administration purpose, the Ahmednagar district has been divided in two parts by the revenue machinery viz. North region of the Ahmednagar district and South region of the Ahmednagar district. There are seven tehsils in North region. These are Shevgaon, Kopargaon, Rahuri, Shrirampur, Rahata, Sangamner and Akole. In the South region, there are also seven tehsils involved. These are Pamer, Nagar, Shrigonda, Karjat, Jamkhed, Newasa and Pathardi. The researcher has selected Akole tehsil from North region and Pathardi tehsil from South region. Akole tehsil is selected on the basis of one of its unique features of being a tribal area of the district. 219 whereas Pathardi tehsil is selected on the basis of its characteristics of rainfed area of Ahmednagar district and alternating to high labour intensity belt of Ahmednagar district. Thus, these two tehsils viz. Akole and Pathardi are expected to represent Ahmednagar district. Worksites Number of ongoing worksites varies from period to period, according to total number (universe) of worksites started by the Government. It was 108 in both Akole and Pathardi tehsil on 4'*’ May, 2001 and it was 111 on 19'*’ May, 2001. Therefore, the researcher has selected 50 worksites from both the tehsils. Out of them, twenty two worksites were selected from Akole tehsil whereas twenty eight worksites were selected from Pathardi tehsil. While selecting the worksites, all implementing agencies and maximum types of works, which are undertaken under the EGS are covered. Due to wider area of both the tehsils, the researcher has selected fifty worksites. The researcher has applied the purposive or judgemental sampling technique while selecting the worksites for the study. Labourers Number of attendance of labourers also varies from period to period, for example, it was 5,519 on 4'’’ May, 2001 and it was 4,900 on 19“’ May, 2001 for both the tehsils. Therefore, the researcher has selected 200 labourers from the above two tehsils, namely, Akole and Pathardi tehsils. The major criteria for selecting worksites and labourers as samples were balanced representation of the universe. 220 DATABASE The study is based on suvery method. Both primary and secondary sources are used for collection of data. An extensive pretested schedule / questionnaire was prepared for collecting the data on the EGS. First hand information was collected from the discussion with officials and non-official persons associated with the EGS programme. In order to make the study more meaningful and realistic, the actual working of the scheme was observed during the several visits made to the worksites at Akole and Pathardi tehsils by the researcher. Tehsilwise distribution of the EGS labourers in the sample was as follows : Tehsils Worksites Nos. of labourers Percentage covered selected of sample for the survey to the total Akole 22 88 44 Pathardi 28 112 56 Total 50 200 100 Questionnaire method was primarily utilized to collect the data from the concerned labourers of the EGS. For this purpose, the number of labourers selected was on the basis of non-probability sampling method. This non-probability sampling is not based on the concept of probability and it is also known as “Non Random Sampling” technique. Within this non-probability sampling technique, the actual method selected was “Convenience or Incidental or Accidental” sampling 221 method. This method is widely used in practice and has several advantages of non-probability sampling technique/ The advantages of this method includes : a) Simplicity in nature. b) Convenience for execution. c) Economical in practice. This method is specially useful for a study which is of exploratory nature, where the focus is on getting new insights into a given problem. ^ The data collected by the survey was compiled and analyzed by using tabulation method and making use of the computer ‘MS-Excel’ programme. Various graphs, diagrams and comparative tables were used in analyzing the data collected through the survey and in drawing conclusions. Secondary Data The secondary data used for the study included various types of records available at the official sources such as, the district Collectorate EGS branch, district Statistical office, number of books, reports, articals such as Government published booklets on EGS, Committee report on reformation of EGS, Notes prepared for the visits of Revenue Commissioner, Nasik and Reports of Member of Legelative Assembly Committee visits, EGS Act, etc. The data mainly pertained to the agency implementing the scheme and their beneficiaries. However, in order to make the study more meaningful and realistic, more emphasis has been given on primary data.

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