A national workshop in its study has concluded that MGNREGS
is generating multiple environmental and socio-economic benefits, leading to
improved water availability and soil fertility resulting in increased crop
production. It said that increased area under plantations and orchards
potentially contribute to alternate incomes, increased employment generation
and reduced migration. Further the implementation of MGNREGS works has
contributed to reducing vulnerability to climate risks.
A synthesis report on “Environmental benefits and vulnerability
reduction through Mahatma Gandhi NREGS” was launched here by the Minister of
Rural Development Shri Jairam Ramesh.The report is the study of
environmental benefits accrued under MGNREGS in 10 villages each in the
districts of Medak (Andhra
Pradesh), Chitradurga (Karnataka),Dhar (Madhya Pradesh)
and Bhilwara (Rajasthan), involving 2057 direct beneficiary
households impacted by MGNREGS assets. Also, a case study of 5 villages in
South District (Sikkim) with same objectives was separately reported.
The synthesis report was prepared by Indian Institute of Science
(IISc, Bangalore) in collaboration with Ministry of Rural Development and
German Development Cooperation and is based on the five state studies conducted
by different institutions. Sh airam Ramesh complimented the
study team for the relevance of the study findings, based on scientific methods
including bio-physical measurements of the effects of MGNREGA works on the environment.
He also pointed out that the study findings and the new
Indo-German bilateral project will contribute to sustainable development in
rural areas. This will gain importance in an era of transition from Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). He remarked
that SDG for India is a matter of livelihoods and this project can contribute
to sustaining livelihood security.
The major results of the study are as follows:
1.
Under MGNREGS, bulk of the works (about 80%) implemented in the
4 study districts are linked to natural resources such as surface water, ground
water, cropland and wastelands including forestry.
2.
Works such as check dams, percolation tanks
and desilting of water bodies have contributed to increased ground
water levels, increasing the area irrigated by borewells and open
wells in the range of 0.2 to 57 ha in the studied villages.
3.
Several MGNREGS works have contributed to an increase in crop
yields in 30 of the 40 study villages in the range of 46 to 100% across
districts and crops.
4.
Works pertaining to surface water harvesting
like desilting of water bodies and check dam construction has
resulted in increase in area under irrigation between 0.5 and 58 ha in 21 out
of 30 study villages in the districts
of Chitradurga, Bhilwara and Dhar.
5.
Increase in Soil Organic Matter, an indicator of soil fertility,
was recorded in 72% of 899 beneficiary sample plots, as compared to control
plots not subjected to MGNREGS works.
6.
A reduction in soil erosion was estimated in 82% of 779
beneficiary sample plots, as compared to control plots, potentially increasing
soil and crop productivity.
7.
In study villages
of Chitradurga, Bhilwara and Medak, previously uncultivable
land is now cultivated due to implementation of land development works. The
range of such land brought under cultivation is from 0.9 – 16.9%.
8.
In 31 of the 40 study villages, forest and fruit yielding tree
species have been planted.
9.
The average number of days of employment (direct and indirect)
increased in all the 40 study villages by 34 to 73%.
10.Migration of landless or unskilled laborers has reduced in 29
out of 40 villages (by 8% to 100%) due to increased employment availability
locally in the villages as a result of MGNREGS implementation.
Overall the study concludes that MGNREGS works have contributed
to improving Adaptive Capacity of the beneficiaries and Reducing their
Vulnerability to Climate Risks.
The major recommendations of the study include the following :
1.
Enhance capacity of Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas for
decision-making and monitoring MGNREGS works’ implementation & assets
created. There is a need for generation and access to information and knowledge
to enable informed decision-making.
2.
Harness MGNREGS works for vulnerability reduction to climate
risks and main-stream adaptation to climate change in the MGNREGS works by
focusing on conservation and restoration of natural resources; soil, water,
forests and grasslands.
Building on recommendations of the study carried out in five
states, the joint MoRD / GIZ project will focus on strengthening core
processes of MGNREGA relevant for generating environmental benefits, including
planning, technical implementation of MGNREGA works, monitoring and asset
maintenance. The five intervention areas of the project are:
- Awareness
creation on environmental benefits
- Capacity
building and training
- Showcasing
technically sound MGNREGA works & Climate Proofing
- Monitoring
of environmental impacts
- Maintenance
of MGNREGA works
In the three selected partner states of Andhra Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, best practices will be evolved and show-cased at
demonstration sites, to be mainstreamed into MGNREGA processes at state and
national level.
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