1. Rural Development and Convergence Expert UNDP-MORD, Technical Cell
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act convergence with Agriculture Programmes
Dr Nilay Ranjan
Rural Development and Convergence Expert
UNDP-MORD, Technical Cell

2. Presentation Overview
Indian Agriculture-salient features
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Overview
MGNREGA & convergence
Initiatives taken by the states government

3. Indian Agriculture: Salient Features
18% share of Agriculture in GDP
60% population dependent on Agriculture
121 million farm holdings (2001)
Average size of operational holding: 1.3 ha.
82% of operational holdings small & marginal (less than 2 hectares)
60% of cultivated area is rainfed
18% landless agriculture labour 3

4. Agricultural Growth
Despite rising output, per capita availability of food grains has actually declined in the last ten years - from 500 gm a day in 1997 to about 400 gm a day currently.

5. Agriculture Growth: More Adversely Affected in Rainfed Areas
State
Growth rate in NSDP Agriculture
Rainfed %
1984/5 to 1995/6
1995/6 to 2004/5
Punjab
4.00
2.16 3
Gujarat
5.09
0.48 64
Haryana
4.60
1.98 17
Rajasthan
5.52
0.30 70
Uttar Pradesh
2.82
1.87 32
Orissa
-1.18
0.11 73
Tamil Nadu
4.95
-1.36 49
Madhya Pradesh
3.63
-0.23 74
West Bengal
4.63
2.67
Karnataka
3.92
0.03 75
Bihar
-1.71
3.51 52
Maharashtra
6.66
0.10 83
Andhra Pradesh
3.18
2.69 59
Kerala
3.60
-3.54 85
All India
3.62
1.85 60
Assam
1.65
0.95 86 5

6. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act & Objectives
An Act to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of Guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household
Providing wage employment opportunities
Creating sustainable rural livelihoods through rejuvenation of natural resource base i.e. augmenting productivity and supporting creation of durable assets
Strengthening rural governance through decentralisation and processes of transparency and accountability

7. NREGA: Salient Features
Right based Framework
Time bound Guarantee of Employment
Labour Intensive Works
Payment of Wages through their Bank / Post Office accounts. Payment in any case not later than a fortnight
Decentralisation: PRIs will have a principal role in planning, monitoring and implementation, GPs will execute at least 50% of works
Women empowerment: At least one-third of the workers should be women
Transparency & Accountability
Proactive disclosure of information
Social Audit by the Gram Sabha is mandatory
Ombudsman to be set up
Use of Information Technology
A Web enabled MIS for monitoring, decision making and transparency 7

8. Nature of Works Community Lands Water conservation Water harvesting
Irrigation
Drought proofing
Plantation &
Afforestation
Renovation of water bodies
Desilting of tanks & canals
Flood control measures
Rural connectivity
Private Lands
of SC/ST/IAY/Land Reform beneficiaries/BPL farmers
Small & marginal farmers account for 80% of land- holdings & operate 40% of cultivated land
Land Development
Irrigation facilities
Horticulture Plantation

9. (FY 2010-11) 625 Districts upto Sep 2010
National Overview
(FY ) Districts
(FY ) Districts
(FY ) Districts
(FY ) Districts
(FY ) Districts upto Sep 2010
Households Employment provided : 
 2.10 Crore
3.39 Crore
4.51 Crore
5.25 Crore
3.52
PERSONDAYS [in Crore]
Total:  
90.5
143.59
216.32
282.58
115.03
SCs: 
22.95 [25%]
39.36 [27%]
63.36 [29%]
86.31 [31%]
26.15 [23%]
STs:  
32.98 [36%]
42.07 [29%]
55.02 [25%]
58.57 [21%]
19.51 [17%]
Women: 
36.79 [41%]
61.15 [43%]
[48%]
[49%]
59.61 [52%]
Others: 
34.56 [38%]
62.16 [43%]
97.95 [45%]
[49%]
69.38 [60%]
Average personday per household
43 Days
42 Days
48 Days
54 Days
33 Days
FINANCIAL DETAIL
Budget Outlay (In Rs Crore):
11300
12000
30000
39100
40100
Central Release (In Rs Crore):
Total available fund with States [including OB]: In Rs. Crore.
Expenditure (In Rs. Crore.)
Average wage per day
Rs. 65
Rs. 75
Rs. 84
Rs. 91
Rs. 96
Average cost per day
Rs. 97
Rs. 110
Rs. 126
Rs. 134
Rs. 132
WORKS DETAIL
Total works taken up (In Lakhs):
  8.35
17.88
27.75
46.01
63.45
Works completed:  
 3.87
8.22
12.14
20.94
1.46
Water conservation:
4.51 [54%]
8.73 [49 %]
12.79 [46%]
23.33 [51%]
32.23 [51%]
Provision of Irrigation facility to land owned by SC/ST/ BPL/ S & MF and IAY benificiaries:
0.81 [10%]
2.63 [15 %]
5.67 [20%]
7.77 [17%]
7.17 [11%]
Rural Connectivity:
1.80 [21%]
3.08 [17 %]
5.03 [18%]
7.63 [17%]
13.50 [21%]
Land Development:
0.89 [11%]
2.88 [16%]
3.98 [15%]
6.29 [14%]
7.93 [13%]
Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra -
0.17 [0.27%]
Any other activity:
0.34 [4%]
0.56 [3%]
0.28 [1%]
0.98 [2%]
2.44 [4%]

10. Highest Priority to Water Conservation in Choice of Works under NREGA: Financial Year upto sep, 10
Water RelatedWorks 10

11. NATIONAL Share of works on private lands [provision of irrigation facilities to land owned by SC/SC/IAY/BPL/Small and Marginal Farmer beneficiaries]

12. 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 about Rs 3500 in the current FY, 5000 in
Financial Inclusion: 9.3 crore accounts opened
Distress migration has reduced in many parts
“Green Jobs” created as 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. 12 12 12

13. Inter-sectoral Convergence for creation of Durable and 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, backward–forward linkages
Significant productivity increases could be stimulated by NREGA on holdings of small and marginal farmers in rainfed areas

14. Parameters for Convergence
A process that brings together on-going schemes
Guidelines are a broad facilitating framework
Parameters of NREG Act and Guidelines as well as the guidelines of the other development Schemes with which convergence is attempted are not altered.
Convergence is expected to create value addition through resource and activity synergies as well as infusion of technology input and professional quality in planning and implementation
Joint monitoring of Convergence
Convergence at planning, management and works level 14 14

15. Joint Guidelines on convergence of MGNREGS with specific programmes & schemes
Ministry of Agriculture -- Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Ministry of Environment and Forest
Ministry of Water Resources
Department of Land Resources
Pradhan mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – Rural Roads
SGSY (Department of Rural Development)
Ministry of Agriculture
Convergence Guidelines with Schemes of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and watershed under progress
Pilots Projects on convergence in selected districts taken up like action research identifying further possibilities and up-scaling.
Funding will be through MGNREGA and concerned programmes 15

16. MGNREGS and Schemes of Ministry of Agriculture
NREGA works catalyse agricultural development through:
Additional land under irrigation/cultivation
Improved soil fertility and moisture conservation
Convergence with NHM, RKVY, NFSM, Fisheries etc
Growth in consumption of agricultural inputs through increased household earnings
So huge potential exists for NREGA convergence with agriculture and allied programmes such as;
National Horticulture Mission
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
National Food Security Mission
Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
National Agriculture Innovation Project
Intensive Dairy Development Programme 16

17. MGNREG Convergence with RKVY
Developing of rain fed farming systems in and outside watershed areas, as also integrated development of watershed areas, wastelands, river valleys
Activities relating to enhancement of horticulture production and popularization of micro irrigation systems;
Collection and processing of neem seeds as part of Integrated Pest Management
Promote Organic farming through extensive composting and recycling of solid waste
Seed production, packing and processing in common and community lands
Common post harvest facilities for threshing, storage and labour intensive processing 17

18. MGNREGS with National Food Security Mission
National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
The objective of the Mission
Increase production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts
Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level
Creation of employment opportunities; and enhancing farm level economy ( i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence amongst the farmers.
Value addition to NREGS work through NFSM
Individual land holding cultivators benefiting under NREGS should be included under NFSM on priority, for value addition through sharing of information: Critical role of ATMA 18

19. MGNREGS and Scheme on Development of Inland fisheries and aquaculture
Activities under Fisheries schemes
i) Construction of new ponds
ii) Reclamation/Renovation of ponds/tanks
iii) Fish Seed Hatchery
iv) Aerators/Pumps
v) Training of fish farmers
vi) Provision of soil and water testing kits to each FFDA
Activities that may be undertaken under NREGS
I and ii

20. Convergence with Programmes of Ministry of Forest and Environment and MGNREGS for Eco restoration
Root stock regeneration, new plantation and Silvipasture
Fencing
Land Development to rehabilitate degraded forest
Forest fair weather Roads
Water Conservation
National Afforestation Programme
Implementation agencies: Joint Forest Management Committees 20

21. Convergence of Programmes of Ministry of Water Resources
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. 21 21

22. Convergence with Watershed Programmes Guidelines Issued
Project of a village to be prepared on Watershed approach
Delineation of Watershed as per Common guidelines for Watershed
Under NREGA, the size can be an area of the village matching micro watershed i.e. nearly 250 to 500 hectares.
Gap Filling through NREGA
a) Areas treated under Watershed Development programme but not saturated because of insufficient cost norms.
b) Difficult areas, being treated under the watershed Development programme, where the revised cost norms is also not sufficient to saturate the area.
c) New areas; neither yet treated nor planned under watershed programme and where works are to be planned on watershed approach under NREGA. 22

23. Triggering Green Revolution in Rainfed Areas
Green Revolution bypassed the rainfed areas. Agriculture Development Programmes and MGNREGS converged have potential to become a life-support system in the rainfed areas
Most MGNREGA works contribute directly or indirectly to agricultural development
Convergence of MGNREGA with agriculture and allied sectors is possible across the value chain;
Pre-production - Soil and water conservation projects form bulk of MGNREGA works
Production phase – Weed control in common lands, community nurseries for planting material
Post harvest – Common threshing floors, village roads for connectivity to markets, composting post harvest waste
Convergence of MGNREGS with Schemes of Ministry of Agriculture can improve soil health & water conservation 23 23

24. Non -Negotiables in work execution:
Only Job Card holders to be employed for NREGA component.
Muster rolls to be maintained on work site, with copies in the gram panchayat and to be electronically maintained on nrega.nic.in
Social Audits to be done through gramsabhas.
Wage payments will be through no frills accounts in banks/post office

25. Working models, convergence

26. Working Model: Orissa, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam Convergence: Model I
Community Tank under NREGS
Fishery through SHGs
Horticulture & Plantation
Irrigation & Water Conservation 26

27. Convergence: Model II Watershed Development under NREGS
Fishery through the SHGs
Irrigation
Animal Husbandry
Social Forestry
Soil and Water Conservation
Plantation &
Horticulture 27

28. Convergence: Model III
Rural Connectivity under NREGS
Plantation
Water Conservation
Conversion into Pucca Road through PMGSY 28

29. Selected Villages in Mayurbhanj District
Identified Villages/GPs for MGNREGS Convergence in Mayurbhanj District and Activities undertaken
S.N.
Name of Block
Name of Gram
Panchayts(GPs)
Village
Major Activities
Departments involved 1
Morada
Sureidihi
Chakundapada
(i) Farm Pond-Horticulture-
Pisciculture-Poultry-irrigation
(ii) Community Tank-
Pisciculture-Horticulture-Irrigation
(i) Horticulture, Fishery, KVK, Agriculture
(ii) Horticulture, Fishery, KVK, Agriculture, SGSY
Bhaliadiha
Kalarafulia
Farm Pond-Horticulture-Pisciculture-
Poultry-irrigation
Horticulture, Fishery, KVK, Agriculture 2
Bangiriposi
Surisapal
Kanchinda
irrigation
Horticulture, Fishery, Agriculture
Budhikhamari
Community Tank-Fishery-Horticulture
Fishery, Horticulture, Veterinary 3
Samakhunta
Paikabasa
Harischandrapur
(ii) Horticulture, Fishery, KVK, Agriculture
Rangamatia
Kundalbani
Farm Pond-Pisciculture-irrigation
Fishery, Agriculture 4
Kuliana
Baiganabadia
Balipal
Horticulture, Fishery, KVK, Agriculture, SGSY
Nodhana 29

30. Selected Villages in Ganjam Districts
Identified Villages/GPs for MGNREGS Convergence in Ganjam District and Activities undertaken
S.No.
Name of Block
Name of Gram Panchayts (GPs)
Village
Major Activities
Departments involved 1
Hinjlicut
Saru
Tank-Pisciculture- Plantation-Irrigation
Fisheries, Irrigation, Horticulture, KVK
Darubhadra 2
Rangeilunda
Biswanathpur
Tank-Irrigation-Plantation-Rural connectivity
Horticulture, Irrigation, Fishery, Agriculture-KVK
Chikrada
Tank-Plantation-
Piscicultur-/Horticulture
Fisheries, Horticulture, Irrigation, Agriculture-KVK 3
Sheragada
Ramagiri
Tank-Plantation
Fisheries, Horticulture, Agriculture-KVK
Karadakana
Tank-Poultry farm-Rural connectivity-Plantation 4
Sana-Khemundi
T. Govindpur
Khaprabar
Rural connectivity-Tank-Watershed Development- Forestry-Plantation
Horticulture, PMGSY, Fisheries, Forest, Water Resources, Agriculture-KVK,
Singipur
Harina
Rural Connectivity- Tank-Plantation-Watershed Development-Horticulture-Forestry
Horticulture, PMGSY, Fisheries, Forest, Water Resources, Agriculture-KVK 30

31. Major Findings: Perceptions of Line Department Officials
Difficulties Faced by the Line Departments
FISH. DEPT
FOREST DEPT
MI DEPT
PR DEPT
WR DEPT
Total
LACK OF COOPERATION FROM PRIs 
LACK OF COORDINATION
LACK OF CORDINATION AND INFORMATION
LACK OF PROPER PLANNING 31

32. Model Convergence Khaprabar village under T. Gobindpur Panchayat
Tribal Village consisting of 20 households
Major Occupation:
Cultivation
Forest collection
Convergence Initiative: Fish Pond, Irrigation, Plantation, Horticulture 32

33. Model Convergence
Fish Pond 33

34. Model Convergence
Paddy Field and Fruit Bearing Trees 34

35. Good Practices & Innovations35
Banaskanttha District
Infrastructure Development:
Open/close drainage line
Stone pitching in pond (On going)
Livelihood:
Horticulture through waste water management

36. Banaskantha District @ Vadgam @ village Meetha36
Asset/s Created: Horticulture and Seasonal
Vegetable Plantation
Immediate Benefits: Employment generation
Asset Durability: Very high
Possible Impact: Livelihood
enhancement, Promotion of recycling
technology and wasteland development
The farmers can easily earn Rs per month

37. Dang District @ Ahawa @ village Shamgatan37
Convergence Activity: Bhagat Udyan
Convergence Dept.: Forest
Asset/s Created: Plantations of Indigenous Medicines
Immediate Benefits: Assured employment for the poor, assured wages, recycling of resources
Asset Durability: Very high
Possible Impact: Livelihood enhancement, Promotion and conservation of indigenous medicines
and practices

38. Replicable Success Stories/Good Practices
Reclamation of 260 ha. of degraded forests and ongoing reclamation work on another 100 ha. in convergence with Forest Dept.
Plantation in Chaukati Village
Plantation at Nakati Hills 38

39. Establishment of 29 nurseries for horticulture and forestry species by technology inputs from KVKs & funding through SGSY 39
A Privately Owned Nursery under NREGA in village Kayethapara

40. Renovation of water bodies for promoting pisciculture
Water Conservation Tank in Srijangram Development Block 40

41. Multiple assets created for flood control and protection in convergence with Irrigation Dept.
Construction of earthen bundh and palliative measures at eroded portion at Char area
Construction of bundh from Champa bridge to Baghmara village with cross drainage 41

42. 42 30 ha. plantation of horticulture specie in Alukhanda village
Plantation of Banana in Alukhanda Village 42
Pineapple Plantation in Mulagaon GP

43. Kerala, Mammalpuram NREGS convergence in Agriculture
282 works have been carried out with an expenditure of 97 lakh rupees. Around 600 hectares of land got benefited
Agriculture works in Monitoring Blocks
Block GP
No of Works
Area in Ha
Expenditure
Tirur
Thalakkad 3 6
48,000
Trippangode 12 25
2,76,000
Ponnani
Edappal 31
12.5
7,37,000
Thavanur 34
13.18
10,06,000
Nilambur
Chungathara 5 61
10,75,000
Kuttipuram 1 19
2,32,853
Irimbiliyam 36 87
16,78,853

44. NREGS Convergence with Agricultural Farms
NREGS involvement in Six Agricultural Farms
Focus on production of quality seeds
One Agricultural Farm in the Monitoring GPs
In dire situation due to shortage of funds and labour
Most of the land unutilized – production reduced
NREGS in land development activities – freed technical labour for skilled work
In , Rs. 2,04,461 were spent, utilising 1570 persondays
Gone up to Rs. 11,91,003 in with 8862

45. NREGS Convergence with KVK
KVK in Malappuram participated in NEW Delhi meeting of 29th April 2009 (convergence with ICAR)
DRDA-KVK meeting to train SGSY beneficiaries, technological demonstrations, skill development
NREGS involvement in KVK farm’s land development
In , 717 persondays, 1.5 lakh rupees
In , works carried out in three reaches – persondays, Rs. 2,98,728 of Expenditure
KVK involvement in horticulture Development

46. NREGS-Forest Department Convergence
758 sq. kms of forest land in Malappuram District
Significant Forest areas in Nilambur Blokc
Two Forest Divisions Operating from Nilambur Town
Vetiver plantation in Vazhikkadavu-Nadukani pass which located in Highway connecting Kerala with Tamilnadu
A total of 5697 persondays and Rs. 12,41,536 were used for this project under NREGS in
in the expenditure gone up to Rs. 15,70,314
Much scope to increase convergence with Forest Department
220 ST colonies in Nilambur Block
Proactive Approach at State Level – Availability of Guidelines
Man-Animal Conflict
Implementation of NAP

47. Plantations & bunding: Kerala

48. Nursery, Bilaspur Forest Division, Chhattisgarh

49. Water pond for orchards , Jammu & Kashmir

50. Dug Well, Madhya Pradesh50

51. Check Dam , Jammu & Kashmir

52. Conservation and Afforestation of forest area: Water, Fodder, Water Tank and Nursery Gujarat

53. After restoration
Water Conservation Tank, Andhra Pradesh