The Perceived Problems and Suggestions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Beneficiaries

The present study was carried out in Milkipur block of Faizabad district in Uttar Pradesh on 120 beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). The open-ended responses were recorded regarding problems and suggestions of beneficiaries faced during the course of scheme and a rank order was placed. The problems and suggestions of beneficiaries were recorded under five different categories, that is selection and registration, preparing job cards, allotment of work, amenities, opening of account, withdrawal of money and general. The major problems were found to be ‘lack of written and signed receipt for jobs’, ‘wage and material (60:40) ratio is not maintained’ and ‘job cards are not issued within 15 days of application’. The suggestions were made in view of the beneficiaries as ‘disbursement of wages should be ensured on weekly basis not beyond fortnightly in any case’, ‘Gram Pradhan should give written date to provide employment’, ‘the job cards should be issued within 15 days of application for work’. The suggestions based on the research findings were ‘the adult education programme should be initiated for illiterate beneficiaries’, ‘the 100 days wage employment should be given to each beneficiary in a financial year’ and ‘those who violate the norms of scheme should be severely punished for such acts’.