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3 ot just an annual statement of receipts and

expenditures.
3
t is an instrument for fulfilling the obligations of
the state
3 nd is a political statement of the priorities set by
government in resource allocation.

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 espite Budgets, Plans and Poverty alleviation
strategies, unacceptably high levels of poverty and
hunger persist however measured and however
defined.


hen a household as a whole gets less to eat

women and girl children are the most deprived.

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`here is a vast chasm between:
 vision statements or stated objectives or
targets,
 budgetary allocations made to attain these
targets and
 the prevailing the grassroots reality

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—esolving this needs:

 ational commitment to giving first priority to

or first charge on our exchequer to the
disadvantaged in any budget, however
constrained.

 orrecting historical disparities must get priority

over and above any and every other goal.

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/01(213/0002
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% 
)
Gear % population below umber of poor
the poverty line (millions)
1973-74 54.9 321.3
1977-78 51.3 328.9
1983 44.5 322.9
1987-88 38.9 307.1
1993-94 36 320.3
1999-2000 26.1 260.2
Panel ata nalysis shows:
there is both
substantial persistence and
substantial mobility
into and out of poverty
Over a time period of 11 years, more than half
(52.61%) of the households remained in poverty
but 47.39% of poor households escaped from
poverty.
However, 25.74% of non poor households
entered poverty.
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n household budget allocation, women give

the highest priority to nutritious food for the
family.

 `he objective is good health.

 Gou need purchasing power to buy food.

 Purchasing power depends on current income

or borrowing or wealth.
ior most of us , purchasing power depends on
the income we earn, which in turn depends
on:

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 Poverty —eduction
 Opportunities for Employment for all able
bodied
 Eradication of Hunger
 ccess to Safe rinking
ater
 ccess to Quality and affordable Health are
 orrecting the bias in the iemale-Male —atio
 Safety nets for the Old who are Poor and for
the Poor who are isabled
 orrecting Statistical
nvisibility of
omen¶s

ork
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 ase Study: Maharashtra EGS
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Key ieatures
largest State sponsored public works programme
focused on the alleviation of poverty
implemented by the existing administrative system in
existence in the State, at very little additional cost.
`he slogan is work on demand

t guarantees gainful employment to all adults above
18 years of age, in rural areas and µ¶ class Municipal
ouncils
Based on willingness to undertake unskilled manual
work on a piece rate basis.
Self targeting
 Objectives

3
n the short run - to provide household income based

on employment
3
n the long run 3 to contribute to development of
rural infrastructure and create sustained employment
opportunities in the long run.
3Provision of unemployment allowance
3 Provision of facilities like shelter, first aid
3 o discrimination on basis of gender or caste
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 Benefits of EGS
3Employment opportunities
3
ncome earning opportunities
3iood Security for the Poor
3
ncome stabilisation
3parity of wages offered to men and women
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s MEGS women friendly ?
EGS was not designed specifically to address
women¶s needs but women have been the major
beneficiaries of this scheme as it guarantees work
for all those who demand it.

t offered work close to residence
llotment of work in groups allowed women to
work with family members
Provision of creches allowed nursing mothers and
mothers of small children to participate
special provision of maternity benefit and birth
control treatment
Provided for representation of women in istrict
and Panchayat committee to include their views in
planning and implementation of schemes
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ssues
alculation of wages was subjective
`he muster of a particular site is almost impossible
to trace after the period of 15 days required for the
payment of wages.
work is done by a group of both men and women, so
calculation of the individual share of wages,
especially of women is somewhat subjective and
depends on the team leader who is usually male, as
well as the other co-workers.
Expected benefits in form of equalisation of wages
and increased access to income did not materialise
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Maternity benefits did not reach women as
eligibility for this benefit requires proving 75 days
work. Shifting work sites and inadequate records so
a woman has no way of showing the stipulated days
of work.

f she had an
card and work registration of
which she could have a copy, she would have proof
of days worked.
Shelters and crèches not provided as work sites are
temporary.
 o toilets can be detected on/near EGS sites and
there is total lack of privacy.
issue of underutilisation of EGS funds. iailure of
EGS expenditure to keep pace with the receipts.
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 —EG
( !%



,8)
Passed September 2005
Guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a
iinancial year to adult members of a rural household who
 emand employment
re willing to do manual work

ork to be provided within 15 days of demanding it
pplicable to areas notified by entral Govt

ill cover entire country in 5 years
`he choice of works suggested addresses causes of
hronic poverty like drought, deforestation, soil erosion.

f effectively implemented, the employment generated
ould change the geography of poverty.

mplementation requires formulation of
ational —ural Employment Guarantee Schemes
By State Governments
Every State Government has to by notification,
Make a scheme within 6 months of date of
ommencement of the ct
`he scheme must provide not less than 100 days of
Guaranteed employment in a financial year
to every household whose adult members volunteer
to do unskilled manual work in a notified area
( !%



,8)

mplementation

ollaborative partnership between

entre
State governments
Panchayats
Local community
Each Gram Panchayat to prepare a development plan
Based on recommendations of Gram Sabha
nd maintain a Shelf of works to be taken up when
emand arises.
ior demand to arise people must know their —ights under
the ct, so ommunication and Publicity are necessary
and an effective multimedia campaign is needed.
( !%



,8)
MEGS Guarantees employment to the
individual and not to household
—EG guarantees employment at the level of
the household
`he Guarantee is limited to 100 of unskilled
manual work
One third of beneficiaries must be women
( !%



,8)
 List of
orks

1.
ater conservation
2. renovation of traditional water bodies including
desilting of tanks
3.
rrigation, including micro and minor works
4. land development
5. flood control and protection/drainage works in
water logged areas
6. rural connectivity to provide all weather access
7. ny other which may be notified
( !%



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 Budget allocation has to give first priority to access to food
for those in severe poverty 3 based on work on demand for
the able bodied and provisions by the state for the old,
disabled and chronically ill. `his must have i
—S`
H—GE on budget resources.
 ccess to safe drinking water and safe sewage disposal in
each home have to be mandatory.
 vailability of water for daily needs must be given the
highest priority to reduce drudgery suffered by women.

here common taps exist they must be in alit and `ribal
hamlets to ensure their access.
 `he budget should take care of full employment, make the
right to development and livelihood effective rights.

ork on demand must be available by right.
`his could be patterned on the Maharashtra
EGS but correcting for the inadequacies in it.
 ommunity assets created under EGS must
meet women¶s needs.

ork must be available throughout the year.

ages must be paid directly to each person.
 llocations are needed for monitoring
systems to ensure equal wages for equal work
and timely dispersal of wages.
 Empower women¶s organizations and citizens
groups to monitor the enforcement of equal
and minimum wages legislation by state
government and the adherence to norms in
poverty alleviation programmes.
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 `he state must increase its spending on rural roads and
agricultural research and extension.
 `he budget must provide for health care for the poor as
health related shocks and costs lead to debt and force
entry into poverty. llocations cannot simply be for
salaries and administration.
 Self Help Groups (SHGs) of women be associated to
ensure effective implementation of existing schemes.
 omestic violence must be treated as a crime and
adequate allocations made for shelters for women .
 Enhanced support to women engaged in economic
activities in urban and semi-urban centres through the
provision of working women¶s hostels.

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 Expand micro-credit availability to women.
 llocations for provision of Public
ndian-style
toilets at regular intervals in urban and rural
areas.
 ttention should be given to improve women¶s
access to quality reproductive health services.
 Special budgetary provisions for women
patients (separate from family planning budget)
in the primary health centers and public
hospitals.
 Safe transport for working women and school
and college-going girls to facilitate women¶s
participation in educational and economic.
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—ecommendations wrt Process:
 Mechanism for Output Monitoring through
Benefit
ncidence nalysis.
 More resources and decision-making powers
should be given to local bodies.

omen in village panchayats and elected
women representatives must be involved in
making the budgets.

hile granting licenses to new
establishments, an inquiry should be made
about basic amenities for women workers.
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hile the ational —ural Employment
Guarantee ct 2005 is a major step in this
direction, work on demand is not yet
universally available by right. or have we
eradicated hunger or provided safety nets
for the old, disabled and chronically ill.
`