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Manoj P.K, “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Effective

Implementation of MGNREGA in India: An Analysis”, In P Arunachalam (Ed.),
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 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Effective
Implementation of MGNREGA in India: An Analysis

Dr. Manoj P K
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Applied Economics
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT),
Kochi – 682022.(KERALA). E-Mail: manoj_p_k2004@yahoo.co.in

1. Introduction
World over, there is a strong recognition that Information and Communication Technology (or,
ICT in brief) can play a vital role in enhancing operational efficiency and transparency in the
governance of public systems. Accordingly, ICT is fast picking up as the main enabler and
critical component of any e-Governance initiative. It is widely recognized that in India, the
implementation of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act),
or simply NREGA as it was earlier known since the enactment of the Act till getting rechristened
in the name of Mahatma Gandhi – the father of the nation, has got tremendous potential to bring
about far reaching improvements in the socio-economic life of the rural poor. In this context, this
paper looks into the role of ICT in enhancing the effective implementation of MGNREGA in
India, individual success stories as well as impediments that are observed across the states in
India while aligning ICT with MGNREGA implementation. Accordingly the paper offers a few
strategies for the proper use of ICT for more effective implementation of MGNREGA in India.
2. MGNREAGA: Background and Current Status
In fact, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) which comes under the
NREGA (now, MGNREGA) is a historic employment scheme in India for providing 100 days
guaranteed wage employment for all employment seekers above 18 years of age and willing to
do work. NREGS has come into force on 5th September 2005 in 200 districts in India and has
been extended to another 130 districts later.
As of 2010, as part of reaching out to the rural masses the Ministry of Rural Development
(MoRD) has provided jobs to 3.9 crore households under MGNREGA, assisted 20.85 lakh
swarozgaries under Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), built 9.05 lakh houses
under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and connected 37839 habitations with all weather roads in the
year 2010. Under MGNREGA, 30.52 crore beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and 23.36 crore
from Scheduled Tribes got employment. The share of women beneficiaries went up to 51 per
cent at 69.14 crore. Out of the total 55.27 lakh works taken up, 2.68 lakh works were completed
while 63.59 lakh works were in progress.
Besides, with a view to ensure effective monitoring of MGNREGA, a Professional
Institutional Network (PIN) was constituted, including IITs, IIMs, Agriculture universities and
other professional institutions. The PIN will conduct impact assessment, concurrent monitoring
and appraisal, research, capacity building to identify both good practices factors that have or will
limit the optimal performance of the Scheme. Administrative expenditure limit under
MGNREGA was enhanced from 4 per cent to 6 per cent. Moreover, social audit was given
prominence. The management and administrative support structures for social audit, grievance
redressal and ICT infrastructure were strengthened.
3. ICT Initiatives in Empowerment of People under MGNREAGA in India
As part of bringing in good governance and transparency, ICT-based initiatives are being
implemented under MGNREGA, whereby rural populace can access information on their work
history, demand jobs against a dated receipt, and also receive wages on a simple biometric
registration. Successful implementation of MGNREGA as above critically depends on the
establishment and operationalisation of a proper computer based Management Information
System through an ICT network interconnecting all the gram panchayat (GPs), blocks, districts,
states and the concerned Ministry of Government of India, viz. the Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD). MoRD has already taken many steps for implementation of MGNREGA
as above. Accordingly, Bharat Nirman Rajeev Gandhi Sewa Kendra (BNRGSK) is notified
under permissible works, for providing infrastructure for citizen centering of MGNREGA
processes to strengthen the ICT at GP level. Besides, MoRD has permitted the States to make
onetime expenses over and above 6 percent on augmentation of computational facilities and to
strengthen the level staffing a GRS and Technical Unit of 2-4 core professionals in management,
engineering, accounts and ICT will be deployed at each GP.Towards this end, MGNREGA has
in recent years been most proactive in promoting ICT innovations including biometrics and low
cost hand-held devices.
Four major components contribute to making the project a complete end-to-end ICT-
enabled eco-system, viz. (1) A soochna seva kendra (info kiosk) housing text-to-voice enabled
and touch screen computers with biometric access to work details, job enrolment, and accrued
wages, (2) A biometric and GPS verified attendance tracking system for formulation of worksite
muster roll, (3) A community radio for promoting Scheme awareness and encouraging critical
dialogue, and lastly (4) A digital knowledge repository for sustainable knowledge exchange.
3.1. Success of the Pilot Project in Rajasthan and Its Extension to the Whole Nation
An innovative ICT project of OneWorld's Foundation of India (OWFI) has commenced
operations in Rajasthan in support of the MGNREGA. This project aims to effectively enable the
poor to demand their rights based entitlement to employment through the use of technologies. The
project was piloted in 20 villages of Rajasthan in October 2009, in partnership with the Ministry
of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of Rajasthan and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). On 20 August 2010, owing to the programme‟s success achieved in just
nine months, the MoRD rolled out a national framework for MGNREGA ICT implementation
based on the OneWorld model. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between
MoRD and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to integrate MGNREGA processes
and database with „Aadhar‟ the unique identification that would be given to every citizen. It is
expected that the unique id „Aadhar‟ would soon facilitate a range of MGNREGA, banking,
insurance and other services for rural citizens bringing them on par with their urban counterparts.
3.2. Emphasis on Public Accountability, Transparency and Sustainable Development
In an ICT-enabled platform, the emphasis in MGNREGA is on ensuring public accountability,
strengthening transparency and encouraging activities that tap the productive potential of works
undertaken so that it becomes a platform for sustainable development. It enforces transparency at
the grass root level. With the help of ICT devices like Biometrics, attendance would be ensured
on site to improve the overall delivery system in the implementation of MGNREGA by capturing
all the processes right from registration, demand of work, issue of dated receipt, allocation of
work, attendance at worksite with GPS coordinates, measurement of work and wage payments.
 MoRD has put in place a web-enabled online monitoring mechanism District Rural
Development Agencies (DRDAs) are expected to give their monthly progress reports in a
specified format directly into the above website. MoRD has also introduced monitoring format
for convergence of Indira Aawas Yojana (IAY) with other centrally sponsored schemes. All the
financial sanctions issued by MoRD would be available on the Ministry's website. The relevant
information containing the implementation and progress is also available for public in this
website, with a view to generate awareness among the masses.
4. Challenges to Implementation of ICT under MGNREAGA and Remedial Strategies
Major challenges to ICT implementation under MGNREGA include widespread existence of
ghost workers, discrimination in awarding work, delays in the preparations of muster rolls,
delays in measurement resulting in delayed payments. Likewise, for National Social
Assistance Programme (NAS), the challenges include weak infrastructure at field level (which
in turn restricts speedy application of ICT activities).
For smoother implementation of ICT under MGNREGA and also to meet the various
challenges the following suggestions and remedial strategies have been proposed:
 The use of biometric and ICT can check corruption and delays under MGNERGA which
and can bring in transparency in implementation. The problems like existence of ghost
workers, discrimination in awarding work, delays in the preparations of muster rolls,
delays in measurement resulting in delayed payments etc. can be accordingly avoided. As
biometric data is compliant with UIDAI and core banking, it may be used by UIDAI to
issue 'Adhaar' number or by banks for the wage payment in a more transparently.
 For meeting the challenge of NAS (viz. weak infrastructure at field level which in
turn restricts speedy application of ICT activities) funds to the District Rural
Development Agencies (DRDAS) can be released electronically. Computerization of the
data base of the beneficiaries under various NAS schemes can reduce the problems
associated with human infrastructure and delays. It is advisable to integrate the State
Pension Scheme to the MIS at NAS for making it more effective.
5. Concluding Remarks
Concluding the paper, it may be observed that ICT has got a vital role to play to enhance the
transparency and operational efficiency of MGNREGA implementation in India. It can
considerably improve the confidence of the grass root level workers. It can ensure better public
accountability of the financial commitments and also correct end-use of resources. The
successful implementation experience in Rajasthan and the decision to roll out this ICT initiative
at the national level is a testimony to the faith of the Government in this new initiative. Let us
hope that ICT-based MGNREGA implementation would bring in the desired results in the days
to come.
 REFERENCES
1. Grameen Bharath, Dept. of Rural Development, Govt. of India, Vol. 8, Issue 71, May 2010.
2. Impact Assessment of NREGS in Kerala Evaluation of Systems and Processes by Dr Jos
Chathukulam and Dr Gireesan Kottayam, Centre for Rural Management(CRM),April, 2008.
3. Vijayanand, S. M, Implementation of NREGA: The Kerala Experience, Department of Local
Self Government, Government of Kerala.
4. Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi. Official website,
www.nrega.nic.in
5. Supporting the MGNREGS through ICT, OneWorld Foundation of India & UNDP India
(Case Study).
6. Sudarshan, R. M., “Examining the MGNREGA: women‟s participation and impacts in
Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan, India”, SPA Working Papers 2010, Oct. 2010.
7. NCAER-PIF study on evaluating performance of National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act,New Delhi, NCAER,2009.
8. “Kerala Seeks Flexibility in NREGA Rules”, The Financial Express, dt. 04 Aug. 2009.
9. “NREGA: Red Marks for Bengal and Kerala”, The Indian Express, dt.03 Feb. 2010.

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