Gender issues

Forced/distress migration is another phenomenon that the NREGS is expected to mitigate. The percentage of migrating households is high in our sample, especially in Maharashtra and Orissa.

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  Low awareness regarding Scheme details on the part of potential beneficiaries, panchayat members and officials;
  
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  Back log in registration and Job card distribution;
  
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  Non-issuance of individual cards;
  
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  Exclusion of separated/divorced women in natal home and female headed households;
  
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  Use of the Census definition of household as residents with common kitchen and consequent reduction of per capita entitlements;
  
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  Arbitrary and unjustifiable criteria for eligibility like age, BPL card, income, or disability etc. for eligibility not permitted by the Act;
  
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  Exclusion of migrants;
  
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  Lack of will to register women, the elderly and handicapped;
  
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  Unrealistically high productivity norms under piece rate and inadequate identification of separate labour processes or the component tasks;
  
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  Despite the amendment in Parliament deleting the requirement of ‘diligence’, most states have retained it to describe work;
  
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  No distinction between male and female outturn requirements, no reduction in norms for women and the elderly;
  
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  Very low wages and non-payment of minimum wages;
  
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  Payment in cash only in most places is not in keeping with workers’ preferences;
  
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  Late wage payment;
  
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  Lack of official will to transform from a supply driven public works programme to a demand driven employment guarantee;
  
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  No attempt to encourage applications for work;
  
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  No unemployment allowance or compensation paid to anyone;
  
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  ‘Business as usual’ approach in the selection of works with over emphasis on roads and ponds;
  
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  No creative thinking on works in the most food-deficit rainy months;
  
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  Delayed commencement of work due to non-issuance of work orders despite sanctions;
  
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  Inadequate worksite facilities, esp. childcare and drinking water;
  
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  Problem of funds to purchase implements for workers;
  
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  Absence of muster rolls at worksites;
  
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  Inadequate generation of employment;
  
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  Under utilization of EGS funds;
  
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  Shortage of Staff