Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

Out of the total 92,000 rural household (census 2011) in Sikkim, 84,931households have been provided Job Cards while 65,454 (71%) household have been provided employment at an average of 66 person days per annum. Since itsinception from 2006-07, MGNREGA has generated 326.31 lakh person days of employment, with an average of 40.7 lakh person days of employment per year.

- MGNREGA Cell, RM&DD

Sikkim is predominantly a land of villages with rural population primarily depending on agriculture as their base trade and their prosperity dependent on a good harvest yield of the produce. However, the harvest is to a large extent dependent on the rainfall and monsoon which, if not conducive, leads to fall in crop share and thereby leading to unsustainable economic development and hence grapple with the issues of poverty.

On February 2nd 2002, with a mission to genuinely and positively affect the lives of villagers across India including Sikkim and to mitigate the issue of rural poverty, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was launched. The objective was to enhance the livelihood security of the people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year, to a rural household whose members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Through the years, this scheme, under the Rural Management Development Department, has been a tremendous success in enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas in the state of Sikkim. This scheme has made good progress in addressing rural poverty in the state, with the percentage of Below Poverty Line households down significantly from 30.9% in 2002 to 8% in 2015.

In Sikkim, MGNREGA was implemented in a phased manner. Phase I was introduced in the North District with Phase II implemented in East and South Districts during 2007-2008. Finally, as a Phase III process, the implementation of this act started in the West District from April 1,2008.

The benefit of the scheme has been unprecedented with MGNREGA able to put money in the hands of the poorest of the poor at an unimaginable scale. The income of 71% of the total rural households was enhanced by about Rs 11,055/-, through wage payments under MGNREGA, thereby creating a multiplier effect and thus, stimulating the rural economy. Since the scheme focuses primarily on asset creation, an average of 24 sustainable assets are created in the lands of the poor and deprived in each Gram Panchayat every year. The average annual investment of the MGNREGA per gram panchayat unit is Rs. 55 lacs and the assets are created under the following categories.

• Water conservation and water harvesting
• Drought proofing (including plantation and afforestation)
• Irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works
• Flood control and protection works
• Minor irrigation, horticulture and land development on the land of SC/ST/BPL/IAY and land reform beneficiaries
• Renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting of tanks
• Land Development
• Rural Connectivity
• Promotion of Livestock
• Promotion of Fisheries
• Construction of NBRGSK, Anganwadi Centres
• Construction of Playgrounds, etc.

With inclusiveness in its coverage and intensity, the scheme today serves as a lifeline of the rural population of Sikkim. Through MGNREGA, there has been heightened dignity of labor work in the villages and also provided them a sense of self reliance in terms of bargaining and purchasing power. While MGNREGA provisions as a safety net to prevent the poor from falling deeper into poverty, it also simultaneously functions as a 'ladder of opportunity' to create pathways out of poverty by promoting sustainable livelihoods.

PHOTOS OF MGNREGA:
Photos of Assets created under MGNREGA and various Convergence Schemes

3. Jhora Training Work under MGNREGA
4. Footpaths aid in intra-village rural connectivity

5. Minor Irrigation Canal from Dong Khola to Dong School
6. Jeepable road from Changey Village to Ranidunga under Bongtong Sapong GPU1

7. Installation of Pondliner at Sisney ward under Regu GP for Irrigation of Cardamom field
8. Vertical extension of Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra under MGNREGA

9. High Value Horticulture Plantation (Large Cardamom)
10. Two unit Cow Shed buiild under MGNREGA and animal provided through other scheme

Pig sty (2unit) constructed under MGNREGA to create sustainable livelihood for poor

Launching of Convergence User Manual by Hon'ble Chief Minister along with Secretary RMDD & Secretary HCCDD on 15th August 2014.

Success Stories under MGNREGA:

A. Construction of a 1.3 km jeepable road at Zuluk:

This work starting from Convey Ground to Jumbo Tar, was constructed under MGNREGA at Zuluk under Gnathang GP in East Sikkim. A total of 62 households worked for the creation of this asset and a total of 3368 person days were generated. With the construction of the road, even remote areas of Zuluk have been connected. Around 60 households have benefitted from the construction of the road. Tourist spots like Herbal Garden, the Sikkim-Bhutan border site (Silk Route) are also easily accessible because of which there is a growth in the tourism sector. This in turn, has resulted in small local businesses doing well.

B. Restoring Dolling Lake: Rejuvenation of Dolling Lake:

under MGNREGA was undertaken in Barfung Ward under Ravangla Block, South Sikkim. The once seasonal lake has now become perennial and is filled with water with the Buddhist prayer flags fluttering all around. Eighty nine households have benefited from the springs which were recharged in the surrounding areas. As a result, agriculture productivity has increased. Many people who visited the place (which included Doordarshan Sikkim, NLM from Delhi, SIRD team, etc) appreciated the work and also enjoyed the serene and peaceful environment.

C.Jhora Training Work safeguarding land and houses
in Mendogaon Berbotey: During the monsoon in Mendogaon Borbotey under Soreng Block, West Sikkim, rise in water level in nearby jhoras caused erosion of soil and flooding of fields and farms. The rise in water level often resulted in landslides. To overcome this, MGNREGA undertook jhora training work from the Community Hall to Khati Khola of Mendogaon Borbotey GP. With the jhora training work, a total of 51,666 sq. feet area was safeguarded and has benefited several households. Lands as well as houses, which were previously threatened by the monsoons, are now safe. Says Shri T. B. Gurung, resident of Mendogaon Borbotey, 'The construction of Jhora training work in Khati Khola has benefited us in a sense that our farms and houses are well protected from rising water levels during the monsoon seasons. After Jhora Training Work was carried out, our fields and crops are well protected.

In some occasions, we have now Rural Management & Development Department Government of Sikkim been able to channel the jhora water to our fields, to water our crops. Now we don't have to worry about erosion of fertile soil during the monsoon season

Adding beauty to the Kathog Tsho Lake:

Kathog Tsho Lake in West Sikkim is regarded as the Bla-Tsho or Soul Lake of Kathog Rigdzin Chhenpo, one of the three pioneer lamas who conducted the historical coronation of the first Chogyal of Sikkim at Norbugang, Yuksam, in 1642. A boundary wall around the lake constructed more than fifty years ago had mostly crumbled and collapsed. The villagers were worried that cattle and children would drown in the lake. Construction of the boundary wall around the lake started in 2010-2011 and generated a 19,663 person days work with a women participation of 85 percent. The Kathog Lake Eco Park was inaugurated by the Area MLA on November 20,2011 and handed over to the Gram Panchayat.. A local women has been employed to maintain and collect visitors entry fee, about Rs.72,000-is collected annually as revenue from the entry fee for the Gram Panchayat.

A local woman has been employed as ticket seller and caretaker at the park. She is a mother of three school-going children and had worked at the site. The job has made a huge difference in her life.
Construction of Minor Irrigation Channel in Dong Ward under Poklok- Denchung GPU has helped the local people who are mostly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, increase their production. Unavailability of water for irrigation had held back the local people from totally relying on agriculture for their living. People from the village had to discontinue cultivating paddy for the lack of water. More than 60 households has benefited from the MIC which extends upto 800 meters. The water for the MIC was sourced from Dong Khola and it provided irrigation to 8 hectares of agricultural land.

In the words of Santosh Rai from Dong ward, 'We had not been able to grow paddy for four long years because to could not channel water to our fields properly. We had lost all hope of ever cultivating paddy again. But with the construction of the MIC under MGNREGA, we are able to grow paddy now. This has made a
Rural Management & Development Department Government of Sikkim
significant increase in our household income. Vegetable yield from my dry land has also increased after the MIC reached my dry field/'

Increasing crop produce in Timburbong with the construction of a Minor Irrigation Channel: A minor irrigation channel was constructed in Timburbong GP under Soreng Block, West Sikkim, under MGNREGA which has increased irrigated land to a total of 35 hectares. The work has benefited around 40 households and has enabled the people to cultivate various crops like paddy, mustard, maize, potato, cultivation of which was earlier not possible due to lack of a proper irrigation system.

D. Outdoor Classroom at Fassingdong: A school playground is an important part of any school and plays a major role in the growing process of the children. Keeping this in mind, a school playground for Passingdong Govt. Secondary School in Passingdong Saf f o Gram Panchayat Unit under Passingdong Block, North Sikkim, was constructed under MGNREGA after numerous requests were made for it. About one hectare of area was developed for the school ground which benefited around 200 students and the entire community. A total of 30 households worked for the creation of this asset and generated wage employment for themselves. This very useful asset for the local community, especially the youth was created under the guidance of the Gram Panchayat, Block, and District level officials. It has been an advantage not just for organising various school events but various social and cultural programmes also. Different sports related activities have also been organised by the community and has provided prominent exposure to the village.

E.Installing Pond liners to solve water scarcity: Sisney Ward under Regu GP, East Sikkim, had since long been facing problems due to water scarcity. Most part of the area here is covered with large cardamom plantation, the cash crop of the area and the livelihood of the people residing in this area. Due to scarcity of
water, the plantations were in a state of decline. This was addressed through installing pond liners which helped in rain water harvesting through the process of collection and storing of rainfall and runoff water, from a specific catchment area. The pond is directly recharged by the rain and also by the runoff water collected
from the catchment area through slope and trenches. The water collected in this pond is now used to give life saving irrigation to the plantation and other horticultural cash crops including vegetables cultivated during dry spells, thus enhancing crop production. This has helped the farmers at the grassroots to earn their livelihood in spite of the unavailability of regular water supply.

F. Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra: The Sewa Kendra established at Tanzi Bikmat GP, Namthang Block, South Sikkim, is the first Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra to be established in Sikkim and it was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim on May 20,2011. The construction of the Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra has succeeded in
providing ample space for all the workers in the GPK who got their own rooms for working. Apart from the conference and the training Rural Management & Development Department Government of Sikkim hall, an MGNREGA MIS Room with computers has also been constructed. The other additions are one guest room, separate rooms for Panchayat President, Secretary and a combined room for members and RDA along with toilets.

G. MGNREGA helps in Reducing Water Shortage in Thingling Village in West Sikkim, Thingling-I also know as first Thingling village under Thingling Khecheopalri Gram Panchayat often faced severe water shortage during winter months. The entire village depended on the water pipe line sourced from several kilometers uphill. The houses on the top of the hill had easier access to water from this pipeline, while the households in the downhill did not receive sufficient supply. Often the women living downhill had to carry water from the houses located on the hilltop. Conflict over water during lean season was often noticed in the village. This water scarcity also badly affected the agriculture, restricting winter crops, vegetable farming and even livestock rearing.

In the year 2012, the villagers voiced their concern for an intervention to enhance the water availability in the village. After consensus, a proposal for building 60 water storage tanks of 5000 liter capacity each under MGNREGA was put up and approved by the Gram Sabha. It was difficult for the Gram Panchayat to provide water tanks at individual household level for all 166 houses. Therefore a cluster of 2-3 houses was provided one water storage tank which helped in covering more than 80% of the households. MGNREGA supported the labour, material component like cement, steel and sand while the village contributed local materials like stone and timber. A total of 60 water storage tanks were built under Thingling-I village costing about Rs 50,000/- each. The execution mode was a community-driven approach without using contractors. A total investment of Rs. 31.48 lakh was made during 2013-14, creating an additional water storage capacity of 0.30 million litres in the village.

In the year 2012, the villagers voiced their concern for an intervention to enhance the water availability in the village. After consensus, a proposal for building 60 water storage tanks of 5000 liter capacity each under MGNREGA was put up and approved by the Gram Sabha. It was difficult for the Gram Panchayat to provide water tanks at individual household level for all 166 houses. Therefore a cluster of 2-3 houses was provided one water storage tank which helped in covering more than 80% of the households. MGNREGA supported the labour, material component like cement, steel and sand while the village contributed local materials like stone and timber. A total of 60 water storage tanks were built under Thingling-I village costing about Rs 50,000/- each. The execution mode was a community-driven approach without using contractors. A total investment of Rs. 31.48 lakh was made during 2013-14, creating an additional water storage capacity of 0.30 million litres in the village.

The impact of enhanced water availability was felt on village sanitation as well. Earlier most families could not have adequate sanitation standard due to shortage of water and many villagers depended on the stream and river for laundry and bathing. Women and children suffered the most due to shortage of water. The Senior Secondary school which has a total strength of about 350 children also faced the problem of water shortage. The school toilet had become non-functional and had been shut down due to lack of water supply. After the water tanks were build in the village, the sanitation status has improved in the village while the children of the Secondary School also get access to improved sanitation facilities in the nearby village.

The impact of enhanced water availability was felt on village sanitation as well. Earlier most families could not have adequate sanitation standard due to shortage of water and many villagers depended on the stream and river for laundry and bathing. Women and children suffered the most due to shortage of water. The Senior Secondary school which has a total strength of about 350 children also faced the problem of water shortage. The school toilet had become non-functional and had been shut down due to lack of water supply. After the water tanks were build in the village, the sanitation status has improved in the village while the children of the Secondary School also get access to improved sanitation facilities in the nearby village.

H. MGNREGA Revives Large Cardamom Crop in Manebong Sopakha Gram Panchayat

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is a valuable, native horticulture plant of Sikkim. It is probably one of the few crops which can make a poor farmer rich, as it is a perennial, low-volume, high-value, non-perishable, cash crop. Maneybong Sophaka Gram Panchayat in Dentam Block of West District used to be once a large cardamom growing village. All seven wards under the Gram Panchayat used to cultivate large cardamom as the primary cash crop which was the main source of livelihood for the rural households. The rapid spread of fungal and bacterial diseases destroyed the large cardamom crop in the entire belt and its revival did not succeed for several years. Despite this the farmers never gave up hope. In the year 2011, the Gram Sabha passed a resolution to take up large cardamom plantations in all seven Gram Panchayat Wards of Maneybong Sophaka GP with funding support under MGNREGA. Accordingly, in June 2011, large cardamom plantation was taken up in all the 7 villages, covering 77 hectare with an investment of about Rs. 24 lakh. About 3.50 lakh large cardamom 101 Rural Sikkim: Towards Sustainable Development Towards Holistic Growth suckers were planted in the fields of 120 farmers spread across all the wards.

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is a valuable, native horticulture plant of Sikkim. It is probably one of the few crops which can make a poor farmer rich, as it is a perennial, low-volume, high-value, non-perishable, cash crop. Maneybong Sophaka Gram Panchayat in Dentam Block of West District used to be once a large cardamom growing village. All seven wards under the Gram Panchayat used to cultivate large cardamom as the primary cash crop which was the main source of livelihood for the rural households. The rapid spread of fungal and bacterial diseases destroyed the large cardamom crop in the entire belt and its revival did not succeed for several years. Despite this the farmers never gave up hope. In the year 2011, the Gram Sabha passed a resolution to take up large cardamom plantations in all seven Gram Panchayat Wards of Maneybong Sophaka GP with funding support under MGNREGA. Accordingly, in June 2011, large cardamom plantation was taken up in all the 7 villages, covering 77 hectare with an investment of about Rs. 24 lakh. About 3.50 lakh large cardamom 101 Rural Sikkim: Towards Sustainable Development Towards Holistic Growth suckers were planted in the fields of 120 farmers spread across all the wards.

Mr. Buddhi Man Limboo, beneficiary from Upper Mukrung said, 'I planted about 10,000 cardamom plants in the dry field near my house. I sold about 13,750 saplings @ Rs 4/sapling to 15 households and earned about Rs 50,000/- during the last year. Also, I sold about 40kg of dried cardamom and earned another Rs. 50,000/-. Also, I have expanded my cardamom field by an additional 1 hectare and expect good returns in the coming years.'