Farmers unhappy over linking of MNREGA with water conservation works in Budget

PUNE: Even as the Union Budget 2017 has increased the provision for MGNREGA to Rs 48,000 crore, the farming community is not happy about government's insistence on linking it more with water conservation works.

Farmers across the country have been complaining that the availability of farm labour has become tough and expensive since the launch of MGNREGA. Hence, they have been demanding that the scheme should be linked with farming.

"The government has not linking MGNREGA scheme with farming. It is difficult to get labour at the farms," said P Chengal Reddy, secretary general, Consortium of Indian Farmers' Associations.


During his budget speech, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said, "Government has made a conscious effort to reorient MGNREGA to support our resolve to double farmers’ income. While providing at least 100 days employment to every rural household, MGNREGA should create productive assets to improve farm productivity and incomes. The target of 5 lakh farm ponds and 10 lakh compost pits announced in the last Budget from MGNREGA funds will be fully achieved."

In fact, against 5 lakh farm ponds, it is expected that about 10 lakh farm ponds would be completed by March 2017. During 2017-18, another 5 lakh farm ponds will be taken up. "This single measure will contribute greatly to drought proofing of gram panchayats," expects the central government.

Participation of women in MGNREGA has increased to 55 per cent from less than 48 per cent in the past 36 per cent. Honourable members would be happy to note that the budget provision of Rs 38,500 crores under MGNREGA in 2016-17 has been increased to Rs 48,000 crores in 2017-18.

This is the highest ever allocation for MGNREGA. The initiative to geo-tag all MGNREGA assets and putting them in public domain has established greater transparency. We are also using space technology in a big way to plan MGNREGA works.