Wednesday, September 26, 2012

MNREGA and social service

IIPM Review MBA 2012 - Delhi Bangalore Jaipur Lucknow Admissions 

MNREGA can be a cost effective tool for disaster management in India

MNREGA in its present form is confined to the work of bricks and mud only. The ambit of the scheme involves construction of roads and digging ponds and lakes. However, the potential of the scheme has not been fully explored as yet. Since India does not have a well defined disaster management mechanism, the cost effective measures of disaster management can be seamlessly synchronised with the existing policies such as MNREGA.

It goes without saying that disasters come with heavy economic and social losses. As per a World Bank report, by the year 2100, damages from such calamities in India may go up to one billion dollars annually. And, here we have not taken into consideration the losses due to climate change. One can imagine the plight of Indians especially in a scenario when most of the mitigation measures are found grossly inadequate – more so for the rural India.

Around 3.3 million deaths have occurred directly due to these hazards in the last three decade. Despite government's interventions, losses have tripled in this period. As per the ministry of home affairs, cumulative loss from such natural calamities was around $48 billion during the same period.

It is a clear case of misplaced priorities resulting in displaced outcomes since government expenditures on preventive measures are significantly lower than allocations on disaster control and relief. Thus, it becomes imperative to develop an effective mechanism for prevention that can eventually lower vulnerability from such calamities.

The technology intensive model of disaster management practised by the developed world is still not practically viable in our country due to inadequate infrastructure. This is where the MNREGA scheme could be extremely beneficial. We can exploit our demographic dividend in mitigation efforts in all rural areas that are prone to disasters. This would not only be cost-effective but also allow timely intervention.

Take for instance the coastal areas of Kosi river in Bihar that are severely affected by flood every year. The pool of workforce under MNREGA could be used for the construction of dams, water reservoirs and digging more ponds in order to prevent floods. Similar activities should be replicated all across the coastal areas of India under MNREGA programmes. Similarly, to counter drought, projects like creation of canals and interconnecting rivers under could potentially be a breakthrough. Moreover, the presence of such a workforce at the local level would minimise post hazard losses.

MNREGA has only benefited people economically through job creation. It can be put to better use by using it simultaneously for disaster management and community services like waste management that can be performed by unskilled labours.

 

No comments: