Constraints Faced By the Gram Panchayat Members in Decision Making In Implementation of MGNREGA Activities and Seek Their Suggestions for Better Decision

Abstract

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is often hailed as a "Silver Bullet" for  addressing rural poverty and unemployment by creating job opportunities for the rural workforce. The Sarpanch or Pradhan  plays a crucial role in implementing MGNREGS at the local level, with assistance from Gram Panchayat members. A study  conducted in the Hanumanganj block of Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, aimed to evaluate the challenges faced by gram  panchayat members in decision-making related to MGNREGA activities and to gather their recommendations for  improvement. The research focused on 21 randomly selected villages within Hanumanganj block, involving 126 respondents  (6 from each village). Both primary and secondary data were used for the study, which followed a descriptive research design.  Data collection was carried out using a structured interview schedule, and analysis was performed using Garrett’s ranking  method with statistical tools. Key issues identified included insufficient wage payments, exploitation of workers by mates,  operational issues at the block level, lack of crèche facilities at work sites, and the absence of provisions for skilled and semi skilled labor. To address these problems, recommendations include enhanced auditing, inspection, supervision, and  monitoring by higher authorities.