Comments on: [TCI TidBits]: WSJ on NREGA + VC investing in rural business http://www.thinkchangeindia.org/2009/06/15/tci-tidbits-wsj-on-nrega-vc-investing-in-rural-business/ Tracking Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in India Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:32:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Badhri Jagannathan http://www.thinkchangeindia.org/2009/06/15/tci-tidbits-wsj-on-nrega-vc-investing-in-rural-business/comment-page-1/#comment-5580 Badhri Jagannathan Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:56:54 +0000 http://www.thinkchangeindia.org/2009/06/15/tci-tidbits-wsj-on-nrega-vc-investing-in-rural-business/#comment-5580 Two things about WSJ's observation on NREGA 1. About moving beyond NREGA (which helps survive but not escape poverty). The author is correct about making NREGA less prominent and making training, infrastructure investment, more prominent. But I given the imperfections in implementing NREGA (corruption), it would be too soon to expect the transition in the next 5 years. I suspect, it would leave a void that would be occupied by more corruption. "But is the government thinking about skill enhancement?" is the real question to face! 2. Transparency. Well, there are concrete measures for transparency that are already delivering. For example, the wage payment are increasingly made as bank transfers to the worker rather than cash. Another example is making NREGA, RTI compliant. This empowers independent monitors like RTI activists. The Hindu Publication has followed NREGA very well. Links The Hindu Magazine: http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/06/21/stories/2009062150010100.htm The Frontline survey in Jan 2009 edition: Go to http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2601/index.htm and look under "cover story" to the left of the page Two things about WSJ’s observation on NREGA
1. About moving beyond NREGA (which helps survive but not escape poverty).

The author is correct about making NREGA less prominent and making training, infrastructure investment, more prominent. But I given the imperfections in implementing NREGA (corruption), it would be too soon to expect the transition in the next 5 years. I suspect, it would leave a void that would be occupied by more corruption. “But is the government thinking about skill enhancement?” is the real question to face!

2. Transparency.
Well, there are concrete measures for transparency that are already delivering. For example, the wage payment are increasingly made as bank transfers to the worker rather than cash. Another example is making NREGA, RTI compliant. This empowers independent monitors like RTI activists. The Hindu Publication has followed NREGA very well. Links

The Hindu Magazine:
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/06/21/stories/2009062150010100.htm

The Frontline survey in Jan 2009 edition:
Go to http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2601/index.htm and look under “cover story” to the left of the page

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