Assignment --

Former Director General, NIRD &PR , Shri B.K.Sinha    

While searching for one field visit photograph today, I stumbled upon an assignment folder. When I opened it, I found very interesting assignment that was given to us by Director General (DG, NIRD), B.K.Sinha Sir. During our Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development Management (PGDRDM 2009-10) Course in National Institute of Rural Development (Now NIRD&PR), the Director General Sir used to take our class. He used to teach us ‘Panchayti Raj’ and ‘Rural Development Programmes of GOI’.  His pedagogic technique was very different and engaging. He used to relate theories and principles through case studies, stories, role-plays and his own administrative experiences. Even his informal talk outside classroom used to be very informative and useful. This assignment folder took me almost five years back in classroom. I am looking back nostalgically through this assignment. The assignment and the reply I am sharing here verbatim.

A woman named Ramabai from the weaker section became the sarpanch of a village. Earlier her family used to work in NREGS programme. Now her family is denied to work in NREGS. Government gives her some stipend for being a Sarpanch but it is meagre. To sustain a dignified life she wants 10% commission from each government scheme. Is it justifiable?

Reply -Sarpanch post must have brought some advantage and disadvantage to Ramabai .now we are exploring what are the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantage:-

o   She enjoys position of power.

o    She has a say in local development

o   Her Social contacts have improved.

o   She has become influential.

Disadvantage:-

        Loss of livelihood: - Earlier her family used to work in NREGS programme. But her family is denied to work in NREGS as she is the sarpanch. If her family worked 100 days @ 100 Rs then the she is incurring 10,000 Rs loss per annum.

  §   An improved social contact means more expenditure: - if she spends 50 Rs per day in hospitality (tea, coffee, bidi, tambaku, sorbet etc) then she spends 18,250 Rs per annum.

  §      Time-consuming job:-‘sarpanch’ is not a part time job; instead, it is a full time job.

We do not know being a women of weaker section how much Ramabai enjoys position of power or has say in local development but she is incurring loss of 28,250 Rs at least due to her post. She is getting stipend from government but it is meagre. These steps she may take to ameliorate her conditions.

v  She should write about her grievances to Government and concerned department and ask for a raise in stipend. If it is not possible then ask concerned department to allow her family to work in NREGS programme.

v  If first option does not work then she should look beyond of NREGS.she may take loan from SHG or local bank and start a business so that her family engage themselves in work and earn something.   

v  She should cut down the expenditure on hospitality. Even though it is not easy to do in rural culture, but she should realise that her dedication and Honesty will speak louder than hospitality.

v  If Ramabai’s family do not get work due to her position, she should disassociate herself from family at least on paper. Then she and her family will be two entities and in this condition, her family can get job in NREGS easily. Even though it appears unethical and general sentiment may go against for her but at least her family will not be denied the right to job.

Should she be given 10% commission on government scheme, my answer is big NO. In any circumstances, public fund should not be siphoned off. If she really feel aggrieved being a sarpanch she should leave the job instead restoring malpractice and trying to enjoy public money. 

I remember, after reading my reply, Sir asked me ‘Don’t you think Ramabai’s dissociation from family member on paper will be unethical practice?’

‘But sir, denying her family to work in NREGS is also injustice . Even it is against the spirit of the Act too.’

Sir once again read the reply and smiled. 

~~~ Ramanuj Dubey