Representative file image. , Photo Credit: PTI
As well as providing employment, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) generates substantial climate co-benefits. One study showed.
The study, conducted by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank, found substantial climate co-benefits for usharmukti beneficiary households in four districts of West Bengal (Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia and West). points towards. Bardhaman). The findings of this evaluation are reported for a total population of 228,431 usharmukti beneficiary households in the four selected districts. of West Bengal in 2022.
“These (climate co-benefits) include enabling former rainfed farmers to irrigate their land, bringing barren and fallow lands under cultivation, and additional income from livestock and fisheries through construction (Rs. 14,321 and Rs. 22,963 per year per beneficiary). The number of farm ponds and irrigation canals, said the study titled “A Framework for Quantifying the Climate Co-Benefits of MGNREGA Works”. The study shows a total carbon sequestration of 9,367 tonnes across all plantation operations under social forestry and horticulture.
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Tashina Madappa, lead author of the study, said that access to fishing and animal husbandry has increased the overall income of the beneficiaries and thus improved the standard of living of the people. Ms Madappa said there was evidence of fallow land being converted for agriculture and fruit orchards.
Usharmukti is a community-driven water conservation program in West Bengal that has already brought nearly 30,000 hectares of fallow land under tree plantation with over 15 million new trees, along with water conservation through treatment of 93,330 hectares through 138 Billion liters of water capacity has been created. ,
Along with the Government of West Bengal, the leading civil society organization for Usharmukti is (providing) professional support for the development work. Ms. Mandappa said that based on the study, the researchers have developed a framework where climate co-benefits from MGNREGS can be ascertained for all states in the country. He said the framework provides an additional layer of monitoring and evaluation, similar to the social audits done for MGNREGA, and can go a long way in estimating and reporting on India’s commitment to tackling climate change.
The study is available in the public domain at a time when the West Bengal government and the Center are at loggerheads over the MGNREGS scheme in the state. From December 2021, the Center has refused to pay funds for MGNREGS to West Bengal, citing Article 27 of the NREGA Act, which allows funds to be withheld for violation of rules in the implementation of the scheme by the state . The Center has also frozen funds for West Bengal for the financial year 2023-24. This mess has almost completely stalled the 100 days work guarantee in the state. Districts such as Purulia, which are in the dry western parts of the state, are among the worst affected due to suspension of work under MGNREGA.