Teach a Man to Fish and Feed him for a Lifetime!
Opportunity, Capacity and Ability- the three dimensions,
which could not only help bolster economic growth but also bring the
economy out of the shackles of recession and depression have been the basis for
framing many poverty alleviation-employment guarantee schemes around the world.
The first step of opportunity creation, as a welfare measure, is initiated by
the state to foster capacity building measures in order to ensure enduring
ability of the target population. Dole economics, without any doubt, is needed
to iron out the creases of inequality but equally important is the approach as
well as the implementation.
(PC: The Hindu)
The NREGS, later rechristened as MNREGS has been lauded and
disparaged alike. It has been the flagship programme of the UPA Government guaranteeing
a source of livelihood to the poverty stricken masses through employment and
productive assets creation. Academic research and survey have shown positive
effects of MNREGA on women empowerment, SC and ST welfare etc. Although, the
scheme was structured on a 60:40 ratio basis with regard to wages and
materials, the experience over the decade has shown that the wage component has
gone as high as 70% of the total outlay. In short, it has been more of an income
distribution rather than an asset creation scheme or put it as a short term
measure rather than a long term one. The restructuring of MNREGS by focusing on
asset creation is a welcome measure though many left skeptics who have been
used to dole economics might condemn although. It is always better to teach a
man fishing rather than giving him a fish and feeding him for a day!
Dear Sree, well thought discussion you started and very succinctly you argued that dole economics cant be shrugged off as some of the left thinkers are doing. I have a few points to make here. if the MANREGA is seen in isolation its a bon for rural unemployed people -it adds three benefits at once:1. providing meaningful jobs and critical minimum wage security, 2. it enhances socially and environmentally useful activity in rural areas and 3. it liberates landless people from their dependence on landlords and thereby greatly changing the rural power structure. another benefit which is nonetheless no less important is involvement of Gram Sabha in job creations and developmental activities.
ReplyDeleteBut being part of dole economics , the horizon of discussion should be larger than immediate gains theory. This is a escape by the neo liberal state from engaging itself or risking to go for any radical economic reforms , like land reform, addressing income disequilibrium and the pace of development so that lower strata can be engaged in th process. Assume that tomorrow , there would be economic depression , what will be consequence on paternalistic programmes(the state here is playing paternal role) like MANREGA. The mutual obligations between tax payers whose tax revenue makes the way for dole and the employment seekers will miserably end.
Therefore dole economics should be used as a transitional measures to create skills, to empower job seekers to be self reliant and to remove structural dysfunctions in economy.
Therefore, Indian state has to ensure that it would make all attempts to empower every household to stand on their own legs.
MANREGA's best benefit is it liberates man being slaves, accepting feudal order and getting frustrated in life. Unemployment is the biggest curse, it kills all the joys , happiness of life . A study done by German experts after data analysis they found changes in reported life satisfaction after marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a spouse, layoff, and unemployment. All had predictable effects in the short term, but for five of the six the effect generally wore off with time: the joy of having a new baby subsided, while the pain of a loved one’s death gradually faded. The exception was unemployment: even after five years, the researchers found little evidence of adaptation. Therefore our approach to dole economics should be bi focal. It immediate gain must be utilised to end disequilibrium and make poor part of participatory economics.
To quote Keynes "permanent problem – how to use his freedom from pressing economic cares, how to occupy the leisure, which compound interest and science will have won for him, to live wisely and agreeably and well."
Given the constraints of resources, a huge fiscal deficit, structural problems like corruption etc...It has become imperative to review schemes that chew up a chunk of budgetary allocation. In my own village, since mnregs recognised the work on private land, people are actively registering themselves but creating nothing productive for the whole community. So, the scheme has become more like a freebies distribution. As a short measure, it has fuelled rural demand but the holistic objective of the scheme is still far- far away from the shore.
DeleteSree, one major pitfall of the scheme is small and middle peasants dont get agricultural workers, if they get they have to pay higher wages and for them agriculture does not remain beneficial. moreover, it also deterred the migration of workers in urban area leading to labour crunch. Nevertheless , MANREGA proved beneficial to landless and awakening the laxy landlord, farmers....they are no longer mini state in rural areas.
DeleteSree, Neo liberal economy and its masters have two different parameters for rural poor and urban poor. MANREGA is for rural poor. there is no such scheme for urban poor? labour reforms is a step to marginalise trade unions and treat labour as a cog in the wheel , speechless, right-less animal born to work as directed, desired , expected by his boss...we are returning to the age of Adam Smith. Weak left movement and directionless right movement fail to contest such steps...
ReplyDelete...Neo liberal dolism has been symptom of decline of egalitarian approach and resurrection of quasi welfare state.
ReplyDeletedoes growth/development ruin the concepts like equlity and market moralism?
ReplyDeleteNot necessary.
DeleteSree, how to treat unorganised labour and to make their existence meaningful is one of the biggest challenge before the neo liberal Indian state. They are without any permanent asset and their mobility for jobs keep their children out of schools.Mostly they are 'owned' by contractors or sarkari babu therefore their life become miserable. situation is worse for unorganised female workers. Chances of their exploitation increases manifold. Even trade union organisations could not reach to give them organised voice and support.
ReplyDelete