This article highlights the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh, India. The tribal population in India constitutes 8.6% of the total population, with 80% of them residing in the Central Indian Tribal Belt. These communities face social and economic backwardness, and their livelihoods largely depend on agriculture and minor forest produce. However, due to the lack of irrigation facilities, farming in tribal districts heavily relies on rainfall.
MGNREGA, launched in 2005, aims to provide guaranteed employment and focuses on water-related works for enhancing agriculture activities in rain-fed areas. It has been particularly beneficial for tribal communities living in hilly areas prone to water and soil erosion. The ridge-to-valley approach, which prioritizes land treatment from higher to lower elevations, helps reduce soil erosion, protect lower catchments, and promote water conservation and groundwater recharge.
It is crucial that we allocate at least 60% of MGNREGA funds for creating productive assets directly linked to agriculture and allied activities. It reveals that expenditure on agri-based work in tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh has increased and surpassed the 60% criteria since 2018-19. However, the expenditure on water-related works falls short of the mandated 65% of total expenditure on natural resource management activities.
The progress made in Madhya Pradesh, once considered a BIMARU state, can be attributed to the improvement of land and water resources through MGNREGA and similar schemes. However, there is still a need for more strategic interventions to bridge the irrigation gap in rain-fed regions and promote sustainable development for tribal communities.
Source: India Water Portal
