Evaluating the NREGA and its scope in the provision of drinking water in Semi-Arid rural India
Student name: Ms Nabila Aziz Siddiqui
Guide: Dr Mala Narang Reddy
Year of completion: 2009
Host Organisation: Water Aid
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Indira Khurana
Abstract: Climate change makes India vulnerable to water crises. Drought impacts every aspect of rural livelihoods
with apparent repercussions on drinking water availability. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the
government has put forth a number of policies to address the crisis. In the light of these policies, the present
study aims to assess the scope of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in assuring
drinking water security to semi-arid rural India, through the case study method. NREGA’s objective is to
address the employment crisis and strengthen the natural resource base of villages. As water conservation
works top the priority list of the mandatory works under NREGA, the Act has been evaluated vis-Ã -vis
drinking water security in semi arid pockets of Bundelkhand region and Andhra Pradesh. Qualitative
research techniques such as focus group discussion and interview were used for data collection.
The water crisis caused by deficit rainfall is compounded by sinking water tables, which result from excessive
groundwater dependence and the demise of traditional water harvesting structures. The findings of this study
suggest that NREGA has a vast potential for enhancing drinking water security, as well as generating
employment, by getting villagers together to build water harvesting structures, renovate the traditional ones,
and plant trees. Nevertheless, this potential is yet to be tapped fully, as this requires greater village
participation, awareness generation and better coordination with implementing bodies. The study also
reveals that absence of economic opportunities, compounded by the drinking water crisis, forces villagers to
migrate. NREGA, with its huge potential for economic and ecological regeneration of the village, can help
reverse this trend. As most of the NREGA districts are in arid areas where groundwater is a critical drinking
resource, it is imperative that water conservation be made the mainstay of NREGA.
Keywords: NREGA, drought, drinking water security, groundwater recharge, traditional water
harvesting structures
