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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

NAC planning ways to develop rain-fed areas by Amit Agnihotri

In order to get a deeper understanding of the problems in the rain-fed areas, the NAC on natural resources management would soon hold consultations with the rural development ministry, states and NGOs

Concerned over asset creation under the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) will explore ways and means to maximise the rural job plan in developing the rain-fed areas in the country.

“Asset creation under MGNREGA is a concern.

We would like to understand from the government and the NGOs whether the planning has been faulty,” said an NAC member.

The NAC working group on natural resources management has estimated out of the 150 million hectare land available as pastures and common land, around 75-80 million hectare falls under the rain-fed areas.

Traditionally neglected, such areas have widespread poverty and continue to suffer as investment in developing agricultural options has been poor.

In order to get a deeper understanding of the problems in the rain-fed areas, the NAC working group on natural resources management would soon hold consultations with the rural development ministry, states and the NGOs working in the area.

Sources said the thought within the NAC is that part of the large budgetary allocation (`40,000 cr for 2011-12) under MGNREGA could be utilised over the next decade to bring about a change in the lives of poor inhabitants of the rain-fed areas.

According to experts, the rain-fed areas lying mostly in the hilly tracts of central and eastern India also lack in proper irrigation facilities. One of the options before the NAC is to suggest tree-based farming in these areas, said sources.

As majority (over 40 per cent) of the works done under the MGNREGA relate to water conservation, experts said the rural job plan can be of help in better management of rain water.

Experts said rain-fed areas get around 700 mm of rain per year but hardly any quantity is managed well. If stored properly, rainwater may prove to be a boon to alternative farming measures in the rain-fed areas, they added.