1. Convergence of MGNREGS & NRLM Experience from Kerala Presentation at the National Workshop on Convergence of MGNREGA with Other Programmes New Delhi; 17 th September 2013 Liby Johnson, Programme Manager Kudumbashree-National Resource Organization

2. Context ➢ 93% of workers under MGNREGS in Kerala are women ➢ The CBO-network under the State Rural Livelihoods Mission works closely with the Gram Panchayats Neighbourhood Group (NHG) Habitation-level Ward-level GP-levelCommunity Development Society (CDS) Neighbourhood Group (NHG) Area Development Society (ADS)

3. Where & How they work together Awareness Generation & Mobilization ➔ Awareness creation about MGNREGA at ward level NHG meetings and Gram Sabha ➔ Job card forms distribution and submission by ADS ➔ Door-to-door collection of registration forms, support for taking photographs ➔ Job cards issued through NHG

4. Where & How they work together Identification of works & Labour budgeting ➔ Work identification by ADS ➔ Labour budgeting at NHG level ➔ Consolidated at Ward level (ADS); presented in Gram Sabha for approval ➔ GP level consolidation supported by CDS ➔ Work and worker prioritization done by ADS

5. Where & How they work together Implementation ➔ Mate – identified and selected by the ADS; trained by the CDS Maintains muster rolls ➔ ADS provides information to workers about start of work and nature of work ➔ Stocking work implements and distribution as per need done by the ADS ➔ Documentation of works – boards at site, photography etc. - done by ADS ➔ Provision of work-site facilities

6. Where & How they work together Payments ➔ Co-ordination with GP for timely payments ➔ Support of ADS for opening bank accounts and its operation ➔ Corpus Fund at NHG level for advance wage payment – in case of special groups such as ST that need more regular payments ➔ Collective as a pressure-group in case of delays

7. Where & How they work together Livelihoods improvements ➔ Use of MGNREGS for conversion of fallow land into crop lands ➔ Area based planning focussed on needs of poorest families, with CDS level demand plan as base for articulating demand

8. Where & How they work together Access to entitlements ➔ Convergence with schemes for housing, sanitation etc. ➔ Social security schemes, both Central and State

9. Benefits of working together ➔ Higher quality planning and implementation of MGNREGS ➔ Wider coverage of the poor ➔ More realistic work identification and execution ➔ Strengthening of the community organization ➔ Improved economic benefits – Wages – Better production and productivity ➔ Stronger relationship between local governments and community based organizations