The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has emerged as one of the schemes through which “habitual criminals” and “history-sheeters” are rehabilitating themselves. D.K. Jain, joint secretary, ministry of rural development, said that since “habitual criminals and history-sheeters do not get jobs elsewhere, they find MGNREGA is an effective tool to return to the mainstream”.
Studies commissioned by the ministry have revealed that the maximum cases of criminals giving up crime to rehabilitate themselves through this scheme have been reported from Bihar, Maharashtra, UP and Rajasthan. “Studies by NGOs in Maharashtra and Bihar have revealed the trend that history-sheeters, otherwise shunned by others for employment, have been enrolling for MGNREGA and are joining mainstream life. This is because MGNREGA has no bar for history-sheeters,” said Mr Jain.
History-sheeters in Bihar have taken to MGNREGA in a big way with studies pointing out that after law and order improved there such people took to the scheme. Similar findings have emerged in other states. “We are still analysing data,” Mr Jain said.
The Centre is focusing on Left-wing-affected districts to wean Naxals away from violence.
Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh is stated to be personally overseeing the implementation of the Saranda Action Plan in the Naxal tri-junction of Chhatti-sgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.