COMMONWEALTH ASSOCATION FOR
EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION AND
MANAGEMENT
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3
ISSN NO 2322- 0147
MARCH
2014
A GEO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MNREGS ON MINORITIES:
A CASE STUDY OF DHARWAD DISTRICT
Excellence International Journal of Education and
Research (Multi- subject journal)
Excellence International Journal Of Education And Research
VOLUME 2
ISSUE 3
ISSN 2322-0147
A GEO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MNREGS ON MINORITIES:
A CASE STUDY OF DHARWAD DISTRICT
Dr. Mohammad Rafique N.Meeranaik.
Associate Professor & Head Dept. of Geography.
Ajuman Arts, Science and Commerce,
Dharwad. 580001
(Karnataka)
Mail Id: mnmeeranaik@gmail.com
Mob: 8762233099
Abstract
Rural employment is inextricable bound with the challenge of meeting the first
Millennium Development Goal of reducing half of the proportion of people living on less than a
dollar a day. Ways to improve existing rural jobs and to create additional jobs for more than 100
million new workers are expected in the decade leading up to 2015, need to be found.
Employment generation in rural India has emerged as one of the most crucial socio-economic
issues in India in recent years. The government had initiated a number of rural development
policies, including rural employment generation schemes since the 80’s. Different innovation
schemes and programmes have been from time to initiated time and again in different Five Year
Plans. In the past, a number of schemes have provided temporary employment in public works
programmes at the government’s discretion, but the present-day scenario brings with it
legislation and right-based approach for implementing pro-people development policies in the
country.
Key words: MNREGS, Minority communities, Dharwad district, Socio-economic
Introduction
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
launched in 2005 has yielded the best results and is now the largest employment generation
scheme in the country. This research aims is to discuss the success and scope of employment
generation government schemes in the organized and unorganized sectors. During the Fifth Five
Year Plan that removal of unemployment and poverty alleviation was recognized as one of the
principal objectives of economic planning in the country. The seventies, eighties and the nineties
saw emergence of special schemes in the rural development sector such as integrated Rural
Development Program (IRDP), National Rural Employment Program (NREP), Rural Landless
Employment Guarantee Program (RLEGP), Jawhar Rozgar Yojna (JRY) etc. to tackle the
problem of rural unemployment and poverty through expanding livelihood opportunities and
creation of durable assets in rural areas.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) [2006] launched to provide
100 days of guaranteed employment to one member from each rural household and create
community assets. The objective of the programme is to generate employment opportunity in
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rural as well as urban areas through setting up of new self-employment ventures/projects/micro
enterprises. The programme was launched on 15th August 2008 to empower the first generation
entrepreneurs to set up micro enterprises. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was
approved by the Indian Parliament in September 2005. NREGA is renamed as ‘Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ‘on 2-10-2009. The main aim of this Act is to
enhance the purchasing power of rural people.
Origin of research Problem
A northern Karnataka majority of districts are dry-land and agriculture based areas,
further areas are classified geographically (Bombay Karnataka & Hyderabad Karnataka region).
Researcher have selected Bombay Karnataka region for the study purposes and made an attempt
on MNREGS of Dhrawd District.
The researcher has identified the following problems.


To what extent MNREGS is implemented and helps to minorities in Dharwad district.
To what extent MNREGS helps to minorities for development of their Geog-Economic
life.
Objectives:
 To know the profile of minorities issued job Cards in the Dharwad district.
 To know the scheme awareness among minority communities.
 To know the geo-factors favorable for scheme implementation
 To know the scheme impact on economic condition of minorities.
 To device a effective mechanism for the better implementation of MNREGS schemes to
minorities.
Review of literature
The MNREGS choice of works suggested addresses causes of chronic poverty like drought,
deforestation and soil erosion. Effectively implemented, the employment generated under the
Act has the potential to transform the geography of rural poverty; and whereas the
implementation of the Act calls for the formulation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by
the State Governments. Accordingly, the Government of Karnataka has formulated the Scheme
called Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (KREGS) to provide not less than one
hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household in rural
areas. In Karnataka Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Davanagere and Chitradurga, the scheme shall
come into force from the date of notification. The scheme shall also come into force in other
districts or parts of districts, from the date on which Government of India notifies the Act for
those Districts or part of districts as the case may be. The administrative cost of the scheme
shall be as fixed by the Government of India from time-to-time.
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Location of Dharwad District
The district is also known as Dharwar. The District has an area of 4263 sqkm lying between
the latitudes parallels of 15°02/ and 15°51/ North and longitudes of 73°43/ and 75°35/ East.
The District receives moderate to heavy rainfall and has dense vegetation. On the agricultural
front, the presence of black soil helps in raising crops like cotton, wheat, ragi, jowar and oil
seeds and that of soil is more suitable for paddy. According to the 2011 census, the district has
a population of 1,846, 993 and density of 434 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,120 /sq mi).
Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 15.13 %. Dharwad district has a sex
ratio of 967 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 80.3 %.
Dharwad is famous for its Dharwad Pedha – a milk based sweetmeat. The corporation
(resulting from a merger with neighboring Hubli in 1961) covers 191 km2. Before 1997 the
district had an area of 13738 km2. In 1997, the new districts of Gadag and Haveri were created
out of Dharwad's former territory. The District is situated at about 800 mts above the sea level
that is why it enjoys a moderate and healthy climate. The District may be divided into 3 natural
regions, viz., the Malnad, Semi-Malnad and Maidan. These regions on an average receive
moderate to heavy rainfall and have dense vegetation. Kalghatagi and Alnavar area in Dharwad
taluka in particular receive more rainfall than other talukas of the District.
Administrative divisions
Dharwad District is an administrative district of the state of Karnataka. Dharwad is the
cultural headquarters of North Karnataka. The Dy. Commissioner is head of district and assisted
by two Asst. Commissioners, 5 Tahsildars pertaining to 5 Talukas. Namely Dharwad, Hubli,
Khalgatgi, Kundagol and Navalgund. Dharwad district consists of 127 Gram panchayat and 379
Villages.
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Geology
Geology of Dharwad is comprised of Dharwad shale, banded ferruginous quartzite and
chlorite schist. Dharwad rock system belongs to the Archean system. Bulks of rocks of Dharwad
region are considered to be of sedimentary in origin. Chlorite schists are all decidedly older than
the gneisses of igneous volcanic derivation, being in fact strictly basic lava – flows
metamorphosed into hornblende and chlorite schist (Wadia, 1987).Bheemarayanagudi site occurs
within the granite-gneissic complex which are variable in mineral composition containing
microcline, oligoclase, quartz and biotitic and peninsular gneisses and bear an intrusive
relationship with the Dharwars. Pink fine grained gneisses occur extensively to the north of
Sagar and Rastapur (Anon., 1966).
Relief and Drainage
Dharwad district forms part of the maidan area and receives an annual rainfall between
450-900mm. The average annual rainfall is around 691mm. It is a drought prone area. Dharwad
city proper receives rainfall up to 750 mm per annum. The rainfall is confined to the monsoon
period spread over 40 to 45 rainy days. Tuparihalla, Bennihalla, Hirehalla,Bedtihalla &
Guligahalla drain the district Neerasagara, Unkal etc are the important tanks.
Dharwad have undulating to rolling topography with frequent mounds like features. Soils
on the rolling topography are severely affected by erosion. Isolated hills and hill ranges are also
seen. The soils on the flat top of hills are well drained and the black soil plains at the foot slope
and toe slope are poorly drained (Anon., 1959). Bheemarayanagudi has granite–gneissic terrain
and is characterized by nearly level to very gently undulating plains, broken by granitic hills and
devoid of vegetation.
Climate
Dharwad is located in the Northern Transitional Zone . However, mean annual maximum
and minimum temperatures at Dharwad are 30.70C and 31.70C. Bheemarayanagudi belongs to
the North-Eastern Dry Zone. The climate of this area is semi-arid. The average annual rainfall of
this area is 715.5 mm. Annual average maximum and minimum temperatures are 33.40C and
21.00C, respectively. Bheemarayanagudi site is situated 458 m above the mean sea level. March,
April and May are the hottest months whereas December and January is the coolest month.
Rainfall Regions: Accordingly, the study area can be divided in to three major rainfall regions.
They are: a) Heavy rainfall region, b) Medium rainfall region and c) Low rainfall region.
a) Heavy rainfall region: The region forms in to a longitudinal belt stretching from malnad to
semi-arid area. The annual average rainfall of this belt is 848.7 mm (2010) and above. This
heavy rainfall belt includes the Kalghatgi and Western part of the Dharwad Taluk.
b) Medium rainfall region: This region comprises of eastern part Dharwad & Hubli talukas the
annual average rainfall of this region varies between 848.7mm to 982.95 mm (2010) and rainfall
is variable and usually departs from the normal.
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c) Low rainfall region: The region can be described as “semi-arid” region. It comprises of the
rain shadow areas of the eastern part of the study area and forms the driest parts with a scanty
annual rainfall of less than 725. mm. This includes the Navalgund and Kundagol Taluks. The
total annual rainfall is highly variable and frequently departs from normal. So, the region is one
of the semi-arid parts of the district.
Soils
The study area falls in the Western-Ghat section (Sahyadris) of the peninsula within the
rugged foothills. An undulating central Pedi-plain and the eastern maidan are the prominent
features. It situated at an altitude of 753 mts (N-W Dharwad Tk) to 558 mts. The lateritic
brownish sandy soil occurs in the western region with 19.62-to 3.6-cm/hour rate of infiltration
characteristic. cotton soils (BCS) in the eastern are 2 to 5 mts thick and have, high humus and
low phosphate content, with normal pH-value and very low infiltration characteristic. Loamy to
kankary soils are seen along the banks of river/stream courses.
Natural vegetation
The natural vegetation in Dharwad district has tropical moist deciduous type of
vegetation which includes both shrubs and trees. Shrubs are Butea superba, Gardenia gummifers
,Zizypus xylopora, Anona squamosa, Cassia auviculata. and Tree species are Cassia festula,
Tamarindus indica, Pongamia glabra, Terminalia tomentosa, Mangifera indica, Prolophis
fuliflora.
Population Characteristics
Table No. 1.1: Dharwad District Population Characteristics, 2011
Sl.
no
Name
of Area
the Taluka
(in sq
km)
Total
Populatio
n
Popul
ation
(%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Dharwad
Hubli
Kundagol
Kalaghatagi
Navalgund
Total
2,4,9993
1,42,807
1,65,568
1,54,659
1,90,208
9,03,235
27.68
15.81
18.33
17.12
21.06
100
1,032
631
648
682
1,080
4,073
Grow
th
rate
(%)v
ariati
on
0.91
0.12
1.58
2.08
0.53
Sex
Total
densi
ty
Literat
es
Total
urban
populatio
n
Total
rural
populatio
n
949
956
952
939
962
946
242
226
255
226
176
1125
27.24
22.71
16.04
16.00
19.00
100
17,228
0
18,726
16,917
52,880
1,05,751
2,32,765
1,42,807
1,46,842
1,37,742
13,7,328
7,97,484
Population Growth
Decadal variation of population in the district registered 36.80% increase between 20012011. The increases have been impressive both in terms of number and percentage. Dhrawad
district had moderate population growth rate till 1931-41. There after the growth rate registered
18.79% by 1981-91 as against 25.76% in the previous decade. Well developed agriculture,
moderate rainfall and favorable climate were responsible for increased growth rate of population.
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But again it’ decreased from 1991-2001, 16.68% to 15.31% in 2001-2011. The growth rate of
population during 2011 was 15.13% to 16.68% during 2001 compared and 19.64% during 199120001. The trend is decreasing in population growth in district. Dharwad taluka has registered an
increase of 27.68% during2001-2011 keeping with the general trend in the district. Kundgol
taluka registered high growth rate than other talukas.
Analysis
In Dharwad District the job cards issued, since 2010-11 to 2013-14 are 1,21,327, 1,19,078, 1,
24,358 and 1, 24,051 in respectively years. Dharwad district employment to 67,790 persons and
during 2013-14 provided employment to 1,735 persons. The number of households completed
100 days of work is recorded as 5723,1704 and 7475 respectively for the years of 2010-11, 201112,2012-13 in Dharwad district.
As such minorities are concerned , Dharwad district of Kundagol taluka as issued 7,811 highest
number job cards to minorities during the 2012-13. And the lowest. i.e 2,773 job cards are issued
in Dharwad taluka during 2012-13. Because in Dharwad Taluka, minorities especially Muslims
are engaged in construction, business and industries, Further researcher has analysed that
talukawise persons of minorities who have completed 100 days are 667 in Dharwad district.
When the researcher collected the minorities data talukawise of 100days completed in Dharwda
district Kalghatgi taluka as recorded highest number of persons that is 238 is recorded and lowest
as recorded 23 persons in Navalgund. Because enrolment of minorities is more in Kalghatgi
Taluka especially poor Muslims, Jain and some converted Christians. Further, researcher has
identified that, the minorities who have issued the job cards male workers are more in number
than female workers. In Dharwda district 57% of male workers and 43% of female workers are
issued the job cards.
Table.No.1.2 : Dharwad District total job card issued and register.
Table: Dharwad District total job card issued & register Name of the District
Sl
Name of the
no
Block
1 Dharwad
2
3
4
5
Hubli
Kalaghatgi
Kundgol
Navalgund
Grand Total
Total no
of
job
card
Issued
81491
No of
register
81144
121880
74408
72026
52957
402762
60395
73686
71962
51177
338364
Total no of Minorities job
card
Issued and register
Others
Register
Male
1856
Female Total
1361
3217
77927
1785
4587
1723
2466
12417
57,00%
1473
3280
1353
1904
9371
43.00%
3258
7867
3076
4370
21788
70428
64095
48101
56025
316576
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Table No. 1.3 :Shows the Community wise job card holders in Dharwad District
Sl
No
1
2
3
4
5
Name of
the Taluq
Dharwad
Hubli
Kundgol
Navalgund
Kalaghatagi
Muslims Christians
3160
4341
7811
3056
3177
------2
____
4
Budhist
---------____
----
Jain
57
29
54
20
77
Sikh
----------------
Parsi
----------------
Further researcher has identified that participation of women in the study area was 43.00,
percent in Dharwad, The MNREGS aimed at generating jobs in the rural areas. Dharwad districts
have provided employment to over 21,788, During the 2013, Dharwad district has provided
employment of Rs.1746.05 lakhs towards labour expenditure. In Dharwad district, Khalghatgi
Taluka is spent highest expenditure for labour i.e., 958.57 lakhs, it means more number of
respondents of minorities have taken the advantage of scheme. And lowest expenditure for
labour is recorded in Navalgund Taluka i.e. 56.39 lakhs.
Table.No.1.4: Dharwad District MNREGS Total Expenditure (2010-2013).
Total
Sl
No
Name of the
Taluka/Block
Labour Expenditure (Rs in lakh)
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
1 Dharwad
927.27
564.59
974.57
2 Hubli
460.11
470.96
552.85
3 Khalghatgi
529.36
562.8
1020.58
4 Kundagol
599.01
463.11
550.87
5 Navalgund
293.36
331.18
305.03
2809.1
2392.64
3403.89
Total District
Further, researcher has made an attempt that, in Dharwad district the amount is spent for undertaken
the work under MNREGS is 8.64% is spent i.e the lowest among the study region for labour. It is
clear that in Dharwad district, physiography has not permited such schemes. Hence in Dharwad
district, the study is concentrated on other MNREG schemes such as Flood Control, Rural
connectivity, Drought proofing, water harvesting etc. Dharwad district of Dharwad Taluka has
spent highest amount i.e. (Rs.161.65, 65.21 and 106.65 lakhs) and Kundagol Taluka has spend
lowest amount (Rs.13.66, 11.9 and 2.74 lakhas). Further the researcher has analysed that, during
2010-13, in Kundgol taluk in district which is a semi- arid and low rainfall area highest amount
is spent Rs.114.60, 135.60 and 177.60 lakhs and lowest amount is spent in Dharwad Taluka i.e.
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Rs74.73, 34.26 and 62.63 lakhs in respective year for MNREG Scheme of Water Conservation
and Water Harvesting.
Researcher has analysed that, the amount spent for Drought Proofing in MNREG Scheme of
expenditure of labour in the study region during 2010-11 to 2012-13 is 34.09% of total
expenditure of all schemes. In district the amount spent for labour Rs.1343.04 lakhs in three
years of duration In Dharwad taluk of Dharwad district a malanad region, highest amount has
been spent for MNREGS of Drought Proofing Scheme i.e. Rs.204.4, 119.28 and 151.28 lakhs.
And the lowest amount spent for dry land Taluka is Navalgund i.e. Rs. 43.63., 37.18 and 22.71
lakahs in respective years.
96.03 95.58
93.56
92.76 93.99
89.07
100
90
1 Dharwad Total Minorities
%
Dharwad
Hubli
80
Kalghatagi
70
Kundagol
60
Navalgund
Total Dharwad District
50
Others %
40
Dharwad
30
Hubli
20
Kalaghatagi
10.93
7.24
6.44
6.01
3.97 4.42
10
0
Kundagol
0
0
1
Navalgund
Total district
Fig:Dharwad District Minorities & Other Job card register with percentage
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Total labour expenditure of Dharwad district in %
0.52
3.83
Rural Connectivity
2 Flood Control
Land Development
3 Water conservation
4 & water Harvesting
Drought Proofing
5
Renovation of
6 traditional water
7 bodies
Irrigation cannels
8
Other workers
9 Rural Sanitation
10 Rural Drinking water
1
0.81
0.01
6.02
23.70
14.53
13.67
28.27
8.64
CONCLUSION AND FINDINGS
MGNRES is India’s policy and programme commitment to achieve Millennium
Development goals and efforts are on towards total eradication of poverty by 2015. The
MNREGS has also contributed to the quality of life of rural people by way of building
confidence among marginalized groups. This is evident from the fact where large number of
cases, women expressed that they had a sustainable say in the way the money was spent. Earned
income was also utilized the money for avoiding hunger, repaying small debts, paying for their
children’s school fees and meeting out medical expenses. This has improved the quality of life
of the household to whom these women belong.
Finally researcher has analyzed the available data on minorities as well as Muslim
population is concerned with the fact that, most of us are uneducated, hence the objectives are
fulfilled that, most of minorities are unaware of the MNREG schemes. Benefits of such schemes
must be reached to it Muslim population so that their socio-economic conditions will be
improved and they can lead a lively life. But very little helped on social and economic conditions
of the minorities. According to the latest statistics of 2011 census, the Muslims population in
Karnataka as present is approximately 78 lakhs which is 12.75% of total population. The ratio of
Muslim population in Dharwad district is more than 20 percentage. And also researcher has
concentrated on Geographical factors which are very much favorable for implementation of
MNREGS in the study region.
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