i

June 2017
Caselets written by

Mr. Satyadeep Koirala, Mr. Bishnu Chettri, Mr. Pangzor Lepcha, Mr. Phur Tshering,Mr. Manjil Subba, Mr.
Sanchaman Limboo, Mr. Dev N Chaudhuri

Editors

Mr. Amol Ranjan, Ms. Ananya Chakraborty, Mr. Dev N Chaudhuri, Mr. Richard Kamei, Ms. Saanvi Vaishist,
Mr. Sudhansu Behera

Proof Reading

Mr Richard Kamei

Interviews and Transcription

Prof. Ashwani Kumar, Mr. Dev N Chaudhuri, Ms. Pareen Sachdeva, Mr. Sudhansu Behera

Design and Layout

Mr. Ritesh Kumar

Mr Neeloybrata Das

ii
Field Investigators

Mr Satyadeep Koirala, Mr Bishnu Chettri, Mr Pangzor Lepcha, Mr Phur Tshering, Mr Manjil Subba, Mr
Sanchaman Limboo.

Project Team

Prof. Ashwani Kumar, Project Director

Prof. Sandhya Iyer, Co Project Director
Prof. Bhagirathi Panda, North East Expert
Mr. Sudhansu Behera, Nodal Officer
Mr. Nandan Kumar, Consultant
Mr. Dev N Chaudhuri, Consultant
Ms. Ananya Chakraborty, Project Coordinator
Ms. Pareen Sachdeva. Project Coordinator
Mr Sumit Maurya, Technical Consultant
Mr Swapneshwar Dehury, GIS Expert

A project commissioned to Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai by Rural Management and Development Department,
Government of Sikkim.

iii
Paradigm shift from providing guaranteed employment to creating livelihood
assets in the land of the poorest of the poor under MGNREGA

MGNREGA in Sikkim has moved forward from providing employment opportunities to effectively
channelizing this employment to create livelihood assets in the Land of the Poor. It has aligned with
Mission Poverty Free Sikkim and the focus has shifted to creating durable livelihood assets to create
pathways out of poverty for rural poor. Prior, to 2011, traditional planning approach was used for the
preparation of the annual shelf of projects. Such plans were formulated at the Gram Sabha level, with the
works being selected in an ad-hoc manner. A major loophole of this process was that, the voices of the
weakest and poorest households in the community were often unheard. The Gram Sabha became a
platform for influential opinion leaders in the community to effectively voice their ideas on the types of
developmental works that would benefit their village. On the other hand, representatives of poorest
households would most likely not be able to attend the Gram Sabha, as they often undertook work as daily
wage earners in Government schemes and for private employers in and around their villages.
Consequently, the selection of works under the scheme became largely communal in nature aiming at the
collective benefit for the entire village community. In order to overcome this problem and to utilize
MGNREGA labour and resources to create livelihood assets in the land of the poorest of the poor, the
department took up an innovative planning process called the “Gram Panchayat Pro-Poor Perspective Plan
(G5P)” under MGNREGA. Perhaps the first of its kind in rural development policy in the country, the G5P
introduced a need-based, diagnostic and perspective approach in the preparation, selection and
finalisation of the shelf of projects at the Gram Sabha level for MGNREGS in Sikkim. The premise for the
policy layout stems from the need to earmark 50% of the annual labour budget to create income
generating assets in 20% of the poorest households, with the remaining 50% to be used for creating
community level assets.

iv
The impact of intensive participatory perspective planning at the village level helped identify the poorest
of the poor (PoP) through Participatory Identification of the poor (PIP), their strength, weakness and their
need. Thus it became more realistic plan based on need and helped target the vulnerable section of the
people. This would act as a safety net for the poor from falling deeper into poverty.

The plan envisages integrated development across multiple sectors like strengthening of Natural Resource
Base like land, water and tree, providing them quality housing, strengthening the primary livelihood based
like agriculture, horticulture and Animal Husbandry etc. Depending on the strength, weakness and need, a
multiple assets were targeted around these vulnerable sections to strengthen their livelihood resource
based in order to move them out of poverty within a short span of time. Thus many assets such like animal
shelter, fodder plantation, High value horticulture plantation, water and irrigation storage facilities, rural
housing was provided to this vulnerable target groups. The idea of integrated approach of providing
multiple assets and benefits was to provide all necessary support to strengthen its livelihood based for its
inclusive growth. It has been identified during the planning process that many assets such as providing
water security; strengthening Natural Resource Base, land development etc are often an integral part of
the rural livelihood. Thus just providing them with one single livelihood assets does not help them
strengthen their livelihood based. Thus this integrated target approach was adopted by the department
under MGNREGA in the state of Sikkim

Ms Sarika Pradhan
Additional Secretary cum Project Director –MGNREGA
Rural Management & Development Department,
Government of Sikkim

v
Preface

The Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD), Government of Sikkim has meticulously
taken up extensive number of initiatives in rural Sikkim which have brought about sustainable changes in
the lives of the communities in the villages. RMDD has taken notable initiatives through a convergent
perspective and has been able to create an impact in key areas of concern such as poverty, sanitation,
water supply, adaptation to climate change and rural infrastructure that supports agriculture and allied
activities. Simultaneously, they have been able to address issues of connectivity and housing. In all of these
practices, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been a key driver
of change.

MGNREGA has been one of the most promising programmes of the Government of India to enhance
livelihood opportunities and secure the vulnerable section of the rural society from distress and safeguard
their existential necessities. This is one of the most transformatory rural livelihoods and development
programmes that has held communities together and strengthened villages in a cohesive manner over the
last one decade. Most importantly the role of the government functionaries and the citizens are closely
knit which allows a seamless partnership between the state and its citizens. However, the implementation
across states have varied and unleashed innovative results for the rest. MGNREGA is a programme that is
iterative in nature and has the potential to carve out newer mechanisms to address the issues like poverty,
livelihood, and climate change. Since its first phase of implementation in 2005, MGNREGA has
demonstrated its capacity to stretch its boundaries beyond the realm of only employment guarantee. Rural
India has been able to use MGNREGA as a platform to reach a higher pedestal of security against natural

vi
and economical odds. Moreover, it has ushered us into newer era of transparency and accountability in
various parts of the country.

The study commissioned to Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai by the Rural Management and
Development Department, Government of Sikkim opens pathways to present for the larger audience a
conversations of innovation and challenges. The state of Sikkim borders itself with China and isa place of
national importance. As per census 2011, approximately 75 percent of the entire population lives in rural
areas. The population Sikkim is lowest in the country which is also the second smallest state in India shows
contrasting picture in its urban and rural areas. While, city population is growing at an alarming rate of
above 150 per cent, the rural population isn't growing at all, but is decreasing at the rate of 5.20
percent(Census, 2011) Coupled with these factors, the terrain of Sikkim is entirely hilly, mostly remote
and inhospitable. Therefore the implementation of MGNREGA requires well thought out strategy and a
long term goal to deliver sustainable results for the beneficiaries. Thus, these caselets aims to share the
experiences of the functionaries and the beneficiaries on the implementation of MGNREGA Category B
Assets. These experiences highlight the innovative implementation strategies adopted by RMDD like Gram
Panchayat Pro-poor Planning Programme (G5P) that has installed transparent and accountable processes
of implementation of rural development in the state of Sikkim

Caselets developed from the field cite the voices and experiences from multiple stakeholders of the
MGNREGA community. Due to reasons of accessibility and availability of respondents, a selective number
of respondents have been recorded in this book. However, the booklet on caselets presents a holistic
picture to explore, analyze and also visualise the transformation that has been made possible in Sikkim
through MGNREGA. More importantly, the booklet has been able to capture the impact MGNREGA has
made in the lives of women, young and old age people across all communities. The experiences also
indicate the way forward for MGNREGA in the state of Sikkim. The opinions have been recorded through

vii
structured and semi structured interviews. This entire process of interviews and field work was completed
between the months of November 2016 to March 2017. The booklet invites MGNREGA officials,
academicians, policy advisors, practitioners and others to take this opportunity to learn and share their
views which could enhance the overall capacity of MGNREGA for the nation.

Prof. Ashwani Kumar,

Project Director, Professor & Chairperson,
Center for Public Policy, Habitat & Human Development
School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
June 2017

viii
Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. MGNREGA Beneficiary experiences of Category B Assets 8

3. Communities Perception of Category B Assets in Sikkim: A snapshot of

48
the four districts of Sikkim

4. Charting Goals for Change: Functionaries Experience of MGNREGA

55
Category B Assets

ix
xi
 nd
Sikkim is the 22 state of India and came into existence on May 16, 1975. It is a land locked area and is
the second smallest state both by its area and population. It inhabits around 6, 07,688 people. It is
located in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas and forms a part of the inner ranges of the Himalayan
Mountains having no open valleys or plains. The state has a geographical area of approximately 7,092
2
km , out of which forest area constitutes around 82.31 per cent of the total geographical area of the
2
state i.e. 5837 Km . The entire habitation places in Sikkim constitute only 20 per cent of the land area of
the state existing only upto an altitude of 2100 meters. As per census 2011, approximately 75 percent
of the entire population lives in rural areas.

The state of Sikkim borders itself with China in its North and East, Bhutan in its East, Nepal in its West
and the Indian state of West Bengal in its South. Thus, it is place of national and international importance.

It has a multicultural ethnic society and can broadly be divided into three types of ethnic groups namely
Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. The Tribal population constitutes a major part of rural Sikkim. According
to Census 2011, the proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) population was 4.4 per cent and Scheduled
Tribe (ST) population was 36.6 per cent in rural areas of the state. The density of the population of
Sikkim is 86 persons per square kilometer with a literacy rate of around 82 per cent. The state shows a
medium Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.665 in 2006 (HDR Report, 2014). Sikkim has registered
a consistent growth in its population and has tripled almost in the last four census decades. However,
rural Sikkim has registered a decline in its population in the last decade. In 2016, Sikkim got the status of
being the first fully organic farming state in the country.
Mahatma Gandhi national Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been one of the most
promising programmes in contributing growth and stability in the lives of people of rural Sikkim. The Rural
Management and Development Department (RMDD), Government of Sikkim has strategically implemented

3
this programme in convergence with the Department of Horticulture and other line departments. Infact,
Sikkim has been one of the pi

oneering states in implementing the MGNREGA Category B Assets through the convergence model. Such
thoughtful approach has enhanced livelihood opportunities and secured the vulnerable section of the rural
society from distress and safeguarded their existential necessities.

The MGNREGA programmes have been directly linked to agriculture and allied activities as per Schedule
1 and the activities carried out under it have been grouped under different categories:
1. Category A: Public works relating to Natural Resource Management

2. Category B: Community Assets or Individual Assets

3. Category C: Common Infrastructure including for National Rural Livelihood Mission Compliant Self
Help Groups

4. Category D : Rural Infrastructure

The MGNREGA Category B Assets are a provision for the vulnerable section of the rural communities. It
lays down the following imperatives for its implementation:

1. Improving productivity of land of households specified in Paragraph 5 of the act through land
development and by providing suitable infrastructure for irrigation including dug wells, farm
ponds and other water harvesting structures
2. Improving livelihoods through horticulture, sericulture plantation, other kinds of plantation and
farm forestry;
3. Development of fallow/waste lands of households defined in Paragraph 5 of the act to bring it

4
 under cultivation;
4. Pasture Development, Perennial grasses like Stylo, vetiver etc.;

5. Bamboo, Rubber, Coconut Plantation;

6. Creating infrastructure for promotion of livestock such as poultry shelter (brooder house), Goat
shelter, Piggery shelter, Cattle Shelter and Fodder troughs for cattle;
7. Creating infrastructure for promotion of fisheries such as fish drying yards, storage facilities, and
promotion of fisheries in seasonal water bodies on public land;
8. Bio fertilisers (NADEP, Vermi
9.
10. Composting etc.)

The main purpose of the asset is to provide sustainable livelihoods to the rural poor at a low-cost
budget. In the context of the state of Sikkim, the individual assets built under Category B are
infrastructural assets like Cowshed, Pigsty, CMRHM, Irrigation Tanks, and plantation based assets like
Cardamom, Oranges, Guava, Broom, Nakima, and Coffee. Both the infrastructure and agriculture allied
activities have been selected in tandem with the beneficiaries’ experience and the agro-climatic conditions
prevailing in their regions. The selection process was done as per the administrative process, mandated in
the MGNREGA. This assets building process has been systematically aligned with the larger mission of
the state such as combating climate change, preventing natural disasters like landslides and promoting
soil conservation, fostering organic farming and addressing poverty. MGNREGA has been able to advance
a positive development-centric change in the mindset of the communities. It has also resulted in making
communities strive hard and subsequently take ownership of this programme.
The chart below shows the impact of MGNREGA Category B Assets that has been implemented in
convergence with other administrative departments in Sikkim.

5
Sr. ASSETS DEPARTMENT AREAS OF IMPACT
No
1 Irrigation Horticulture Water Agriculture Animal Sanitation
Tank Supply Husbandry

2 Nakima Horticulture Livelihood Innovation Organic

farming
3 Cowshed RMDD Livelihood Rural Organic
Infrastructure farming

4 Oranges Horticulture Livelihood Organic Livelihood

farming
5 Pigsty RMDD Rural Livelihood Animal
Business Husbandry

6 CMHRM Government Livelihood Rural Sanitation

of Sikkim Infrastructure

7 Cardamom Horticulture Livelihood Organic

farming
8 Coffee Horticulture Innovation Organic
farming
9 Guava Horticulture Livelihood Organic
farming
10 Broom Agriculture Soil Livelihoods
Conservation

The areas of impact suggest the development progression of the state of Sikkim. It is in alignment with the
future aspirations of becoming a self-sustaining development state. However, the experiences shared by
both the beneficiaries and implementers bring forward multiple challenges that require policy interventions
from both the top leadership as well as the participation of communities from the bottom. The experiences
shared by all stakeholders of MGNREGA open up the opportunities for enhancing the programme in the
state of Sikkim. Many concerns put forth by the stakeholders not only connect the grassroots with the
6
policy advisors but also demonstrates the interactive action at play between the government and its
beneficiaries. In short, implementing MGNREGA has transformed conventional beneficiaries of social-
welfare programs into ‘empowered –citizens’ of the state of Sikkim.

7
9
 Categories : Cowshed, Livelihood

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Santosh Kumar Rai, 50 years

Gram Panchayat : Assamlinzey

Block : Gangtok

Image: Shri. Santosh Kumar Rai

District : East Sikkim

In most rural areas, you will come across people like me with little or no education. In my case, I managed
to study till primary level. It is difficult to get work of my choice in the village, so I take up whichever work
that comes my way in supporting my family’s financial needs. I have a landholding of one acre, and a
cowshed through which I get some alternate income. Now, under MGNREGA, a lot of work is taking place in
my village, including the likes of construction of a community footpath or making of cow shed. Such work
allows us to secure 100 days of work with pay. This has helped me in meeting the demands for cash
related needs to an extent. Though the wages are lesser, but at least people like me are getting regular
work. Now we are more optimistic in containing the anxieties of joblessness, and in a position to be able to
plan our lives better.

I received this new cowshed under MGNREGA in 2015. The cost of the cowshed is around Rs 66120.
The quality of the cowshed is much better than what I had built earlier. I contributed wood and stone on
my own volition in the construction of the new cowshed. Earlier, I used to have a small kutcha cowshed
where both my wife and I had to spend a lot of time in cleaning and maintenance work. Not only that, a lot
of money was also spent on repairing the cowshed every year. Now I am spending lesser time in

10
maintaining my cows and cowshed. My income has increased from Rs 2000 per month to Rs 10000 per
month. I am very satisfied with the results of the benefits made under MGNREGA.

11
 Categories : Agriculture, Irrigation Tank, Water
Supply
Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Mani Kumar Gurung, 56 years

Gram Panchayat : Chuba Phong

Block : Namthang

District : South Sikkim Image: Shri. Mani Kumar Gurung

Due to lack of education, I became a carpenter and I have spent all my life in carpentry work in and around
the village. I am 56 years old, and I look after five members in the house which includes my youngest son’s
family as he is not involved in any work. Currently, I am the only breadwinner of my household. Since, I had
not been getting regular carpentry work, so it became difficult to meet the daily household requirements.
The 100 days of labour work that I received under MGNREGA helps me to supplement my expenses.

In the last couple of years, the Government, under the MGNREGA provided individual assets to MGNREGA
beneficiaries. Under this scheme, I appealed the MGNREGA authorities to undertake cardamom plantation
in my field, and I received good quality cardamom saplings from the officials. Initially, I was facing a lot of
water issues to irrigate cardamom saplings. Thus, the following year in 2015, I placed a demand for an
irrigation tank. Now I am able to store water and use it for both household and irrigation purposes. The
total cost of the tank was around Rs 1,43,000 in which I contributed sand, GCI Sheet and local wood as
materials for the construction of water tank. MGNREGA has reduced our difficulties in many ways now. I am
expecting that in the near future, the cardamom plantation will provide a good produce and subsequently
my income will also see a substantial increase from Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000 per month (approximately).

12
 Categories : Cowshed, Agriculture, Organic
farming
Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Man Bar Limboo, 69 years

Gram Panchayat : Gerethang

Block : Yuksom

District : West Sikkim Image: Shri. Man Bar Limboo

I belong to the Limboo (Nepali) community. I studied up to primary level because of my family’s economic
condition and thus, started working as a labourer to earn my livelihood. I have six members in my family.
Being the only earning member in the household, it becomes difficult to meet the ends. I also cultivate
some vegetables in my small piece of land to meet my household consumption. Apart from this, I also take
up manual labour under MGNREGA as it helps me to take care of additional household needs.

I used to have a small cowshed which was very difficult to maintain especially during the rainy days as I had
to buy bamboos, plastic sheets every year to repair it. The cows would also fall sick during the same time.
It was getting very expensive to take care of cowshed. However, in 2015, I received a cowshed under
MGNREGA. The total cost of the new cowshed is around Rs 66,120 and I added around Rs. 20,000 to
expand the cowshed. The situation has improved now as I don’t have to put any labour and/or resources
every year to repair the cowshed. It can withstand at least seven to eight years. The problem of feeding
and storing of feeds have been solved with the fodder tray in the cowshed. The new cowshed is designed in
such a way that storage of cow’s urine has become easier that I can use it later in my farms. Now, my
income has increased and the expenses on the maintenance of cowshed have also lowered. I am happy that

13
the government has not only provided 100 days of MGNREGA work but also provided me with durable
household assets. I could have never built a cowshed like this by myself. Thanks MGNREGA!

14
 Categories : Organic farming, Livelihood,
Cowshed, Irrigation Tank
Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Jigdal Chewang Bhutia, 28
years
Gram Panchayat : Samlik Marchak

Block : Martam

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Jigdel Bhutia

Agriculture is the primary occupation of this area, and I have around six acres of cultivable land. I have
been trying different techniques in my farm land to improve the productivity of the land. I grow different
varieties of vegetables and fruits. Cow dung and its urine are the best compost material for organic
farming. Earlier during my father’s time, fertilisers and pesticides were used in large amounts but since the
last decade the government has passed the law banning the use of fertiliser and pesticides. We have
completely shifted to organic farming. Thus, I made a demand for a cowshed under MGNREGA from the
panchayat. I received a cowshed under MGNREGA in 2015. I took a bank loan of an amount of Rs
50,000 to expand the cowshed along with the government sanctioned amount of Rs 66,120. The
cowshed design makes it easy for the distribution of urine in my fields. This has improved my agriculture
productivity, and I am also able to get enough milk.

It is difficult to continue organic farming without adequate water and ancillary support. I have received an
irrigation tank under MGNREGA. In 2016, I was honoured with best farmer award from our Prime Minister.
This has raised my confidence. I have also received several technical farming trainings from the government
which has improved my agriculture outcomes. Today, many people from Sikkim and outside are coming to
visit my farm to study the methods of farming. I have also become a master trainer and provide training to

15
other farmers. Sikkim’s economy is majorly dependent on tourism. People in large numbers come every year
to visit monasteries and other tourist spots in our area. Lately, I have been observing that a number of
tourists are also seeking home stays. They want to stay with the locals and experience their culture.
Therefore, I am slowly planning to start a small home stay in my house. I feel MGNREGA should support
such initiatives to strengthen our tourism industry, and continue to support many people in the village.

16
 Categories : Women Headed Household,
Cardamom Plantation, livelihood,
Feedback

Name of the beneficiary : (L) Shri. Dhanraj Rai, 45 Years

Gram Panchayat : Legship

Block : Ravangla

District : South Sikkim Image: Wife of (L) Shri. Dhanraj

Rai

The MGNREGA asset was sanctioned in my husband’s name. He died on August, 2016 due to severe
illness. Hence, all responsibilities including the management of the MGNREGA asset came on me. Now, I
take all decisions of my household. Our main source of income comes from agriculture. After his death, it
has been difficult to manage the house and take care of every financial need.

My husband had demanded for cardamom plantation in the gram sabha considering the suitable climatic
condition in our area. Thus, I was given cardamom saplings from MGNREGA. Two years into cardamom
plantation, I am expecting to earn a decent amount of money in the coming days. It is because of
MGNREGA, that families like mine have been able to sustain despite difficult circumstances. The 100 day
wages which I receive from MGNREGA has been crucial for my family as it is the only source of primary
cash income. There are very few opportunities in these areas to earn money. It would be helpful if we could
get more work with more earning through MGNREGA. Moreover, if the crop yield is not sufficient and of
good quality then I might face problems to maintain even the basic needs of my family. There are many
people in my village that depend on MGNREGA to earn money and I think 100 days are not enough. I have

17
been requesting for more number of days of work under MGNREGA but have not received any positive
response so far.

18
 Categories : Cowshed, Irrigation Tank,
Cardamom Plantation, Feedback

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Sunil Rai, 29 years

Gram Panchayat : Legship

Block : Ravangla

District : South Sikkim Image: Shri. Sunil Rai

I have been associated as a mate with MGNREGA and it has helped many people in the village. My family
practices agriculture and we have substantial amount of land for cultivation. I have been involved in the
implementation of the scheme at the ground level. There have been many positive changes over the past
decade. As a MGNREGA beneficiary, I have received three assets in the last three years namely Irrigation
Tank, Cowshed and Cardamom Plantation from MGNREGA. These have helped my livelihood to a great
extent. Recently, I sold some kilograms of cardamom seeds in the local market for an amount of Rs
13,000.

Apart from MGNREGA, I am also active in various social activities in my village. I am the president of a local
club and we did not have a designated place to keep goods used in our club. Since, we were paying rent for
storage, so when I had received the cowshed, I realized that I can invest little more money and create a
permanent storage space. Hence, I constructed two rooms above the cowshed. I am now planning to
donate both the rooms to the club. Due to MGNREGA, I could create this facility which is used by our
village. The MGNREGA implementation has created opportunities for us but the work is also very difficult.
As a MGNREGA mate, I have to put a lot of extra effort to get the work done. The 100 days of wage we

19
receive does not suffice to amount of labour we put. Therefore, I think we need a separate payment system
for the field level functionaries.

20
 Categories : Cowshed, Coffee Plantation, Loss

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Bijay Pradhan, 35 years

Gram Panchayat : Melli Dara

Block : Melli

District : South Sikkim Image: Wife of Shri. Bijay

Pradhan

My husband is a driver and I am a housewife. I do agriculture related work on a small piece of land and grow
different types of vegetables. Apart from this, I go for manual work under MGNREGA. After all these hard
work, we have been able to earn only an amount of Rs 8000 to Rs 9000 per month.

I received a cowshed under MGNREGA in 2014 with a total cost of Rs 58,316. I made some voluntary
contribution such as wood and stone in the construction of the cowshed. After the construction of the
cowshed, my husband and I decided to take a loan of Rs. 18,000 to start a dairy farming. In the beginning,
it went well but after some time the cow fell ill leading to its death unfortunately. Currently, the cowshed
appears to be of no use but we are planning to buy cows to start the dairy farming business again.

In 2015, I started Coffee Plantation under MGNREGA. Later, the plantation was damaged completely by
wild animals. An effort was made to prevent further damage but monkeys, deer and peacocks continued to
ravage the plantation, and no amount of protection could keep them away. This has led to huge losses for
my family. Moreover, we have an existing loan installment to pay every month which is burdensome. My
husband and I are in constant pressure to overcome challenges we have. I hope that the government would

21
be able to look into the issues of wild animals affecting plantations so that farmers do not face such a
situation.

22
 Categories : Irrigation Tank, Old Aged Persons,
Women Headed Household

Name of the beneficiary : Smt. Chandra Kala Gurung, 65

years.
Gram Panchayat : Namthang

Block : Namthang

District : South Sikkim Image: Smt. Chandra Kala

Gurung

My husband died long time ago, and my children are not staying with me. I am hardly educated and
growing vegetable is the only livelihood option available to me. MGNREGA came to me as the major
source of income in meeting my everyday expenses.

In the financial year 2015-2016, I have worked for around 100 days and received an amount of
Rs.16,700. I was given light work in consideration of my old age. There is extreme scarcity of water in
Namthang. So, it was difficult to store water for household work and irrigation purposes. In the FY 2015-
2016, I made a demand for a water tank from the Gram Sabha, and then the officials sanctioned a 10,000
litres capacity Water Tank under the MGNREGA work which costs Rs. 1, 39,612. The construction work
for water tank provided me wage work as a MGNREGA worker. I contributed sand, GCI sheet and local
wood, stone from my backyard. My water scarcity problem has significantly reduced now. I face lesser
problems than before. Now, I am earning Rs 2000 every month but I would want to earn more through
MGNREGA. In my village MGNREGA is the only employment source which provides employment to old age
persons.

23
 Categories : Livelihood, Dairy farming, Fodder
Plantation

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Kumar Chettri, 57

Gram Panchayat : Rhenock

Block : Tarpin

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Kumar Chettri

My family did not have very good financial conditions which compelled me to leave my studies after my 4th
standard and take up carpentry work. I started learning carpentry work and became a full time carpenter.
My income used to vary from time to time due to the nature of my job. I am the only breadwinner of my
family members.
Things have become better after MGNREGA came to our village. Now, we have some assured 100 days of
work in a year. Our situation improved further when I received two assets in 2015; a cowshed to start my
dairy farming, and grass plantation is the other asset. With the help of MGNREGA a sum of Rs. 66,120 was
used in the construction of the Cowshed. I made some contribution in the form of materials like wood and
stone. Both these assets are complimentary in nature. The grass plantation serves as fodder for my cows.
On an average, I am able to sell 4 litres of milk and some milk products every day. With this, I am able to
generate an additional income of around Rs 5000 per month. Dairy business has given me good returns so
far and I want to expand the business further.

24
 Categories : Cowshed, Livelihood, Organic
farming, feedback

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Kul Bahadur Chettri, 45 years.

Gram Panchayat : Paiyong/Pethang

Block : Yangang

District : South Sikkim Image: Wife of Shri. Kul Bahdur

Chettri

My husband is the breadwinner in our house. Our economic condition is bad, I tried to supplement to it by
cultivating vegetables, and do some dairy farming. Earlier, I used to have a kutcha cowshed with only one
cow, and it was difficult to maintain it in the rainy season. I had plans of extending the cowshed but the
cost of maintenance was too much for us. Hence, my husband and I delayed our plan of extending our
cowshed.

It was because of MGNREGA that we got a new concrete cowshed in December 2015. The total cost of
the shed was around Rs. 66,120. After the construction, I purchased three more cows. Presently, the dairy
business alone gives me an income of more than Rs 5000 per month. The new cowshed also has proper
facility to store the urine and dung. This serves as manure for the vegetable farming. It has also helped to
improve and encourage the practice of organic farming in my village. I believe MGNREGA is helping us
productively in various ways; not only for the community sustenance by offering us 100 days of work but
also in maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment of our village.

25
 Categories : Livelihood, Rural Enterprise,
Cowshed

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Subash Rai, 63 years.

Gram Panchayat : Chumbong

Block : Chumbong Chakung

District : West Sikkim Image: Shri. Subash Rai

I have a family of six members. My primary source of income comes from farming. I always had a keen
interest to start a dairy farming. But it was difficult to construct a concrete cowshed given the background
of my financial constraints. So, I constructed a small kutcha cowshed made of wooden poles, ropes and
mudstone. My previous experiences in the dairy business gave me the confidence that I could succeed in it
and hence, wished to expand it. Then MGNREGA came in and it gave me an opportunity in getting a
concrete cowshed. This was possible after I made a demand for a cowshed from the Gram Sabha under
MGNREGA in 2014. The cost of its construction was around Rs 66,120. I contributed wood and stone in
the construction of the cowshed.

The new cowshed has helped me to put two more cows. Now, I don’t have to think about the annual
maintenance and repairing costs. I also use the manure for my agricultural purpose; so, both the businesses
are supporting each other. Apart from this, I also cultivate Cardamom, Orange and few other plantations to
increase my earning to support my children’s education. MGNREGA has supported us in creating additional
livelihood opportunities.

26
 Categories : Cowshed, Livelihood

Name of the beneficiary : Smt.Yanki Bhutia, 44 years.

Gram Panchayat : Luing Perbing

Block : Ranka

District : East Sikkim

I am a married working woman with two children. Our economic condition is weak so both my husband and
I work outside our home to sustain our life. I have been dependent on MGNREGA for getting work. My
husband is a farmer but due to poor economic condition we have not been able to invest enough money in
our two acres of land. Moreover, the soil on our land is rough and not fertile which requires a lot of effort
in making the land productive. Earlier, I had a small kutcha cowshed where I reared only one cow, and the
maintenance was very difficult. It used to get damaged every year, especially in the rainy season.

Later, I made a demand for Cowshed from the Gram Sabha, and subsequently, I received one in September
2015 with an amount of around Rs 66,120. After this, my husband and I took a bank loan of Rs 2,00,000
to expand our dairy business. Now, we have three cows and we are able to save an amount of Rs 10,000
every month by selling milk and milk products after repaying some interest with its monthly loan amount.

The increase in income has helped us in taking care of children’s education and in fulfilling daily family
needs. I wish government provides more than 100 days of employment because people in my village are
heavily dependent on MGNREGA for daily work. MGNREGA has given us hope to make our lives better and
build new aspirations for the future.

27
 Categories : Dairy farming, livelihood, Rural
business

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Jagat Chettri, 63 years.

Gram Panchayat : Ratipani

Block : Namthang

District : South Sikkim Image: Shri. Jagat Chettri

Ten years ago, my village lacked any livelihood opportunity. We were struggling to get work, and meet our
basic needs as there was almost no cash income. Agriculture was also not easy owing to hilly terrain
marked by water scarcity. If one does not have water, then agriculture and livestock business becomes
almost impossible. Earlier, I remember there was hardly any cowshed or pig shed to support farming
activities in our village.

However, recently due to MGNREGA a lot of development has happened in our area. Community work
such as footpath and water tanks have been developed. MGNREGA provides us wage labour and it has
gradually started to support self employment as well. I am one of the beneficiaries who received a cowshed
under MGNREGA in 2015 with a cost of around Rs 66,120. I have several years of experience in dairy
farming. Hence, I have invested additional resources of around 4,50,000 by taking bank loan to
complement the sanctioned amount under MGNREGA to construct a bigger cowshed which now supports
15 cows. I have different varieties of cows in my shed. On an average I am able to sell around 25 litres of
milk every day and earn around Rs 22,000 every month. I also use the manure and cow urine for my
agricultural work. I am now very happy to claim myself as a farmer, and MGNREGA has considerably
improved my standard of living.

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 Categories : Livelihood, Dairy Farming

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Sanjay Tamang, 34 years.

Gram Panchayat : Melli Dara

Block : Melli

District : South Sikkim Image: Shri. Sanjay Tamang

I live in Melli Gumpa village. I am an unmarried man living in a big family of 13 members. My main source of
earning comes from farming on two acres of owned land. In addition to this, I have started dairy farming
business gradually. Earlier, I had a smaller cowshed, so I had made a demand for a new one from the Gram
Sabha. The panchayat took my request seriously and sanctioned the cowshed in 2015 with a cost of
around Rs 66,120. In addition, I took a loan of Rs 60,000 and invested in the expansion of the cowshed
to increase its size. I purchased 8 cows for my dairy farming as I thought it would be a profitable venture.
The amount of work has significantly increased and I require additional support. My dairy farming business
has picked up well. I am now able to sell 20 litres of milk every day to the milk collecting centre in our
village and earn an amount of Rs 20,000 per month. I am very satisfied with my business. I believe in
working hard and thus have been able to benefit a lot from MGNREGA. I also have poultry farming. I earn
good money from both the businesses. MGNREGA has really helped people in my village.

29
 Categories : Cardamom Plantation, Feedback,
Irrigation Tank, Cow Shed

Name of the beneficiary : Shri Tirtha Raj Timshina, 52 years.

Gram Panchayat : Paiyong

Block : Yangang

District : South Sikkim

I am a farmer and have interests in dairy farming. MGNREGA is like a life line for us. Through MGNREGA a
lot of development work has been taken up in our village like construction of water tanks and footpaths.
The inclusion of asset distribution has made a lot of difference. I have received an irrigation tank, one
cowshed, and one cardamom plantation from MGNREGA. These multiple assets have been highly beneficial
for my household and my income has increased. The water scarcity problem has been decreased
substantially due to the construction of irrigation tank under MGNREGA. I have also received a large
amount of cardamom saplings. We also received labour support in planting the saplings. We were hoping
the government would arrange a mechanism of either buying our produce or facilitating the sale. I have
invested a lot to nurture the plantation and was hoping that I would be able to supply sapling to the
government. Some of the people from MGNREGA told me that they would also buy it but that has not
happened yet.

We need to sell both the saplings and the seed and only then we will have an adequate income. If we do
not have scheduled buyers then it may prove to be detrimental to economic health of the farmers. My
request is that the government while providing assets should also provide market facilities to the farmers

30
or make them aware of market linkages to sell their produce. This will strengthen our entire business
process. In Sikkim, the biggest challenge of farmers is finding the right method and place to sell the
produce.

31
 Categories : Poultry Farming, Cowshed,
Innovation

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Dhan Bhadur Dahal, 35 Years.

Gram Panchayat : Luing Perbing

Block : Ranka

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Dhan Bahadur

Dahal

Earlier, I used to work only as a daily wage labourer with earnings of around Rs 2500 per month.
MGNREGA wages supplemented our income by providing labour work in the village. Even though the wages
are less in comparison to what we get outside our village, I think MGNREGA is here to secure us with work
all the time.

I am one of the MGNREGA beneficiaries who received a cowshed. I was sanctioned a construction of
cowshed from the Gram Sabha after making a demand. When the cowshed was being built and almost
during the completion of the construction, my cow died which was a very demoralizing event. I did not
know what I would do with this new cowshed as I did not have enough money to immediately purchase a
cow. So, I planned for a poultry farm as it required lesser initial investment and converted the newly made
cowshed into a poultry farm.

Initially, I started with 50 chickens and sold them off after few months. Now, I have added 50 more
chickens to the farm. I am hoping that this business will earn good money. I am planning to buy a cow from
the profits of poultry farming. In the long run, I wish to start the business of cattle farming as well. The
asset has helped me to improve my standard of living. I send my children to English medium school.

32
MGNREGA has helped to redefine my livelihood in a great way.

33
 Categories : Livelihood, Cardamom Plantation

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Topden Lepcha, 45 years.

Gram Panchayat : Hee Gyathang

Block : Passingdang,

District : North Sikkim

I am a farmer by profession. My village Hee- Gyathang is famous for cardamom plantation. Earlier, I used
to have a big cardamom plantation and all my expenditure was met from proceeds of the produce. But in
the last decade, the cardamom business was severely damaged by some disease and the production has
drastically dropped. The Hee Gyathang people suffered the most and they faced huge financial and
livelihood loss. I also lost a large amount of money. Thereafter, I almost had no source of income, but
thanks to the government to introduce MGNREGA to provide 100 days employment in a year. So, I
became independent because of MGNREGA wages. In this time of hopelessness, MGNREGA brought a ray
of hope. I received healthy cardamom sapling freely along with other people from the panchayat to
undertake cardamom plantation. So, few of us started to cultivate cardamom again.
We received positive results. Seeing us, others also started cardamom plantation all over again. My
monthly income increased from Rs 1500 to Rs 8000 per month. I now have a bigger cardamom field than
earlier. It has improved my standard of living. I am further planning to increase the cardamom plantation
and want to start selling the saplings at a larger scale. I also wanted to suggest that MGNREGA should
have a small training centre where it could equip farmers to deal with the problems associated with
plantation techniques.

34
 Categories : Cowshed, Livelihood

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Junu Chettri, 47 years

Gram Panchayat : Luing Perbing

Block : Ranka

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Junu Chettri

I never received any school education. I have less than half an acre of land where I practice farming and
earn my livelihood. I also work as a daily wage labourer to look after my family. But, it is not enough to
maintain a family. Apart from agriculture and labour work, I used to have a small cowshed made of
bamboos, stones and plastic. Part of the milk that I collected was sold in the local market and the rest was
consumed by my family members. However, the fragile nature of the shed had adverse effects on cows. The
cows used to get drenched in the monsoons and fall sick. Above all, it required regular repair.
So, I went to the local Panchayat and requested for a cowshed. After making continuous requests, the
panchayat provided me with a cowshed in 2015 under the MGNREGA asset programme. The panchayat
paid for labour and material of the construction. I voluntarily contributed stone and wood for the
construction of cowshed. I did not have much space in my property. So I demolished the old cowshed and
my kitchen to build the asset. Later, I converted half of the asset area into a kitchen for our use. Now, I
don’t have problems with the cowshed. My monthly income has also increased from Rs 5000 to Rs. 8000.
Now, I am able to send my children to school and I feel that I am in a better position to take care of my
family.

35
 Categories : Pig Shed, Women Headed
Household

Name of the beneficiary : Smt. Dhan Maya Subba, 63 years

Gram Panchayat : Samlik Marchak

Block : Martam,

District : East Sikkim

I live with my sister and an adopted son in Chorten, and both of us are not married. I have only studied up
to primary level. Agriculture is the main source of our livelihood. I have small piece of land where we
produce potato, ginger and other vegetables to meet our daily needs. Along with this, I also do manual
labour around the village under MGNREGA.

Earlier, I used to have a kutcha pigsty of bamboo and wood to rear my pigs for business. However, in
2016, I received a pigsty under MGNREGA to improve my livelihood. The pigsty was made with the labour
support of other villagers. The total cost of constructing the pigsty was around Rs 54,729 and was totally
borne by the government. I made a voluntary contribution of sand and wood towards the construction of
pigsty. The pigsty has a solid structure and it is built well. Now I don’t have to repair the pigsty every
year. I have been able to sell two pigs every year. The growth in the business has improved our standard of
living. I am thankful to MGNREGA for their support.

36
 Categories : Livelihood, Dairy Farming

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Karna Bdr Chettri, 76 years

Gram Panchayat : Martam

Block : Samlik Marchak

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Karna Bdr Chettri

I have been a farmer throughout my life, a profession passed down from my ancestors. I have around one
acre of land where I cultivate crops like Ginger, Maize, Barley and Potatoes. These crops serve as a source
of my main income. I also had one cow in my makeshift cowshed which hardly provided any income. With
this setup, I have been taking care of all my family members. My income varies seasonally and I faced a lot
of hardships. MGNREGA came in and since then it has been a reason for our sustenance. My family
members and I try to complete 100 days of work. I hope the number of wage days increases as we are
dependent on MGNREGA.

Upon my demand, the Gram Sabha provided a cowshed under MGNREGA in 2014 with a total cost of
around Rs 58,316. It has immensely benefited us. I contributed wood and stone in the construction of the
new cowshed. Now, I am able to keep more cows and it has resulted in a profitable dairy business. I have
started earning Rs 15,000 per month from selling milk. Earlier, I could earn only a half of this amount. My
income has almost doubled from MGNREGA wages and asset. I also store manures of cow which are later
used in my vegetable farming. Hopefully, I will be able to grow this business in future with a little more
planning. MGNREGA has been a blessing for my family and my village.

37
 Categories : Cowshed, Women headed
Household, Livelihood

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Namgyal Lepcha. 60 years

Gram Panchayat : Phensong

Block : Kabi Tingda

District : North Sikkim Image: Shri. Namgyal Lepcha

I am from a Buddhist community. I studied till primary level and then joined the monastery to become a
lama 1. A lot of my time is devoted to monastery. It involves chanting mantras in pujas and funerals taking
place in the village. I also get an opportunity to earn some amount of money through this work. The
amount is not good enough to run a family. I have a small piece of land where we do some cultivation.
Apart from this, I also had a small cowshed before we got this new one. We got a new concrete cowshed
through MGNREGA in August 2015 with a total cost of Rs 66,120 which has helped to solve a lot of
problems of our family. I contributedRs 3000 on my own in the construction of the shed and currently
there are six cows. The new cowshed does not require any physical maintenance and it is easier to keep it
clean unlike before.

As I am aged now, most of the labour work including farming in the field is taken care of by my wife. I have
also been suffering from joint pain in my knees. She wakes up early and milks the cows, feeds them through
the day, and keeps the shed clean. To be able to use all the dung and urine effectively for agriculture

1
Bhuddhist Priest

38
purposes requires lot of planning and effort. She does all of it and earns major portion of our livelihood.
The new cowshed has reduced the workload to some extent.

39
 Categories : Women Headed Household, Organic
Farming, Indigenous

Name of the beneficiary : Smt. Asha Maya Limboo, 53 years

Gram Panchayat : Sadam Suntaley

Block : Melli

District : South Sikkim Image: Smt. Asha Maya Limboo

There are five members in my family and agriculture is our main source of income. I put a lot of time in
farming as we do everything by ourselves. We do not use chemicals or any fertilizers as we religiously
practice organic farming throughout the state. I have been using traditional methods to grow a variety of
crops on our land. It demands a lot of hard work but I must say that we are very much satisfied with the
results.

I am also engaged with MGNREGA wage work. Under MGNREGA, I have received three assets to support
my livelihood. First, I received an irrigation tank. After that, I got a cowshed and thereafter a support for
cardamom plantation. There is scarcity of water in our hilly terrain, so storage is a big issue for everybody.
However, the new water tank received under MGNREGA has helped me to store water and I am able to use
it both for household requirement and also for irrigation purposes. The cowshed has enabled me to expand
my dairy farming by which I am now able earn Rs 5000 per month. In the coming years, I am also expecting
a good produce of cardamom. Both the irrigation tank and the cowshed have supported me a lot. I have
now managed to maintain the new green house that I had built. As a woman, I am really proud of the work
that I have been doing and I am grateful to MGNREGA for all the support.

40
 Categories : Cardamom Plantation, Dairy
Farming, Feedback

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Dhan B Limboo, 64 years

Gram Panchayat : Chhota Samdong

Block : Soreng

District : West Sikkim Image: Shri. Dhan B Limboo

I did my schooling till primary level. My wife and I are the only members in our house. I support my family
through agriculture and dairy farming. Sikkim used to be known for its cardamom produce. I did not have
cardamom plantation earlier. MGNREGA gave me cardamom sapling under its asset distribution
programme. I expected to get good income from it but unfortunately, I did not get good produce.

From the beginning, I noticed that the plants were not growing properly. We were not able to find out the
reason behind the poor growth of the plantation. Earlier, I produced good quality of cardamom in the same
land but, this time the quality of plant deteriorated. Also, it could have been the case that cardamom did
not suit my soil. I also heard that once the cardamom plantation is infected it is very hard to revive it. I
want to point out that many plantation assets may not suit our local climatic condition. So, some form of
assessment is required before the distribution of assets. I also want to point out that lack of water for
irrigation and household purposes is one of the major problems in the region. Hence, MGNREGA asset
creation programme should also focus on developing enough water tanks in the village. There is also lack of
awareness among the local people about the possible benefits of MGNREGA assets which needs to be
addressed very quickly.

41
 Categories : Women Headed household,
CMHRM, Irrigation Tank

Name of the beneficiary : Smt. Rina Sherpa, 33 years

Gram Panchayat : Lamting Tingmao

Block : Sikip

District : South Sikkim Image: Smt. Rina Sherpa

I live in Lamting Tingmao village. Unfortunately, my husband died at an early age. Now, only my daughter
and I live in this house. We have a small piece of land where I do vegetable cultivation. So, I work under
MGNREGA and also do some other small activities to run my family. We used to live in one room kutcha
house. There was constant seepage of water in the rainy season and the house was very difficult to
maintain especially with existing cracks due to earthquake.

MGNREGA has been very supportive. I have received two assets under MGNREGA. First I got a concrete
house through CMRHM (a convergence of MGNREGA and Chief Minister Rural Housing Mission). The
construction of the house started in January 2014 and completed in January 2015. The total cost was
around Rs 4,50,000. The land development work was supported by MGNREGA. Now, I am very happy
with our new house. Also, at the time of earthquake we do not need to worry and there is open space
which is very helpful and secured for us to live comfortably.

Second, I also got an Irrigation Tank under MGNREGA which I use for our household purposes. Scarcity of
water is a major problem in our area. The storage of both drinking water and irrigation facilities are of
important concern. I would recommend that there should be more community irrigation tanks in the region.

42
In addition to these assets, I also got orange plants which I hope in long term will yield good produce. It
has been difficult being a widow and a lone bread winner of my family. I am grateful for MGNREGA for
supporting people like us.

43
 Categories : Irrigation Tank, Cardamom
Plantation, Feedback

Name of the beneficiary : Shri. Dhan Bahadur Tiwari, 38 years

Gram Panchayat : Sadam Suntaley

Block : Melli

District : South Sikkim Image: Shri. Dhan Bahadur

Tiwari

I live in Upper Suntaley. I am a carpenter. I possess some farm land where I practice farming. The lack of
availability of water is one of the major problems in Sadam Suntaley. I had no income by which I could have
built a water tank for my family usage. Now, I have a water tank of 11000 litre capacity built at the cost of
around Rs. 1,37,765 in October 2015 on our barren land under MGNREGA’s asset creation programme.

Later, I had also received cardamom plantation. The irrigation tank helped a lot to irrigate the cardamom
plantation. In the coming years, I am expecting a good produce of cardamom which will improve my income
level. I would also like to point out that asset creation scheme has benefited more to the rich in
comparison to deserving poor. It is the poor who end up doing the hard work to fetch or store water and
the rich people get more water facility since they have the money. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that with the
help of MGNREGA even the poor could have same access to water.

44
 Categories : Water Tank, Livelihood

Name of the beneficiary : . Bar Bahadur Bagzai, 70 Years

Gram Panchayat : Sadam Suntale

Block : Melli

District : South Sikkim Image: Son of Shri. Bar Bahdur

Bagzai

I live in a small village called Upper Suntaley. Farming is the major occupation for most of us in this village.
I also do daily labour work to supplement my sustenance. We have been struggling for availability of water
since long time. We have to walk long distances in this difficult terrain and kutcha roads to fetch water in
containers. The terrain in the region is difficult as we still have kutcha interior roads. Sometimes we just
walk through the tracts of forest land.

I am happy that a water tank was sanctioned in my father’s name, under the MGNREGA in 2015. After
receiving the water tank, part of the water is used to irrigate the fields and the rest for household
purposes. As a result, the vegetable production which had gone down has now been revived to a great
extent. I am able to get work round the clock around the area and earn some money continuously. Also,
even to undertake other community level MGNREGA work like construction of footpath, availability of
water facility is very important. More people need these facilities to live a healthy and better life. We are
grateful for such a programme and hope that more poor will benefit from it. It is good to see our village
slowly developing.

45
 Categories : Guava Plantation, Cowshed, Fodder
Plantation.

Name of the beneficiary : . Shri. Tula Ram Chettri, 60 years

Gram Panchayat : Rhenock

Block : Tarpin

District : East Sikkim Image: Shri. Tula Ram with

Fodder plantation
(Navarra)

I am from a village called Shaloghari. There are five members in my family. I studied up to class 8th. After
that I could not continue my education due to pressing family needs. Now, I am a carpenter by profession.
I have a little more than one acre of land where I practice farming. I have been earning moderately but due
to the rising prices and children’s education costs, I needed more income. The opportunities are less for us
to increase our income.
I was lucky to have received three MGNREGA assets; a cowshed, a fodder plantation and a guava
plantation. The cowshed was constructed with an amount of Rs66,120 in September 2015. After getting
the cowshed, I bought three more cows. Currently, I earn more than Rs 5000 every month just by selling
milk. Fodder plantation has been useful for feeding my cows. These two assets are complimentary in nature.
I also received guava saplings. The saplings provided to us by the Horticulture Department were of good
quality. I am very hopeful of a good guava produce in the year 2017. They have also informed me that we
will be receiving marketing support for guavas this time. MGNREGA has changed my life through these
assets and it has given me additional livelihood support when I didn’t have any other support system. I

46
must say the planning process of MGNREGA in Sikkim has been good. Being a carpenter and agricultural
worker, I was struggling to support to my family but I now feel satisfied with the earnings.

47
49
1. Livelihoods:

In Sikkim, agriculture and dairy is the mainstay of people’s livelihood. In North District, there is a
dominance of horticulture crops like vegetables, ginger, and cardamom in contrast to traditional crops like
wheat and maize. In the South District too, the horticultural crops like vegetables and ginger dominate
cultivation and have overtaken traditional crops like maize and paddy. Cash rich crops like orange and
cardamom have also become popular among farmers. Similarly, in the sampled villages of the East and West
districts, people have moved to horticultural crops like Vegetables, Ginger, and also Cardamom and
Oranges. The role of middlemen is prominent in the purchase of vegetables from the villages which are later
sold in cities like Singtham, Gangtok and Siliguri. The situation is similar in South District where middlemen
procure produce from farmers at much lower prices and sell it at much higher prices in markets of Namchi,
Siliguri and Gangtok. However, the people in South district are aware of the agricultural insurance schemes
(to protect financial losses against crop damage) as informed by the agricultural department through the
Panchayat.

The traditional crops in almost all the District is grown for subsistence consumption. This shift from
traditional crops to vegetable crops has mainly occurred since vegetable crops have a lower gestation
period, and can fetch comparatively handsome returns. Moreover, water scarcity is a major issue that
makes it difficult for people to grow longer duration crops.

Dairy farming is another important source of livelihood in almost all the districts of Sikkim. In the North
District, processed dairy products are sold in the markets of Gangtok and Mangan as it fetches better
returns as compared to selling milk at the local dairy centres. Whereas, in East, West and South Districts,
people sell milk in the diary collection centres present within their panchayats.

50
In North District, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) supplements
their income by providing work locally due to poor road connectivity. In South District, MGNREGA work is
undertaken by people only after they exhaust income opportunities in agriculture. In West and East
District, MGNREGA supplements their incomes by providing work locally. The West District has poor
roads, lack of facilities like healthcare and banking. The people have also said that their crops have been
attacked by wild animals.

There is a unanimous suggestion across districts to strengthen existing livelihood opportunities. Urgent
solutions for water scarcity were demanded. Another request put forth by the people were for setting up
of government collection centres for horticultural produce like Vegetables, Oranges, and Cardamom, and
dairy products at the village level as prioritized by the people.

2. Trajectory of MGNREGA in Sikkim

MGNREGA was introduced in 2007 in North, South and West Districts, and in 2008 in East District.
People noted that there has been a shift from community based works like footpath and community
drinking water to individual assets like cowsheds and water tanks. This shift has allowed people to improve
their livelihood conditions, and move out of poverty.

In the sampled villages of the North District, apart from Lachung Dzumsa, people said they were paid Rs.
172 per day. Lachung Dzumsa was paid Rs 255 per day in 2017 for working with MGNREGA as it is
located in altitude. They received around Rs 250 per day in the previous year. In all the other districts, the
wages for the year 2017 stood at Rs. 172 while they were being paid Rs. 167 in the previous year.

51
In North and East Districts, people said that there was a delay of about two months in payment of
MGNREGA wages. In West district however, people said the delay sometimes stretched to three months.
People in general are less aware about unemployment allowance that they are eligible to receive in case
non receipt of work demanded under MGNREGA.

3. Effect of creation of Category B Assets under MGNREGA

The main assets created under MGNREGA Category B across all districts were Cowsheds, Cardamom
Plantation, Orange Plantation, Broom Plantation, Water Tank, and Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission
(CMRHM) House. In North and East Districts, Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses
(REDRH) was also implemented through MGNREGA. The creations of such individual assets have raised
people’s confidence in the efficacy of the government programmes.
In the North and South Districts, people are now expecting to receive good returns from their Cardamom
Plantations. Cardamom also has a huge market demand. They are likely to sell their produce in 2017.

In the East and South, the introduction of assets has created additional livelihood opportunities. Especially,
due to the construction of cowsheds, a significant number of people are buying cows to expand their dairy
farming business. The overall dairy business is seeing an upward movement in Sikkim.

In the West District people have also benefited widely from the distribution of assets like Cowsheds,
Orange and Cardamom Plantation. They hope to receive high income in the forthcoming years and move
towards self-employment.

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4. Environmental, Social and Livelihood Impacts

Across all districts of Sikkim, MGNREGA money is used for the purpose of daily household consumption,
children’s education, health, and also for condolences. Previously, people found it difficult to meet these
expenditures, but MGNREGA has supplemented and augmented their income. Now they do not find it as
difficult as earlier to spend on these items. People are satisfied with the quality of the assets sanctioned to
them, and believe that these assets would last for almost a decade. Many have further invested money in
their assets to expand their businesses. This also shows a growing entrepreneurial spirit in the villages in
Sikkim.

There has been a remarkable improvement in the standard of living and economic conditions of the
villagers across all districts of Sikkim, after the introduction of MGNREGA. Across all districts, almost all
women have bank accounts and their MGNREGA wages are credited directly into their accounts. This has
helped to promote financial literacy among women and allowed them to control their money by learning to
do daily bank transactions independently.

Finally, due to MGNREGA interpersonal relations among villagers has improved as a result of working
together under MGNREGA. In many places people have started sharing their problems and have fruitful
discussions regarding its solutions. There have been instances of better resolution of problems after
MGNREGA.

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5. Way forward

There is demand for the construction of water tanks across all districts for the purpose of drinking and
irrigating farmlands for cardamom plantations since it is water-intensive crop. There is a popular request
for watershed programmes and expansion of the “Dhara Vikas” programme throughout the state. People
are hoping that Government will strengthen cowsheds since diary production formed one of the main
sources of incomes for the people across all districts. Similarly, road network is another area where people
want intervention from the government through MGNREGA.

In North District, people have requested for the construction of protective walls as well. In East, there was
a call for providing better quality cows and pigs or provision of bank loans through North East Rural
Livelihoods Project (NERLP) in convergence with the agricultural department. The people from, North,
South, and East Districts suggested that there could be better convergence to provide for manure pits
through MNGREGA for providing fertiliser in plantations and agricultural activities. In the South and
West Districts, people have demanded land terracing in the hilly areas to maximize utilisation of land while
the people from East District, have suggested convergence with the Tourism department for the
development of the villages.

There was also a demand for expanding the range of horticultural fruits that were supported through
MGNREGA. In North district, people have demanded plantations like Pears and Guava. In South and East,
people have demanded plantations like Pears, Plum, Avocado, and Guava. In West district there was a
demand for plantations like Guava, Litchi, Coffee, Plum, Kiwi, and Pears. In all districts, there is a demand
for strengthening Broom Plantation since it could act both as a fodder for supplementing diary business,
and for making broom that can be sold in the market.

54
56
Sri D. R. Nepal
RD Secretary
Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD)
Government of Sikkim

The Government of Sikkim is working very tediously for the vulnerable section especially the poor. The
results of which can be visibly seen on the ground. Certainly, we need to reach out to the ones who are still
straddling between the realm of crisis and poverty. The government has channelized Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as a converging tool to innovatively address the
issue of poverty and ensure sustainable form of livelihood to the vulnerable section of Sikkim. The Rural
Management and Development Department (RMDD) is trying to fulfil the government’s mission to make
Sikkim a poverty free state by 2019.
The MGNREGA through convergence with the Horticulture department has brought several tribal
households out of poverty. The people are now earning substantial income and have become self sufficient.
As a result many jobcard holders had an upward mobility and have become entrepreneurs from being
simple wage labourers. Therefore, in the state of Sikkim there has been a decline in the number of
MGNREGA jobcards from 84000 to less than 80000. Many people have voluntarily opted out of the
MGNREGA. This has been one of our great success points. MGNREGA in Sikkim is creating “Lakhpatis”
through the convergence model with the Horticulture Department. Our approach of convergence with the
horticulture department has resulted into positive outcomes. The RMDD sanctions water tank to those
households who have cardamom plantation or any other plantations as per the Horticulture Mission to
uplift the living standard of the rural poor. The overall outcome of the project resulted in the form of
higher employment and creation of assets for the poorest of the poor through an assessment parameter
of Gram Panchayat Pro-Poor Perspective Planning(G5P) approach that has been uniquely devised by the
Government of Sikkim to identify the most vulnerable and needy persons of the society. Though the G5P

57
is at its nascent stage and the Department is aiming to ensure that the last person is covered under this
plan. This plan would later on act as a roster model so that any misappropriation is avoided and reduce the
possibility of any distortion in the delivery of MGNREGA category B Assets.

When the entire country was struggling with the implementation of Social Audit, Sikkim has led the way
and is the only state to have conducted 100 percent Social Audit in all Gram Panchayats. The same can be
witnessed in all the 46 sampled Gram Panchayats undertaken for this impact assessment research study by
the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. The government of Sikkim has also set up an independent
Social Audit Directorate. In Sikkim, the Government has passed regulations for the 100% devolution of
funds to the panchayats. As a result, the Panchayats in Sikkim are independent and are vibrant in their
operations. To further strengthen the social audit process the department have notified that if 30 % of
people do not attend the Gram Sabha then the cost of conducting the Gram Sabha would be borne by the
Block Development Officer of that concerned block. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
have praised Sikkim for its exercise of Social Audit. The state of Sikkim has received the transparency and
accountability award in 2015. With all social audit findings a lot of notifications and policies are made at
the state level. We have made the work site management and record keeping very rigorous and intensive.
However, there are some challenges like that of material supply which needs to be looked into. We are
finding ways to smoothen the process of tendering and ensuring that beneficiaries do not suffer.
Simultaneously, the government has taken several steps to stop any form of possible leakages in the
system.

The success behind the MGNREGA is the trust and responsibilities shared between the field level staff and
the top leadership. The RMDD has very smooth communication mechanisms through which the entire
MGNREGA team are connected. The MGNREGA has been implemented very efficiently and in a
transparent manner with round the clock support from all the team members. MGNREGA has served as the

58
backbone for the vulnerable and poor and we are committed to further innovations and improving the
quality of its delivery.

59
Sri Khorlo Bhutia
Principal Director cum Secretary
Department of Horticulture
Government of Sikkim

MGNREGA is a critical scheme for the state of Sikkim. The assets are created as a part of the convergence
between RMDD and Horticulture Department to strengthen the livelihoods of the beneficiaries under
MGNREGA. Looking back into the past, since the king’s era in Sikkim Cardamom Plantation has played a
very important role in the economy of the state. The world has known Sikkim for the production of large
cardamom. If we treat the scheme as it were, we may not have been able to achieve the results for the
neediest people of our state. We have now something to show the world on the convergence practices that
we have undertaken. The Horticulture Department has systematically laid out mechanisms of convergence
to unleash maximum results for the beneficiaries with the best technical approaches possible. We have
made the road maps of how to reach the vulnerable sections of the society amidst all the regulatory
provisions and how both the central and state schemes can converge.
The Centrally Sponsored Schemes including the Horticulture are mostly assistive in nature. In Horticulture
alone the Government provides 50 per cent funding and the farmer has to contribute the remaining 50
per cent. We must also acknowledge that the state of Sikkim has a very difficult and erratic terrain. The
erosion rate is also very high due to heavy rain. The state of Sikkim falls next in line after Cherrapunji, in
terms of the amount of rainfall we receive each year. The majority of Sikkim’s farmers are of small and
marginal in nature having less than 1 hectare of land. Our land, unlike the other areas in India is not flat
patches of land. These are rough and steep slopes where the amount of cultivable land is very low and
require tremendous resources for a good produce. Thus, the incomes generated from these plots are
minimal and sometimes serves the farmer only at subsistence level. Likewise, the farmers are unable to

60
contribute their 50 per cent share as suggested by the schemes. For example, in the case of construction
of water tank which may cost Rs 80,000 and the farmer has to contribute 50 per cent. Now, expecting a
small and marginal farmer to contribute Rs 40,000 is next to impossible. This may not be the case in plain
areas. Above all, due to heavy soil erosion the fertility rate is also going down. The income levels vary from
one season to another. Thus, we need to constantly reconfigure the schemes in a manner that ensures the
best results for all, especially the poor and needy. .

MGNREGA has been a game changer and has helped us to work in full potential to effectively implement
the 50 per cent shared programme of government of India. Ideally, Cardamom seedling distribution
requires 50 per cent farmer’s contribution but the horticulture department have converged with
MGNREGA to implement the scheme with a vision of maximum output from minimum funding. The
Government of India’s contribution to the horticulture department is towards the cost of seedling and
material inputs like bio pesticides etc. The farmer’s contribution is now met from the unskilled wages
component of MGNREGA. A few years back, there was decline of Cardamom production due to the spread
of white disease. It was then that MGNREGA initiated a dialogue on convergence with Horticulture. This
progressive step has helped us and now the situation is that the cardamom production has revived
successfully in most areas. The current scenario is that the plantation cover of Cardamom area has gone up
by 3000 hectares from 15000 hectares to 18000 hectares. The survival rate has also increased. Other
plantations like Orange and Guava has also increased. The water management initiatives and construction
of RCC water tank of 20000 litres capacity with farmer’s contribution of Rs 40,000 has been
operationalised with the support of MGNREGA. The Government’s contribution reaches as materials
support like stone chips, sand, cement, MS rods and the labour support comes from MGNREGA. This has
helped to increase the land area under horticulture for various crops.

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Currently, we understand that the market linkage is one of the areas where the government needs to
strengthen and accordingly, the horticulture department is working on it. The department has also created
several farmers’ producer- organisation, integrated processing units. The government has almost created
28 farmers producer companies. Today the state has large number of orchid entrepreneurs. The
department have also called for Expression of Interest from exporters to work with the Horticulture
Mission. On the very onset the department is aiming at increasing the marketing linkages for several major
crops like Cardamom, Ginger, Turmeric and Buckwheat for the purpose of organic value chain marketing.
By 2018, the government should be able to enter into the processing industry. The department will have a
unique brand that has a value base of organic farming. The Horticulture Mission’s objective is to ensure
that all the major crops in Sikkim should be exported from the state as processed items. Both RMDD and
Horticulture Department have worked closely in a synchronous and transparent manner to achieve these
results.

The future of horticulture in Sikkim is very bright. The State of Sikkim is the largest producer of big
Cardamom in the country, the largest producer of Organic Turmeric, Ginger and chemical free Cymbidium
Orchids. It took 13 years for the government to declare the state as an organic state. In 2003, it was
conceptualised under the leadership of the present Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamlingji to make
the State an organic state completely free from fertilisers and pesticides. Multiple government
departments have worked step by step to achieve these results. The average consumption of fertiliser in
Sikkim is around 7 kg per hectare per annum in comparison to the national average of 70 kg per hectare.
Punjab has a consumption of 280 kg per hectare. In 2003, the state legislative assembly passed the
historic law to make the state an organic state. The Government took almost 7 years from 2003 to 2010
to only change the mindset of the people to move from inorganic to organic farming. The government
follows a methodical change management system to support the farmers. In this process of change, we

62
provided trainings and created awareness programmes to build trust among the communities. We hope to
become catalysts of sustainable development for the rural people of Sikkim.

63
Smt. Benu Gurung
Additional District Collector (ADC) - Development
Government of Sikkim
South Sikkim

I have been in the position of (ADC) since last three and half years and before that I served as the Sub
Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Gangtok. The distribution of assets in Sikkim has a methodology which is
different from the blanket approach of MGNREGA in other states. The central guidelines say that assets
need to be distributed firstly to the vulnerable section and thereafter it would be distributed to the others
if anything remains. The vulnerable section includes Schedule Tribes (ST), Schedule Castes (SC), marginal
farmers, widows, below poverty line (BPL) households, etc. However, in Sikkim, due to the presence of large
number of ST population the state government introduced the concept of poorest of the poor criteria in
order to address vulnerability. The vulnerability criteria laid down in the MGNREGA guidelines does not
properly accommodate the scenario in Sikkim as around 34 per cent of the population constitutes tribal
population with Bhutia and Lepchas as the major tribes. So, the state government in 2013 introduced the
Gram Panchayat Pro- Poor Perspective Plan (G5P) based on the participative approach to assess the
poorest of the poor households in the village and to make their livelihoods sustainable. In the poorest of
the poor criteria the households are ranked on the basis of their income and amount of possession of land.
The same information is included in the Gram Panchayat Village Development Action Plan (GPVDAP). The
compilation of the GPVDAP of all the Gram Panchayat’s in all the blocks of a district serve as a district plan.

Now the government after much effort has been able to move towards organic farming. The cardamom
plantation which had almost died few years back due to some disease has been revived. The land and the
soil will also take some time to get rejuvenated due to the adoption of organic farming. In Sikkim, the
government has ensured that there is 100 per cent need based planning in the MGNREGA. The
Panchayats put forth their needs to prepare annual and five years perspective plans to be implemented in

64
the panchayat. The Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD) in order to use the fund in
judicious manner and to benefit a larger number of populations took the step of convergence with
Horticulture Department. Both the department has signed a joint framework to work together and
distributes assets like Cardamom, Oranges, Water tank, Guava, etc. In Sikkim, people normally demand
MGNREGA work just before festivals like Diwali, Dussera, and other festivals. They will not come at the
time of harvesting. In April and May, there is no work as the government is in the process of closing the
previous year’s work. Thus very few works were taken up in the beginning of the financial year except for
the horticulture work due to rainy season.

In Sikkim, many households have received more than one asset. The government’s idea is to bring rural
poor household into the mainstream by providing multiple assets. But this is not done at the cost of poor
people. It is taken into consideration that all poor people in the village receive the assets first. With this
intention, the government has constructed thousands of assets in a single year. This approach has
increased the income and the standard of living of all beneficiary households. We also keep a close watch
so that non deserving people do not receive any assets.

The government of Sikkim has adopted the minimum wage rate of Tripura as it does not have its own
minimum wage rate. Moreover, Sikkim is a very small state having few resources of its own to run the state.
So, it is difficult to increase the wage rate. It is a hilly state and it is very difficult to deliver the basic
amenities due to difficult terrain yet the government is trying its best. The government with lots of
challenges manage the six per cent administrative costs for implementing MGNREGA in the entire state.
The central government needs to think about the difficult hilly terrain and challenges faced daily in the
implementation of the project.

65
We have future plans of converging with other departments like Integrated Water Management Programme
to address water scarcity issues. We have many such plans that would be implemented in future and will
benefit the people of Sikkim.

66
Mr. Dinesh Pradhan
Block Development Officer (BDO), Melli
Government of Sikkim
South Sikkim

I took over the charge of Block Development Officer Melli in 2011. I had previous experiences at the
Department of Economics, Statistics and Monitoring, Evaluation, Namchi, South District. Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been an interesting scheme and it has given us
an opportunity to address the issues of livelihood in the rural India. The most important department with
which MGNREGA is doing convergence is Horticulture. Under Horticulture, recently plantation works like
Orange, Cardamom, and Coffee are taking place and earlier we have also undertaken Banana Plantation. In
some areas, the convergence has been done in the block with the North East Rural Livelihoods Project
(NERLP) to make MGNREGA effective and support Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The cowsheds were
given in Lunchup Kamerey Gram Panchayat by the Rural Management & Development Department
(RMDD), whereas NERLP provided the mulching cows to those MGNREGA beneficiaries. The convergence
model has strengthened the relationship between RMDD and Horticulture Department. There is a monthly
meeting between the Departments who work on convergence with each other. Nowadays, the Horticulture
Departments, before distributing the plant sampling informs the block officials about the day for
distribution, as a result the proper care of the samplings are being taken and the plants remain healthy.
The rate of survival of the plant sampling has risen to 80 percent- 90 percent. There are different kinds of
plantation undertaken in our block with the Horticulture Department. In the block, due to scarcity of water,
more water tank works have been undertaken. Another issue that has come up in the recent times is the
challenges faced by the BPL families while constructing their assets. They could not even provide the
beneficiary contribution as a result it becomes difficult to maintain the wage material ratio. However, the
department is still persistent to support them.

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Even though the block is trying its best, still then some issues are looming. There are issues of delayed
wages issue and the duration sometimes extends beyond one month. However, the blocks have taken
progressive steps by introducing Electronic Fund Management System (EFMS) from January, 2017
onwards. The blocks have transferred all the accounts in post offices to the nationalized banks and the
entire transfer process has been completed. In the coming days, we will be able to solve the wage delay.
The government has recently cleared the backlog payment of material wages of the MGNREGA work till FY
2014-15 while the material wages for the FY 2015-16 are still pending. We are working towards the
improvement of that too. Now the RMDD is trying to assign one Junior Engineer for one GP to complete
the measurement of MGNREGA work in a timely manner and in the near future the material payments
problem would be resolved.

Since last two years, the government is trying to make livelihoods of poor people from rural area
sustainable through the distribution of assets. As a result, the rural people are now moving from wage
labourers to being entrepreneurs. The market linkages are improving but in some areas we are already very
strong such as the existence of dairy farming business. The Melli Block is the largest producer of milk in the
state. In the Sadam Suntale Gram Panchayat (GP) itself, there are four milk collecting centres. Around 640
litres of milk is collected from this GP everyday. The other areas are also catching up. On the other side,
the payment for the cash crops from the government is usually delayed so the villagers sell it to the local
seller or in the market. Women from rural households have taken the lead and have now been coming out
of their house to do MGNREGA work. This has improved the inter- personal relation among different
communities. Not only this, the block is also issuing separate job cards in the name of women householders
along with bank accounts for direct MGNREGA payments. As a result, the financial literacy of the women
employed under MGNREGA has improved considerably.

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We try to increase awareness among people by orienting them about MGNREGA in the Gram Panchayat’s
monthly event “Rozgar Divas”. This event makes the job card holders aware about the rules and guidelines
and the types of work that would be taken in the Panchayat. The block wants to focus in the future on
convergence with Tourism Department and in the different GPs the block is trying to construct the
homestays, tourist guides and also constructing Vermi Compost pits with the Agriculture Department. We
are committed to induce more efforts and energy in the whole system for the entire population of Sikkim
especially the vulnerable ones.

69
Shri. Dawa Chyophel Lepcha
Assistant Programme Officer (APO), Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Block- Namchi
South Sikkim

I have completed my MTech in Electronics and Telecommunications. I joined the Rural Management and
Development Department(RMDD) in March 2014. Initially, I was posted at Sikip block in the South
District but in June 2016, I was transferred to the Namchi Block, South District

In the Damthang Gram Panchayat (GP) of Namchi Block, under MGNREGA Category B work ,the block has
taken up works such as cowshed, pig sty and goat shed. The panchayat has also taken up plantation works
such as Cardamom, Nakima and Orange Plantation in convergence with the Horticulture Department. The
asset is provided to the vulnerable groups as per the guidelines of the G5P plan. The shelf of work is
prepared by each and every ward of the GP. It is then compiled at the GP and sent to the block office for
its approval .The block officials prioritise the scheduled works as per the need of a particular GP. The state
MGNREGA cell rigorously updates the Management Information System (MIS) of MGNREGA. The block
receives sanctions as per the MIS report. The gap between one work and another work is around one
month. Every month there is a scheduled meeting between converging departments at the block which is
presided by the BDO to sort out issues.

In the future, the block intends to undertake more works under MGNREGA such as water conservation and
drinking water facility, poultry farming, vermi composting, waste water management, plantation of pears,
plum, and avocado. We are stressing on diversity of agricultural output. Though, the market linkage is a
problem as of now but the Government has taken note of it. We are hoping within a couple of years the
problem would be resolved. The wave of organic farming has worked for both the government and the
people. Thus, these issues are receiving proper attention from the government. The government is also

70
trying to initiate the crop insurance scheme for the farmers. The number of assets provided under
MGNREGA has improved the standard of living to some extent, and in the long run the MGNREGA workers
will hopefully become entrepreneurs. It has become possible due to the convergence with different
departments. The Rural Management and Development Department has passed an order to encourage
beneficiary contribution to maintain the 60:40 ratios but it is not compulsory. The idea behind the
beneficiary contributions has improved the quality of work and spread the benefits to more number of
poor households through the creation of more number of assets. The government believes that the
beneficiary will also take ownership of the assets.

71
Shri. Ramesh Sharma
Assistant Programme Officer (APO) cum IT Assistant, MGNREGA
Block- Yuksom
West Sikkim

I have been serving as the Assistant Programme Officer (APO) under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) since January 2016. This has been an interesting journey. While many states
are still planning their convergence processes, the State of Sikkim has already done it and formulated a
learning experience for others. I have been lucky to have been working in this era of MGNREGA
convergence. In convergence with the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP), the Yuksom Panchayat
has developed an irrigation channel of 2 KM for drainage system from Tsika Khungthuey Chuta River as
the source to Gechhan village for Cardamom Plantation. This has been a great achievement for us. We have
also completed other Category B works under MGNREGA such as Cardamom Plantation, Cowshed, Pig Sty,
Land Terracing and Water Harvesting Tank of 24000 lt.
The MGNREGA asset selection is done by following the poorest of the poor criteria as per the approaches
of GP5 plan. The Panchayat apart from this also takes the interest of the individual household into
consideration while providing assets. The Panchayat’s work is not easy as we have to deal with issues of
wage delay and at times, we face a lot of anger from the public. The wage delay sometimes runs up to 3-4
months. The biggest problem in this GP is that there is no nationalised bank; only accounts from
cooperative societies are functioning. This causes major delay in payments to the jobcard holder’s account.
In this panchayat, there is no Technical Assistant (TA) which makes the Junior Engineer (JE) to take most of
the responsibilities. The JE has to make random visit of the works taken in the GP. It is very difficult to
cover all the wards with the same vigour and consistency. There is a ward named Tsong Dubti which is cut
off by Farmong river and there are no roads that link to this ward. Reaching to area like this ward is a
massive task alone where connectivity remains a major issue of the region.

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In terms of capacity building, the Horticulture Department attended to the needs of beneficiaries by
making visit to specific sites and by providing training to the beneficiary and other NREGA workers to plant
the saplings. With such supportive environment and resilience of the farmers, the survival rate of the
saplings is 90 %. In future, the Panchayat wants to take works like Guava, Pears, Kiwi, Plum, Avocado and
Water Tank under MGNREGA category B Assets programme with Horticulture Department. We would also
like to construct waiting shed in convergence with Tourist Department. There are other necessary work
also that needs to be taken up like Land Terracing, Broom Cultivation, Irrigation Channel, Road
Connectivity, and also plantation of fuel Fire Wood in the individual land. The GP is also famous for
international trekking. The panchayat is working out ways for a long term plan along the lines of adventure
sports and hopefully it will scale more success stories in future.

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Shri. D B Pradhan
Panchayat President
Gram Panchayat - Melli Dara
Block- Melli
South Sikkim

In our Gram Panchayat, you will find all kinds of occupations. People are employed in the government
sector, private sector, agriculture and also MGNREGA. The demand for MGNREGA work in the GP is fairly
less as a sizeable population also works in factories. Thus, we are in possession of lot of inactive jobcards.
Therefore, the Panchayat is planning to delete the inactive jobcards from the MGNREGA list. The average
days of work in the GP are around 60 -70 days.

Seventy per cent of the land under the panchayat is of cultivable land and the rest 30 percent is of barren
land. Thirty per cent of the population have around 5-10 acres of land and the rest has 1-5 acres. In the
panchayat, Paddy, Maize, Buckwheat, Vegetables are primarily grown. Vegetables are mainly grown for
selling while others are used for self consumption and if anything remains then they are sold in the market.
The crop damage compensation is offered by our Gram Panchayat. The Panchayat is one of the largest
producers of milk and there are milk collection centre in each and every ward. Here 90 percent of the cows
are jersey and the rest 10 percent are of local variants. We provide insurance facility to our farmers.

Under MGNREGA category B works, we have taken up Water Harvesting Tank, Coffee, Broom, Guava, and
Cardamom Plantations. In the future, we want to undertake more works under MGNREGA like land
terracing, plantations like avocado and pears, drinking water, water shed with the forest department,
coffee, road connectivity, goat shed, poultry, pigsty, water tank and liquid waste management.

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Shri. Samroo Ugen Palzor Lepcha
Panchayat President
Gram Panchayat- Hee Gyathang
Block- Passingdong
North Sikkim

In Sikkim, nuclear families are becoming common which reflects the government call for “Chota Parivar,
Sukhi Parivar”. An outcome of it can be seen in the total population of the state which has also gone down.
The average size of the land of the People in Hee Gyathang is around 1.5 Acres. The Panchayat is striving
hard amidst issues of poor roads, issues of health facility, education and livelihoods.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wages is helpful in
supplementing household income to meet expenditures for education, health, household needs etc. Apart
from this, MGNREGA has also improved the status of women by enabling them to have bank accounts and
manage their own money by saving, depositing and withdrawal.
Under MGNREGA Category B Assets, the Panchayat has successfully completed works like Cowshed,
Pigsty, Orange, Broom, Cardamom, ICDS building convergence with Social welfare. All of these have been
done under the convergence with MGNREGA category B Asset Programme. We are very careful and
methodical in terms of beneficiary selection and providing them with different livelihood assets for their
upliftment. The asset selection is based on the criteria of Gram Panchayat Pro-Poor Perspective Plan
(G5P). Another important criterion that the panchayat asserts is that each asset beneficiary household
should have a relevant knowledge and expertise in the asset they have chosen.

The Panchayat does 100 % planning and the Government does not interfere in the selection of
beneficiary. The Government is striving to make the people independent and generate an entrepreneurial
spirit. The production of cardamom and oranges are fairly low now. People sell their vegetables, oranges
and cardamom at the nearest local market Mangan due to unavailibity of better market facilities. However,

75
the Government is now playing an active role in strengthening the local markets. They have undertaken
discussion with several companies to increase the market linkages. Simultaneously, we are also trying to
improve the production of cardamom and orange while vociferously promoting the practice of organic
farming.

In near future we are planning to undertake more works on compost pit, solid liquid waste management,
ecotourism, drainage system, pears, and guava. We are hopeful to achieve these plans with active
government support.

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Shri.Kamal Nath Ncopancy
Panchayat President- Luing Perbing
Block -Ranka
East Sikkim

I was a social worker before becoming the Panchayat President of Luing Perbing. There are two tier
Panchayat systems in Sikkim that is Gram Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat. Agriculture and Dairy farming are
the primary occupations of our Panchayat followed by Mahatma Gandhi national Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Road connectivity is one of the major issues in the Panchayat apart from
unemployment. MGNREGA is one of the key schemes through which we are addressing these pressing
issues of the panchayat. We have a proper planning process before we take up any work. To implement
these programmes, we look to the Gram Panchayat Village Development Action Plan (GPVDAP) plan. The
GPVDAP is done on the basis of requirements of the beneficiaries. Whereas, the selections of the
beneficiaries are done through the Gram Panchayat Pro-Poor Perspective Plan (G5P) approach. The
panchayat official uses the G5P through participatory approach by taking income criteria and other things
like amount of cultivable land to assess and identify the poorest of the poor. The Gram Panchayat (GP)
makes 100 % planning with regard to MGNREGA, and the GPVADP is further sent to the block and after
compilation it is again sent to the District Programme Coordinator (DPC) for its approval.
The distribution of Cowsheds has changed the lives of villagers as the beneficiaries themselves are adding
extra fund to increase the size of cowshed to enable them to keep more cows which gives them an
opportunity for dairy farming business. The qualities of assets created under MGNREGA are very good and
so far, they are found to be durable.

In Sikkim, one cannot find the migration of labourers to other places but there is high migration when it
comes to learning new skills and in pursuance for better education. Earlier, there were hardly any
opportunities here, so people after coming back used to join take up government jobs but now even

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government jobs are dwindling. The Government is trying to increase livelihood opportunities through
Organic Farming, Tourism, Floriculture, etc. Today, tourism has become one of the prominent industries
where we are seeking convergence. There is a huge scope of employment generation in this sector.
Currently, some male members are not willing to work in MGNREGA as the wages are lesser in comparison
to the wages that is available in the market. Even though the MGNREGA is supplementing the villagers
income but people are not realising it fully. So, the working hour also gets affected and sometimes people
are not willing to work fully 8 hours of work under MGNREGA. To improve this situation the government
has introduced the piece rate system to attract the Job card holders. We are creating awareness among
communities for better results.

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Shri. Indra Dhoj Subba
Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Gram Panchayat- Chota Samdong
Block- Soren,
West Sikkim.

Agriculture farming like Maize, Vegetables, Pulses, Orange and Cardamom are popular in this region. In
recent times, through MGNREGA dairy farming has received a boost. The Gram Panchayat (GP) does 100
% planning so far as the MGNREGA plan is concerned. The MGNREGA plans are first prepared in the ward
sabhas after taking note of the demands from the beneficiaries. The demands of work are then prioritised
as per the needs of the people. The list of work of the different wards is further discussed in the Gram
Sabhas for its omission and commission. The final list is then consolidated and compiled as one plan
document of the GP which is later sent to the block for inclusion in the Block Level Plan. The Block then
forwards the plan to the District Programme Coordinator for its approval.
The Panchayat selects the list of beneficiaries under MGNREGA category B assets in the Gram Sabha
through the Gram Panchayat Pro-Poor Perspective Plan (G5P) approach on the basis of income criteria
and possession of agricultural land of a household. The jobcard holders who do not have land are not
provided with any assets. There are instances where some political influence takes place in the
implementation of MGNREGA in the West District. Case of material supply in its delay is common in the
region. Wages delay also happen which may take upto two to three months. Payment for workers since
September 2016 has been pending and people have been complaining about it. The accounts of the job
card holders are in Central Bank where the bank is faced with shortage of staff to provide banking services.
Moreover there are frequent issues of link failure for which it creates major issues for people.

Another instance that had created confusion and problems for the people here was when orange sapling
was provided to the farmers by the horticulture department under the Category B asset. The orange

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saplings were one to two months old and very small in size and were also of not good quality. Thus, the
survival rate was also very poor. However, the beneficiaries complained to us that the horticulture
department staff before giving the sapling informed to dig the ground by 3 to 4 feet. People were
therefore hoping to receive mature plants but to their dismay they received small saplings. We are hoping
the horticulture department would help support our village in a positive way. We are also hoping that the
market linkages will improve for our farmers so that they are not duped by middlemen. The government has
taken up the construction of water harvesting tanks, and we are hoping that the water scarcity problems
would get resolved in the coming years.

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Shri. Hishe Lachungpa
Mate, MGNREGA
Gram Panchayat- Lachung Dzumsa
Block- Chungthang
North Sikkim

Lachung is a very cold place and it remains covered with snow for almost five months. In ancient times, we
use to hear that when our forefathers went for hunting up the hills, their beard and moustache use to get
frozen. Now the climate has changed quite a bit, and has become warmer.
The primary occupation in Lachung is mostly related to tourism. Unlike plains area, where there are two to
three cultivation season, but here there is single cultivation season. The people here cultivate wheat,
potatoes etc. before the snowfall. In Lachung the people follow the Dzumsa system of governance, which is
very different from the rest of India. In this system, we have two Pipons in place of Sarpanch. Both the
Pipons have same administrative stature. They have their assistants who are known as the Gyapan. They
issue the orders to Gyapan who in charge further, take to the people. Similarly, our culture and practices
are also different. For example, trade in Lachung does not require any types of license or permission. One
can open up a shop or a business establishment but we collect nominal taxes equally and annually from
those who run any form of business here. The taxes, thus collected do not go to the government, but are
used in the development of the region. The most important aspect is that if you have a shop you can sell
anything from vegetables, fruits, clothing, and liquor to other essential items including petrol and diesel.
However, as per the government rules, no non tribal person can buy land here.
MGNREGA is a very good scheme through which people can earn money by staying in their own village.
Also the payment of wages is directly credited to beneficiary bank account. Only three types of assets,
namely land terracing, cowshed and pigsty have been constructed under Category B Assets. I have been
associated with MGNREGA as a mate. In Lachung, people have a different experience of MGNREGA. They
have mixed responses on MGNREGA. People here view that there was a problem with the concrete designs
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of cow shed and especially pigsties. Traditionally in Lachung the people built pigsty with a wooden base
due to the extreme cold, Otherwise the animals would die or fall sick. Also the materials that were used
were not sufficient, so the contribution from the beneficiary was increased. Apart from stone and wood
contribution, people also have to contribute cement and tin roofs by themselves, which has become
difficult for the common man to contribute. Lachung, being a cold area requires an indigenous technical
design.
Unlike other parts of Sikkim, we have lesser time for work in a year due to snowfall in implementing
MGNREGA works. So, it is necessary that the entire MGNREGA fund of Lachung should be released in one
go. So that, the planning for the entire work could be done accordingly and all the 100 days work can be
taken up in one season itself.

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Shri. Mangal Rai
Mate, MGNREGA
Gram Panchayat- Zoom
West Sikkim

In our Gram Panchayat, we cultivate Maize, Wheat, Pulses, Ginger, Oranges and Cardamom and other
vegetables. Wheat and Maize are mainly used for our own consumption. Ginger, Vegetables, Oranges and
Cardamom are sold to the middle man due to the unavailability of proper local market. Dairy farming is
another important livelihood option in our village. Around 80 % of the cows are high yielding cows and till
now we have one milk collection centre. In this Gram Panchayat, 50 % of the land is cultivable and 30 %
are used for fodder plantation and the rest 20 % is barren land. The average land size in the village is
around 1-2 acres.

Under the MGNREGA Category B Assets, the Panchayat’s have constructed Cowshed, Pig Sty and Orange
Plantation. However, the Orange Plantations are dying from Trunckboren disease. We have also undertaken
Litchi and Broom Plantation in our GP. Given the condition of plantations, we are seeking more active
support from the Horticulture Department. We are not getting very positive response even after
persuasion. We are hoping that the department of Horticulture will initiate capacity building programmes
for the farmers in order to improve the quality of farming and increase its productivity. We have very poor
source of irrigation in which the main source of irrigation is 50 Km away. Some of the irrigation sources
have dried up due to earthquakes in 2011.The issue has aggravated time and again. So, there is a need to
undertake water shed development programmes.

The MGNREGA wages is very less as compared to the market wages. So, in the last couple of years the
pattern is that male members of the household are engaged in other works in the village, and they send
their women for MGNREGA work. Only at the time of heavy work male members come for work. We are
also facing with the issues of delay in wages. Sometimes the delay reaches up to 2-3 months. Our work

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also gets hampered due to head load carriage. Most wages are spent in head load so either higher
contribution from beneficiary is required or more government support is required due to the difficult
terrain. The community contribution work is under stress as people are not provided with the No
Objection Certificate (NOC) for procuring stone from nearby area which is not covered under material
cost. We are still trying to implement the work to our best capacity.

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