Excerpts from the NFFWP Guidelines

From the Preamble: “The Planning commission has identified 150 most backward districts of the country on the basis of prevalence of poverty indicated by SC/ST population, agricultural productivity per worker and agricultural wage rate. Most of them happen to be tribal districts.”

Paragraph 1.2: “NFFWP will be open to all rural poor who are in need of wage employment and desire to do manual and unskilled work.”

Paragraph 1.4: “The programme will be implemented as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Foodgrains will also be provided to the States free of cost. The transportation cost, handling charges, and taxes on foodgrains will, however, be the responsibility of the States.”

Paragraph 2.2: “Foodgrains should be given as part of wages under the NFFWP to the rural poor at the rate of 5 Kg. per manday. More than 5 kg foodgrains can be given to the labourers under this programme in exceptional cases subject to a minimum of 25% of wages to be paid in cash. The State Governments will take into account the cost of foodgrains paid as part of wages, at a uniform BPL rate. The workers will be paid the balance of wages in cash, such that they are assured of the notified Minimum Wages.”

Paragraph 2.7: The State Governments will bear the transportation cost and other handling charges from their own resources. Any taxes/charges like sales tax, octroi etc. will be borne by the States concerned. Cash component cannot be used for transportation, payment of local taxes etc.

Paragraph 3.3: The wages to be paid under the NFFWP both for skilled and unskilled labour shall not be less than the minimum wages fixed by the State Government under the relevant Statute for agricultural labourers as applicable to the rural areas

Paragraph 4.1 [drop?]: The allocation of resources among the districts will be on the basis of percentage of each district in the total allocation of these districts under SGRY. The resources will be released in two instalments in a year

Paragraph 4.8: All Districts should utilise the funds made available to them during the year in which they are made available. If the carryover funds are more than 15% of the funds available during the previous year, Central share of the excess will be deducted 100% from third year (2006-07 onwards).

Paragraph 4.14.1: Ban on Contractors and Labour Displacing Machines

Paragraph 4.14.2:Muster rolls shall be maintained for every work separately, showing the details of wages paid to workers and foodgrains distributed. The muster rolls for all works should have entries showing the number and details of scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Women and others who have been provided employment. Those responsible for the preparation of muster rolls should be responsible for these entries also. To prevent non-payment or under payment of wages or any manipulation, muster rolls should be maintained in stitched forms and all its pages must be numbered.

Muster rolls shall be made available to public for scrutiny and a copy of the same be made available on demand on nominal price. For works taken up by the Village Panchayats, copies of muster rolls duly certified by the Panchayat Sarpanch shall be placed before the Gram Sabha.

Paragraph 5.2: lays out the guidelines for selection of agencies that will help in preparing the Perspective Plan. These have been pasted below:

i) The selection of agencies for preparation of Perspective Plan must be done very carefully. Only reputed organisations/institutions having expertise and competence to do such type of work should be considered and must process adequate human resources with necessary skills to carry out field surveys, interact with local people and Panchayati Raj Institutions, conceive and design low-cost projects, use of local resources and draw up workable plans.
ii) The selection of agency will be by a Committee headed by the Collector. The other members can be decided by the State Government which will also prescribe parameters for shortlisting of agencies.
iii) After the selection of the agency, the Collector will enter into an MoU with the agency specifying the details of work, time-schedule and payment schedule. At least, 25% of the payment shall be made only after the final approval of the Perspective Plan by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3 contain the guidelines regarding audits by the government as well as social audits. Vigilance committees with 5-9 members from the villagers will be formed and their report is to be attached to the completion certificate that is essential for the release of funds.