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Data Gaps Undermine Vidarbha’s Poverty Policies

Data Gaps Undermine Vidarbha’s Poverty Policies
Data Gaps Undermine Vidarbha’s Poverty Policies

Vidarbha is home to over 23 million people, according to the 2011 Census. Known for its agricultural products, such as cotton, oranges, and soybeans, Vidarbha also grapples with persistent poverty, malnutrition, and farmer suicides.


Despite numerous government policies aimed at alleviating poverty, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Public Distribution System (PDS), their implementation often falls short.


A critical factor contributing to this shortfall is the lack of accurate and comprehensive data, which hinders effective targeting and delivery of benefits to the poor.


This article explores how data deficiencies have impacted poverty alleviation efforts in Vidarbha over the past five years, drawing on specific examples to illustrate the challenges faced by the region’s most vulnerable populations.

Data Deficiencies for Marginalised Communities


One of the most significant barriers to effective poverty alleviation in Vidarbha is the lack of reliable data on marginalised communities, particularly nomadic tribes. These groups, often living on the fringes of society, remain largely invisible to policymakers due to inadequate population statistics and socio-economic data.


A study conducted by Heramb Kulkarni between July 2017 and February 2018 across 125 villages in Maharashtra, including several in Vidarbha’s Yavatmal district, revealed that even the Chief Minister struggled to obtain accurate statistics on nomadic tribes.

This data void prevents the design of targeted interventions, leaving these communities excluded from development programs. For instance, without precise data on their population size, location, or specific needs, schemes like housing or skill development programs cannot be effectively implemented, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalisation.

The absence of data on nomadic tribes is particularly acute in districts like Yavatmal, where high poverty levels and farmer suicides are prevalent.


The lack of information hinders the ability to allocate resources or tailor policies to address the unique challenges faced by these groups, such as a lack of access to education, healthcare, or employment opportunities.


As a result, development initiatives often bypass these communities, exacerbating their socio-economic exclusion.


MGNREGA, The Public Distribution System (PDS) and Data Manipulation


The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), launched in 2005, aims to provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per year to rural households.


In Vidarbha, where agricultural distress is widespread, MGNREGA is a critical lifeline for the poor.


However, its implementation is marred by corruption and data manipulation, which prevent benefits from reaching intended recipients.


A notable example comes from Washim district, where women farmers like Babytai Wagh reported not receiving work under MGNREGA for two years, despite holding job cards.

Instead, their cards were misused by contractors to siphon off funds, leaving genuine beneficiaries without employment.


This misuse of job cards represents a significant data integrity issue. Job cards are meant to record the details of work provided to each household, but when they are manipulated, the official records become unreliable.


A 2022 Parliamentary Standing Committee report highlighted widespread issues with fake job cards and late uploading of muster rolls across India, including Maharashtra, noting that “genuine labourers are not getting their dues while money keeps changing hands due to collusion of unscrupulous elements”.


In Vidarbha, this results in a significant gap between reported and actual employment, depriving the poor of a crucial income source.

A case study from two villages in Vidarbha, Kashod Shivpur and Bhilkhed, further illustrates these challenges. The study identified issues such as inadequate demand for work, poor identification of work sites, and delays in payment, all of which are exacerbated by a lack of accurate data on local employment needs and resource allocation.

For example, in 2014-15, the average workdays provided per household in Vidarbha districts like Chandrapur (41.34 days) and Wardha (45.52 days) were well below the guaranteed 100 days, indicating a failure to meet the scheme’s objectives.


These issues stem from poor planning and data management, which hinder the effective implementation of MGNREGA in Vidarbha.


The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a cornerstone of India’s food security framework, providing subsidised food grains to low-income households.


In Vidarbha, where poverty and malnutrition are prevalent, the PDS is vital for ensuring access to affordable food. However, the system suffers from significant leakages, with a substantial portion of allocated grains not reaching intended beneficiaries.


A 2024 study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) estimated that 28% of PDS grains, equivalent to 19.69 million metric tonnes, failed to reach beneficiaries in 2022-23, costing the exchequer Rs 69,108 crore.


While specific leakage rates for Maharashtra were not detailed, the state is noted for experiencing high rates of siphoning, with grains often diverted to the open market.


Inaccurate identification of beneficiaries is a key contributor to PDS leakages. The lack of reliable data on eligible households leads to inclusion and exclusion errors, where non-eligible households receive benefits while genuine beneficiaries are left out.

A 2017 study highlighted that inaccurate identification, coupled with corruption, results in significant diversion of food grain. In Vidarbha, this means that many poor families, particularly in rural areas, do not receive their full entitlement of subsidised food, exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition.


Efforts to address these issues through the Aadhaar-enabled Public Distribution System (Ae-PDS) have been implemented in Maharashtra. Ae-PDS uses biometric authentication to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive food grains.


However, studies from other states, such as Jharkhand, suggest that while Aadhaar integration reduces corruption, it can also lead to exclusion errors due to authentication failures, particularly for those with worn-out fingerprints from manual labour.

In Vidarbha, where many residents are agricultural labourers, such issues could disproportionately affect the poor, further undermining the effectiveness of the PDS.


Impact on Education and Health

Sheet of white paper with a black pen on a brown surface, surrounded by crumpled papers, representing impact of Lack of data on Education and Health in Vidarbha.
Impact on Education and Health

The lack of accurate data also hampers policy implementation in Vidarbha’s education and health sectors.


In education, declining learning outcomes and infrastructure deficits are significant concerns. According to a 2023 report, only 18.5% of Class 3 students in Vidarbha could solve basic subtraction problems in 2022, down from 28.1% in 2018, as per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).


Additionally, teacher shortages are acute, with Nagpur’s primary teacher count dropping from 856 in 2019-20 to 495 in 2023-24. These issues are partly due to inadequate data on student performance and teacher availability, which hinders effective resource allocation and policy planning.

In the health sector, 17% of villages in Vidarbha lack functional health facilities, and there are significant shortages of medical staff.


A population-based survey in Amravati district found that only 4.3% of individuals with depression had contact with formal healthcare services, with poverty and indebtedness being key associated factors.

The lack of data on health facility functionality and patient needs leads to inefficient allocation of resources, leaving many poor residents without access to essential healthcare services.


The persistent lack of accurate data in Vidarbha creates a vicious cycle where poverty alleviation policies fail to reach those who need them most. From the exclusion of nomadic tribes to the manipulation of MGNREGA job cards, high PDS leakages, and inadequate education and health services, data deficiencies undermine the region’s development efforts.


Addressing these challenges requires robust data collection systems, enhanced transparency, and community participation to ensure that policies are effectively implemented.


By prioritising accurate data, policymakers can better serve Vidarbha’s poor, offering hope for a more equitable future.


References


 

About the Author

The NewsDirt is a trusted source for authentic, ground-level journalism, highlighting the daily struggles, public issues, history, and local stories from Vidarbha’s cities, towns, and villages. Committed to amplifying voices often ignored by mainstream media, we bring you reliable, factual, and impactful reporting from Vidarbha’s grassroots.

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