SWOC analysis of MGNREGA convergence implemented with Department of Agriculture and Horticulture in North Karnataka

Abstract

The diagnostic research was conducted to diagnose the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOC) of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) convergence mechanism from implementers in North Karnataka during 2022-23. The findings of the study revealed that, ‘enhanced livelihood security forworkers’ was the first ranked strength among PDOs and Technical Officers (RBQ= 96.50 and 93.50 respectively), followedby ‘no funds constraints in implementing the set goals’ and ‘better quality and longer shelf life of project activities’ were II and III ranked strengths among PDOs (RBQ = 95.50 and 94.75, respectively) and III and II ranked strengths among Technical Officers (RBQ = 93.00 and 85.36, respectively). ‘Inadequate field-level staff to implement convergence’ and‘preference of autonomy from the PRIs by the converged line departments and vice versa’ were I and II ranked weaknessamong PDO (RBQ= 91.50 and 91.00, respectively) and II and I ranked weakness among Technical Officers (RBQ= 88.75and 89.25, respectively). ‘Scope for pooling the available human resources, skills and competencies’ and ‘scope for creatingmore employment days and works’ were perceived similarly and were positioned respectively in first and second rankedopportunity among PDOs (RBQ=96.75 and 96.00 respectively) and Technical Officers (RBQ=93.50 and 91.00, respectively). ‘Establishing the required institutional structures and mechanisms at village, taluka, district, and state levels’ and ‘convergingline departments have to align and accommodate itself with the political and social dynamics of PRIs’ were first and secondranked challenge among PDOs (RBQ=92.25 and 90.75, respectively) and second and first ranked among Technical Officers(RBQ= 85.50 and 83.00, respectively).