Management students study implementation and impact of MGNREGA and ecotourism in Sikkim, conclude impressed

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK: “Implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Sikkim is satisfactory. With better monitoring through improved planning modules, these schemes will have cent per cent impact.” This is one of the key findings of a study undertaken by four students from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai, who were here on a six-week “Development of Corporate Citizenship” (DOCC) internship of their university. The students covered areas ranging from public-policy to ecotourism in Sikkim.
Two of them, Pradeep Tewani and Anubhav Agarwal, interned with Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai and assessed the impact of centrally sponsored schemes in Sikkim. The duo carried out an impact assessment exercise on Central Government schemes like Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme [MPLADS] and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act [MGNREGA].
Speaking to NOW!, Mr. Tewani said, “During the field studies, we interacted with various government officials and rural people involved and impacted by these schemes. Also, we studied the effect of these schemes on Sikkim and its people.”

On his findings, he said, “Though implementation of the centrally sponsored schemes in Sikkim is satisfactory to some extent, some improvements are still needed to ensure proper implementation and detailed models have to be planned to ensure better monitoring.”
He further informed that in their research paper, they have put forward some recommendations and suggestions in this regard.
Their research also noted that MPLAD, a very flexible scheme of the government of India, has contributed significantly to improve infrastructure and public facilities in Sikkim, especially in the field of education.
“However, there is still scope for improvement as far as the monitoring aspect of the scheme is concerned,” said Mr. Agarwal, adding that their report has also mentioned that MGNREGA has created a considerable impact on the rural people here.
There are also some keen observation which require deeper analysis and follow up.
He said, “A key-finding in this area was that the MGNREGA workers spend almost their entire wages for their daily living and savings are nil.”
The duo’s findings were presented to Mr. Rai on 23 April and copies of the same will be submitted to their university next.
Another team, Jasmeet Singh and Krishna Chaitanya studied the impact of Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) on village tourism.
They undertook field visits and studies at Kewzing, Lingee-Payong and Ray-Mindu.
“We worked on the assessment of tourism potential in the village clusters of Lingee Payong & Ray Mindu and created a comprehensive community based model for sustainable village tourism,” said Mr. Chaitanya.
When asked about the difference between their usual corporate projects and their Sikkim experience, Mr. Singh said, “We had an opportunity to work in an unstructured environment and got to apply our learning into practice. The real time implementation of new and innovative marketing methods to promote village home stays to the world was an exhilarating experience for both of us.”
“I was really struck by the natural beauty of this State and the hospitality of its people. I felt Sikkim has a significant youth population and high literacy level and this combination could drive progress in this State in the coming years”, said Mr. Agarwal, when asked to share his experience of working in Sikkim for the first time.
“This is the second time students from SPJIMR are working with our institution. These students bring in a fresh perspective into our work through application of management principles and by bringing in an outsider’s outlook and insight,” adds RP Gurung, CEO of ECOSS.
The SPJIMR’s Development of Corporate Citizenship (DOCC) internship is a unique initiative of the university under which  participants are sent to various parts of the country to work with different NGOs and help them by using the management skills attained during the first year course of their study. This is a unique initiative of the institute to sensitize the future managers to social causes and thereby strengthening the management of the organizations in the Non-profit sector by improving their effectiveness and efficiency.